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2019
THE RENT ISN’T TOO DAMN HIGH ANYMORE REAL ESTATE
Manhattan retailers get a long-overdue break, as rental costs finally come crashing back down to earth BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
State Senator Robert Jackson addressed the meeting. Photo: Nick Smith-Koblitz
AN SOS FOR LOCAL SHOPS STOREFRONTS
Elected officials and residents packed a town hall meeting aimed at saving neighborhood businesses BY CECE KING
The grassroots advocacy group UWS Save our Stores, aptly referred to as “SOS,” hosted its first town hall meeting on “Vacant Storefronts and Visions for Neighborhood Revitalization” last Thursday. SOS is focused on the epidemic of
Looking to rent a vacant storefront in the iconic retail corridor running up Broadway between West 72nd and
86th Streets? Now may be the best time in years to lock up a lease and cash in on the foot traffic that encircles Fairway, Citarella’s and Zabar’s. Hoping to cater to the ultrarich who shop on the glittering stretch of Madison Avenue between East 57th and 72nd Streets? Relative rental bargains can be found for the posh boutiques a short stroll from Bac-
carat and Brunello Cucinelli, La Perla and L’etoile Royale. With large blocks of space sitting empty or underutilized for months or years, groundfloor retail rents have finally started to tumble in almost every market across Manhattan, a new report found. In the 14-block strip of Broadway on the Upper West Side that takes in the shut-
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THE HEALING POWERS OF THE UPPER WEST SIDE Recovering from a broken back, a student finds that walking in her neighborhood was the best medicine. p. 8
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PICTURING TIME Vija Celmins conjures moments at the Met Breuer. p. 12
storefront vacancies in the Upper West Side (UWS). Newly formed, the group has already attracted the attention of local politicians. The meeting was standing room only and boasted a panel with Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, City Council Member Helen Rosenthal, State Senator Robert Jackson, and State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal. In a recent report, the Department of City Planning found that 12.8 percent of
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12-18 2019
SANTA SAYS, SAFETY FIRST
Holiday gift-giving advice from the experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics. p. 2
TAKING THE CAKE FOR THE HOLIDAYS The former Barneys store near 76th Street, which closed in early 2018, is one of a number of vacant storefronts on Broadway in the West 70s. Photo: Michael Garfolo
Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
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WEEK OF AUGUST
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‘MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED’ P. 19
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THE GOAT VOTE And the winner is...
chair of the City Ydanis Rodriguez, committee, Council’s transportation street s afety on speaks at a rally for steps of City Hall legislation on the McCarten/NYC May 8. Photo: John Council
IS VISION ZERO WORKING? SAFETY
has seen a surge Five years in, NYC and uctuating in cyclist deaths – and motorist numbers of pedestrian fatalities BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
year that saw 299 In 2014, after a traffic-related incipeople killed in Mayor Bill de Bladents in the city, eliminate all traffic sio set out to
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A HAPPY AUGUST TRADITION store” “Pop-up department an NYPD judge recommend at City Hall after Photography Office holds a press conference Appleton/Mayoral Mayor Bill de Blasio 2019. Photo: Michael Friday, August 2,
firing Officer Daniel
Pantaleo on
THE BILLY AND GILLY SHOW
A free ready for helps families get school. p. 5
WOODSTOCK SOJOURN
day of peace, Kamala HarJon Friedman on a 8 Warren, Cory Booker, and Bernie love and music. p. debates,” longris, Amy Klobuchar for the September Pete strategist George Sanders, South Bend Mayor time Democratic doesn’t have former Texas Rep. Artz says. “De Blasioare way down Buttigieg and both Beto O’Rourke. the donors, and close, but none of A few others are in the polls.” Hank Sheinde Blasio or GilliPolitical consultant that either them are named kopf says it’s “50-50” “Any- brand. returned reBY STUART MARQUES will make the next round: Neither campaign but they’re not quests for comment. thing can happen, agree that Warde Blasio faced to qualify.” Pundits generally When Mayor Bill held off the more Gillibrand – likely a minimum of SURVIVNG YOUR Candidates need to ren and Sanderson the first night. off with Sen. Kirsten Democratic presi- 130,000 unique donors and have SUMMER COLD moderate field and eight other seasonal in four qualigot high marks on – on July 31, it How to deal with thefeel worse Booker and Yang at least 2 percent and dential hopefuls the last Billy hit candidates have the second night, but Biden virus that makes usp. 2 a might have marked presidential fying polls. Eight polls. the assured in and are still ahead at the than a winter bug. hit those marks 12 Harris are and Gilly Show largely igin Houston on Sept. De Blasio and Gillibrand debates. ei- spot onstage Presiawful tough for are former Vice 7 “It’s going to be and and 13. They Senators Elizabeth CONTINUED ON PAGE get the donors dent Joe Biden, ther of them to needed to qualify polling numbers”
POLITICS
dim for Presidential prospects Democratic New Yorkers on the debate stage
Crime Watch Voices
Bakers create edible versions of NYC landmarks for Christmas windows. p. 39
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