Greenmarkets: July 8
Thursday, June 15th, 2006I previously reported that Greenmarkets were coming to the Upper East Side on July 1. I was wrong. At last night’s CB8 Land Use meeting, the start dates given were July 8 for the 82nd St one (between 1st & York) and July 9 for the 1st Ave one (between 92nd & 93rd).
So don’t go on July 1 or 2 and get pissed because they aren’t there!
Regarding last night’s Land Use meeting, man, that was better than any reality show! (Which makes sense since it was, you know, um, reality.) The main event was a conflict between some neighbors at 156, 158 & 160 83rd St. The owners of 160 own a section of land that extends out like an L behind the lots of 156 & 158, and they’re starting to build an extension out into this space, which, of course, the owners of 156 & 158 don’t like because it’s reducing the light & air available to their buildings, not to mention a potential fire hazard for them.
It’s a classic case of individual property rights versus community good; the affected parties are not only the immediate neighbors, but also people living behind this area, on 82nd St., and the legality of the zoning codes is just vague enough as to be open to interpretation (though of course the lawyer for the owners of 160th would say it isn’t). So it was an hour or more of lawyers, public questions, and impassioned comments from board members.
And the Board didn’t even have a legal issue before them; they have no power here beyond making a statement, a recommendation to the body that actually is reviewing the case. They made a forceful statement that they believe strongly in open block spaces and have acted so historically, and so they recommended that the appeal (by the owners of 156 & 158) against the construction be granted. I hope they also include a comment that the zoning code here needs to be cleared up one way or the other.
I really need to go to more of these community meetings — they’re better than television!
