With construction fences lining the avenue, it’s easy to see why Second Ave. businesses are suffering. (Photo courtesy of The Launch Box. Click to enlarge.)
Amidst all the bad news surrounding MTA budgets and E-ZPass scandals last week, the Second Ave. Business Association is trying to draw attention to another subway-inspired plight.
The construction of the city’s long-awaited subway line is stifling businesses to the point of collapse along Second Ave. As construction slowly makes it way south, those in the line of fire are holding their breaths as advocates work for a financial solution to aid those in peril. Christine Lin of the Epoch Times has more on this story:
Since the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began construction of the Second Avenue Subway in March, businesses between 91st and 96th streets have suffered, say storeowners in the area.
Crowe’s Bar and Restaurant has had to lay off several employees in nine months. Sidewalk space has been reduced from 21 square feet to only six, discouraging foot traffic and ultimately causing six businesses to close, according to Barbara D’Antonio, owner of Wine Lovers just down the street on Second Avenue…
Due to extensive tunneling, the construction will continue until 2015, working its way down Second Ave. The area between 91st and 96th streets will serve as the launch box for the tunnel-boring machine, so the area will be affected for the duration of construction.
Business owners fear that in that time, the noise and dust will drive more stores to close, and in their stead chain stores will spring up. Already another six stores are in immediate danger of closing, say the business owners.
Currently, as Ben at The Launch Box detailed last week, three bills are winding their way through the New York State Assembly. These measures would help businesses currently impacted by the construction and those facing future problems due to the project’s making its way from the East 90s down to the 70s. These bills include tax abatements and grants for affected businesses. At the same time, the MTA is urging everyone to Shop Second Avenue.
But will these measures be enough? The Daily News provides some concrete figures, and businesses along Second Ave. are losing both customers and employees. Some owners are seeing significant decreases in revenue, and many others say their businesses will close if the bills don’t pass the Assembly.
I’m torn on this topic. I feel for the business owners along Second Ave. who are seeing their livelihoods impacted by the construction. But I know that the city needs this subway. It is again up to the people in charge to provide for these business owners during lean times. We can’t allow the city to run rampant over people’s lives as Robert Moses did while building the city’s numerous neighborhood-destroying roads, but we can’t watch mega-projects that are vital to the city’s future founder.
As Carolyn Maloney, Congressional representation from the Upper East Side, said, “We don’t want to wake up and find a brand new subway line surrounded by empty storefronts. It is only fair that the New Yorkers who are bearing the burden of Second Avenue Subway construction get the help they need.”
9 comments
It seems to me that what would help these business the most would be to finish the subway as soon as possible. That means more funding for the MTA Capital Plan.
I agree, but there may be cases where little can be done to speed up the work. For example, the community may try to fight 24/7 operations because they disturb the residents’ sleep.
I’m not sympathetic. This will happen whenever the city embarks on a major project that involves tearing up the street. It will happen when the sewer and power lines under the avenue seem need to be replaced. Look at what is happening to Lower Manhattan (and particularly Fulton Street) at the moment. Its one of the reasons why people are really reluctant to initiate vitally need infrastructure projects.
If the subway line were actually completed, that will bring more businesses into the area and the businesses that are able to hang on will reap the benefits. Those that go under, will go under and be replaced. Running a business doesn’t mean you are immune to changes in government policies, natural disasters, recessions etc. and that is why if they can, businessmen tend to keep some cash on hand to make it through the lean times. Maybe some of the stores can work out a reduction in their rents from their landlords while the construction is ongoing.
The joke will be if the subway is not completed, which means that a number of 2nd Avenue businesses will go under for no reason at all. But they will be replaced. Turnover is pretty high on that avenue normally.
It’ll be decades before the SAS reaches 96th Street.
What I don’t understand is why the MTA choose to do the construction around and close off 96th street to 91st street. That area is a residential area with business, that as this post makes clear, are getting destroyed due to the construction.
Why didn’t the MTA choose the area NORTH of 96th street for the launch box for the tunnel-boring machine? Unlike 96th to 91st street there are virtually no business along the sidewalks from 96th to 99th street. On on side of 2nd ave from 96th to 97th street was a Park (and is now an MTA construction site) and 97th to 99th street is Metropolitan Hospital. On the other side of the street is NYHCA housing with no storefront shops (and much larger sidewalk space). You check it out on google maps and tell me which streets make more sense to dig up:
http://maps.google.com/maps?nu.....038;tab=wl
If the MTA care at all about the people they are inconviencing and the business they are ruining (which they obviously don’t) they would have dug up the section north of 96th street not south!
There’s already part of a tunnel there. The MTA had to put the launch box in a place where they needed to be a tunnel. That’s the short of it really.
I think you make an excellent point.
[…] along Second Ave. may be suffering through the pains of construction, but according to one politician, the city is enjoying some […]
I agree with Izengabe, that is.