Gothamist: Judge Halts City's Union Square Development

Citizen Politician

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:17:32 -0500

Can we get a list of contacts so that those of us who love the park the way it is can support the groups who pursuing the lawsuit?

Jerk Store

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:42:50 -0500

"A local society chef gets on the local BID and then deals himself a Tavern on the Green South?" Right, Danny Meyer is just some dilettante who influence-peddled his way into a giant windfall. Please. Meyer is about as community-friendly as you can get in the restaurant business. He played a huge role in revitalizing the park in the 80s, a huge role in expanding the greenmarket, and continues to give time and money to the USQ/Gramercy community. I mean, it's not as productive as dressing up like a preacher and parading around making a huge scene or anything, but I suppose it will do. I agree that there are some serious issues that need to be examined w/r/t using park space for a commercial business. But if there's anybody who deserves it, it's DM.

reverend billy

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:04:43 -0500

Its theft of public space, of course. Its just that this is so corrupt its like a new art form, Corruption Vaudeville. A local society chef gets on the local BID and then deals himself a Tavern on the Green South? Wow. And they've got trees and design filagree set for the greenmarket area, so the $10 Chardonnay sipper has something to look at besides radical bicyclists. This is just the Demon Monoculture! The Pavillion is where the first Labor Day parade ended up in 1882. They made the park a National Historic Landmark because of its years of marches and rallies. Privatizing and all that shopping is off limits for free speech. You can't disturb the customer. Let's start a First Amendment Pavillion Festival, where you come and make a song or a dance out of the magic 45 words and do it inside the construction...

lower manhattan

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:04 -0500

Aghhhhh! I meant "they're" not "their" in the above post. I am ashamed of myself and glad you don't know who I am...

lower manhattan

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:54:12 -0500

I can answer two of the questions raised above. 1) All parkland is protected by the NYS alienation law, and requires the legislature to approve its use or sale for anything else. We can be grateful for this, as it's the only thing protecting it (such as it is -- look at the Yankee Stadium deal!) 2) Money from park concessions (including the Shake Shack) do NOT go to support the park their in, nor do they even support the Parks DEPARTMENT. They go into the general revenue fund. All in all, concessions in parks should support park uses. That means attracting users to desolate parks, providing recreational activities or park-related amenities. I would think you could fill that pavilion with beautiful pay toilets and it would be more useful.

TKaisen

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:30:18 -0500

Blocking every new idea that comes along is no solution. We're talking about a city where people protested the removal of concrete mounds in Washington Square.

Ronkonkoma Ondinnonk

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:28:58 -0500

Leave the trees alone. Leave the park alone. It's fine as it is. My sentiments exactly.

bitterlemon

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:44:42 -0500

Danny Meyer does not own "Union Square's Coffee Shop"

Jerk Store

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:40:30 -0500

Question -- how much revenue would the restaurant drive back to the park? I was always under the impression that Shake Shack was a cash cow for the Mad Sq. conservancy. I'm not really in favor of tax dollars being spent just to open up a private business but if it's going to be a net gain for the park, seems like it could be a good idea. And nobody is really "taking away" any land. The pavilion is sitting there, more or less empty. Luna Park was crowded and mediocre. If a restaurant is not an option, somebody needs to propose a good alternative because just having such a nice structure collect dust at the north end doesn't seem like a palatable option either.

abcohen

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:38:16 -0500

To the people that are casing my headache to be lengthened... if you win Great!!! Please have them take down the fences ASAP!!!! if you dont win -- thanks for another couple of mornings of sleeping till 8 instead of 6:30!!!

aveB4life

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:29:18 -0500

they should put a big ass water slide there for the summer

EastRiver

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:53 -0500

What are you talking about? There are hundreds of restaurants with either sidewalk dining or courtyard dining. Sidewalk dining is not the same thing nor is being crammed into an alley behind a restaurant which is what passes for outdoor dining in this city. This is being spun as if the restaurant would take up the entire north end of the park. It would be in and around the pavilion which every time I walk by looks terribly underutilized as it is and is hardly a public space. And I am all for more playgrounds but I don't see how the restaurant and more playground space are mutually exclusive. In fact, if you read the pages linked in the article this is being spun as if the net result is a massive reduction in playground space when the project is completed. I have yet to find a evidence that this is the case and in fact the New York Times article linked above says there will be an increase of 10,000 square feet. Seems like the farmer's market takes up more space than anything else and requires that many acres of land be paved over such that the land is useless the 75% of the time the market isn't open. And if there isn't a cafe in the pavilion then what do you propose to do with it? It's not likely to be torn down for more open space. Be part of the solution not the problem. Blocking every new idea that comes along is no solution. I am not the problem.

Tim N.

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:57:50 -0500

Another chapter in Mike Bloomberg's "Big Book of How I'm Going To Change Every Fucking Thing in NYC." Leave the trees alone. Leave the park alone. It's fine as it is.

yakatori

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:43:25 -0500

It's a wonderful idea. Have my taxes pay for Danny Meyer to make more money on overproced grilled beef.

billybob

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:39:15 -0500

Come on people, just because there are 3 starbucks' surrounding the park, doesn't mean there shouldn't be one IN the park.

JacqueMehoff

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:30:28 -0500

there should be a law, no full service restaurants near any dog runs. More playgrounds and parks for children.

aksia

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:23:57 -0500

why can't we make Union Square into a planting ground rather than a plantless one. The Farmers' market should have niche to sell and educate about nutrition not consumerism of this restaurant bi-product

spiritross

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:19:32 -0500

EastRiver What are you talking about? There are hundreds of restaurants with either sidewalk dining or courtyard dining. The problem is the idea of a commercial enterprise taking up public space - especially in one of the densest areas in the city that already has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants. I think children playgrounds, open space for green markets and other events is a bit more important then another restaurant (and not to mention 12-24 months of construction. Be part of the solution not the problem.

EastRiver

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:29:57 -0500

God forbid we have real outdoor dining options in this city. I fail to see how the city is really losing public space. It's not like the pavilion was getting any real use. If people want real green space they should just dig up the acres of asphalt on the north end of the park.

zodak

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:28:56 -0500

there are enough damn restaurants in the area, one in the park will just lead to more ROUS. paving the green market space is good though, if they can make it level.

Politburo

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:28:28 -0500

I wonder how many of these people saying that the City needs to get State permission were on the other side of the issue when it came to congestion pricing...

Tgirl

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:23:26 -0500

like there are not enough restaurants and retail establishments already...the area is untenable as it is, does anyone care about the impact these things have on neighborhoods? the city need to figure out a way to attract the crowds (eg, shoppers) to less populated areas.

Papercutninja

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:19:52 -0500

YAY another overrated boutique fast-food joint worthy of 24 hr webcam coverage. I can't wait. Wait till i tell the folks back home in Dayton about this! Maybe they'll feature it in Gossip Girls? Wouldn't that be so exciting? OMG!

arsguide

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:12:48 -0500

its a park - a public space - they get money from the state - they cant take that away to create another restraunt.

jibbly

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:11:18 -0500

The park is so crowded and Danny Meyer wants to put Shake Shack II there? The reason MSPark can fit the current shack is because it has so much space and a relatively small number of people. Union Sq in comparison is like being sardined at an outdoor music festival... Renovate the north end completely as public space and throw out the restaurant. Who wants to eat where it smells like dog and homeless urine anyway? And the rats, theres an army of NIMH rats that run the park after dusk.

zstone

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:02:04 -0500

Alright, they shouldn't cut down 14 mature trees, but they also shouldn't have to get the state legislature to approve of the plan. What nonsense is that?