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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
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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TAKING THE CAKE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Bakers create edible versions of NYC landmarks for Christmas windows. p. 33
PICTURING TIME Vija Celmins conjures moments at the Met Breuer. p. 10
THE HEALING POWERS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
Recovering from a broken back, a student finds that walking local streets was the best medicine. p. 6
SANTA SAYS, SAFETY FIRST
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 WEEK OF AUGUST
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of Your personal edition News Chelsea Clinton Since 1972
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STOREFRONTS
Upper West Side (UWS). Newly formed, the group has already attracted the atElected officials and residents packed a town hall tention of local politicians. The meeting was standing meeting aimed at saving room only and boasted a neighborhood businesses panel with Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan BY CECE KING Borough President Gale Brewer, City Council MemThe grassroots advocacy ber Helen Rosenthal, State group UWS Save our Stores, Senator Robert Jackson, aptly referred to as “SOS,” and State Assembly Memhosted its first town hall ber Linda Rosenthal. meeting on “Vacant StoreIn a recent report, the Defronts and Visions for partment of City Planning Neighborhood Revitalizafound that 12.8 percent of tion” last Thursday. SOS is UWS storefronts were vafocused on the epidemic of storefront vacancies in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
12-18 2019
Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
3 6 8 10
Restaurant Ratings 31 Business 34 Real Estate 33 15 Minutes 35
2019
‘MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED’ P. 21
f d h e s, p gs ng st nts alng ish ass eel
◄ 15 MINUTES,
Clinton
INSIDE
LET’S CHAMA!
the food A new restaurant brings country of and culture of the p 16 Georgia to Chelsea.
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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6
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
Kamala HarWarren, Cory Booker, and Bernie 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 Candidates need to ren and Sanderson the first night. off with Sen. Kirsten Democratic presi- 130,000 unique donors and have moderate field and eight other in four qualigot high marks on – on July 31, it Booker and Yang and hit at least 2 percent dential hopefuls the last Billy candidates have the second night, but Biden a might have marked presidential fying polls. Eight the polls. and are assured at the are still ahead in Harris hit those marks 12 and Gilly Show largely igin Houston on Sept. De Blasio and Gillibrand for one debates. ei- spot onstage Presiawful tough for are former Vice each other except “It’s going to be and and 13. They Senators Elizabeth nored 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
Children’s toys can cause injuries and even deaths. Holiday advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics. p. 2
3 8
14 Restaurant Ratings 16 Business
THE GOAT VOTE And the winner is...
p. 2
SURVIVNG YOUR SUMMER COLD
seasonal How to deal with thefeel worse virus that makes usp. 15 than a winter bug.
WOODSTOCK SOJOURN day of peace, Jon Friedman on a 8 love and music. p.
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