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The Fifth Avenue Association INC EMPIRE STATE 350 FIFTH AVENUE : : NEW YORK Telephone: PEnnsylvania 6-7900 -2- BULLETIN NO. 66, DECEMBER 1931 BELOW TWENTY-THIRD STREET COMMITTEE CONSIDERS IMPORTANT PROBLEMS Several matters of vital importance to all our members in the section south of 23rd Street were discussed and advanced for action in the near future at a meeting on November 12th of our Below 23rd Street Committee, of which John W. Konvalinka, vice-president of the Irving Trust Company, is chairman. Loitering - To combat this troublesome practice which, while considerably curtailed, nevertheless still annoys a large number of business houses, stores, and property owners in the 23rd Street area, it was decided to request the Police Department to establish immediately a special noonday patrol to break up groups congregating on street corners and in front of building entrances and display windows during the lunch hour. This request is to be followed by a report to Police Commissioner Mulrooney, pointing out, as the result of a thorough survey by our district supervisors, the desirability of extending the Borough Headquarters Squad now operating on the Avenue north of 27th Street to the Avenue south of that point. Proposed Rezoning of Lower Fifth Avenue - Considerable sentiment was expressed in favor of the Association sponsoring, when business conditions improve, an amendment to the Zoning Law providing for the rezoning of Fifth Avenue between 12th and 23rd Streets from business to retail, and of the section between 12th and 23rd Streets one block east and one block west of Fifth Avenue, from an unrestricted to a business use district. A special subcommittee was appointed to consider the matter, and before any definite conclusions are rached, a thorough canvass of the property owners and business interests which would be affected will be conducted, and a study made of prevailing conditions and the types of business now located in the area. WIDENING OF UPPER FIFTH AVENUE OPPOSED After careful study, the Association has expressed its opposition to the proposal of the Regional Plan Association to relieve Central Park of some of its present traffic by widening Fifth Avenue from 59th to 110th Street. The plan, if carried out, would eliminate the present park frontage on the west side of the Avenue, between the park wall and the curb, and place the pedestrian walk within the park proper. We are convinced that the proposed widening would create a traffic bottleneck at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue, and render the Avenue between 59th and 110th Streets a veritable motor speedway, seriously annoying those persons residing in the fine homes and working in the many impressive institutions along the east side of the Avenue, as well as probably depressing the value of their properties. Our Parks and Plazas Committee recently submitted to the Park Department an attractive plan for improving the park frontage on the westerly side as a "Fifth Avenue Promenade" and the adoption of the proposal of the Regional Plan Association would prevent that improvement from being carried out. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO OUR MEMBERS Despite the perplexities and difficulties of the past year, the joyous spirit of Christmas should prevail during the coming month and the Board of Directors and officers of the Association take this opportunity to extend the season's greetings to our members. They feel that this Christmas especially should be an occasion for renewed hopefulness, since the testing period from which business is emerging assures us all of a happier future built upon a firmer foundation. Their faith in the great section over which the Association watches is just as strong today as it has ever been and they feel that you -- our members -- who constitute the heart and spirit of the section, will continue to have confidence in them and remain loyal to the Association. BUY CHRISTMAS SEALS AND HELP THE NEW YORK TUBERCULOSIS AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION! MAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS AND PARCELS EARLY - NO CARRIER DELIVERIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY! Keep the Fifth Avenue Section First in the world Thomas W. Hughes Thomas W. Hughes Secretary Wm. J. Pedrick Wm. J. Pedrick President
