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The Fifth Avenue Association
EMPIRE STATE
350 FIFTH AVENUE : : NEW YORK
Telephone: PEnnsylvania 6-7900

BULLETIN NO. 62, MAY 1931

TO OUR MEMBERS:

ASSOCIATION OFFICES NOW IN EMPIRE STATE

The executive offices of the Association are now located in Room 812, Empire State Building. Our members will please note this change in address. The new telephone number is PEnnsylvania 6-7900.

NEW AREA TO BE ADDED TO RETAIL ZONE

The Association, together with the Save New York Committee, won an important zoning victory when Manhattan Borough President Levy, upon our suggestion, made application to the Board of Estimate and Appointment on April 24th to change to a Retail Use District the territory now embraced in a Business Use District from 50th to 60th Street from a point 100 feet west of Lexington Avenue to a point 100 feet west of Sixth Avenue. This are was included in the original application for a Retail Use District, which became a law in April 1929, but because of objections of certain property owners, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment eliminated that area. This opposition, however, has now been withdrawn, and we have the support and hearty cooperation of these interests.
The extension of this Retail District will insure the development of this important area between 50th Street and Central Park, and, as indicated by the former opposing owners, there is no question but that the present amendment will receive the unanimous approval and endorsement of all property owners in the area. We are anticipating, therefore, no opposition to the application of Borough President Levy. A blueprint showing the area to be included under the application is on file in our offices. Any of our members interested may avail themselves of the opportunity of our giving them full information with respect thereto. For the information of all interested, the amendment, if made by the Board of Estimate and Appointment, will not be retroactive. We make this statement at this time to allay any fears of the owners of property in the area affected.

WORTHY APPEAL FROM CHARITY ORGANIZATION FOR MEMBERS' AID IN SECURING JOBS

The Charity Organization Society's aim is to place back into industry the unemployed breadwinners appealing to the Society for help. Many of these people are desperately in need of help. An appeal is made to our members to help because it is felt that some openings for worthy men -- porters, watchmen, office cleaners, elevator operators, outside work of any kind, chauffeurs, painters, etc. -- may come up, and certainly none are more in need than those who have made their application to the Charity Organization. Careful judgement is exercised in placing men, and our members can feel that their request will have every attention. Please telephone any news of jobs to Miss Preuss, GRamercy 5-0192, State Employment Bureau, 114 East 25th Street. Mention that you are a member of this Association please.

UPPER FIFTH AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PLAN SUBMITTED TO PARK DEPARTMENT

Realizing the barren and unattractive appearance of the park side of Fifth Avenue from 59th Street to 110th Street, our Association, through its Parks and Plazas Committee, presented a plan to Manhattan Park Commissioner Herrick on April 23rd which provides for the removal of the present cement walk which is now a narrow strip running down the center of the sidewalk, bordered by two dirt strips, and, in its place, substitute a cement sidewalk extending from the park wall to within a few feet of the curbline, leaving a section at the curb which would be planted with shrubs, ivy, or trees. Benches would be placed back against the park wall. The strip at the curb would be protected with a low fence or hedge, and thus with a wide walk, a real "Fifth Avenue promenade" would be created. This plan has been evolved by our Parks and Plazas Committee over all the objections raised to the difficulties of planting in this section, or using gravel or other materials to dress up the sidewalk borders. This request, we are certain, will receive, as usual, the hearty cooperation of Park Commissioner Herrick.

FIFTH AVENUE'S TRAFFIC LIGHTS ASSURED FOR THIS SUMMER

The first of the new bronze traffic signal lights for Fifth Avenue will be installed, we have been assured, the latter part of May, and installation will then continue rapidly during the Summer. The contractor is now casting the posts at the rate of two a day. Our members will recall that there will be two of these posts at each intersection along the Avenue from 9th to 59th Street.