West 46th Street Block Association, Inc.

February 7, 2006/ Hartley House at 413 West 46th Street

May 02, 2006

1. Reading of the Minutes of Prior Meeting- Darrick reported that the minutes from the January meeting are not yet available. He reported that those present at that meeting voted to make several charitable contributions to non-profit organizations that serve our neighborhood.
2. Reports of Officers
2.1. President?’s Report
2.1.1. Report of Internet site (http://www.west46streetblockassociation.org) activity through January 31st: 133 visits to entire site, 58 home page, 3 calendar, 6 newsletter
2.1.2. Help needed for fabric cutting- Midtown Community Court will assist us with leveling tree grates but needs volunteers to cut the fabric. David Korman will schedule two days with Maggie Peck of the Community Court and Darrick will invite members and friends to help.
2.2. Vice President?’s Report- no report
2.3. Treasurer?’s Report- Allison reported our balance to be $1,600. Donations have been made to Hartley House ($200), St. Clements Church ($150), and Meals on Wheels ($100).
2.4. Secretary?’s Report- Darrick reported that the minutes from the January meeting are not yet available.
3. Reports of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees
3.1. Ivan Shapiro House (Watty Strouss, chair)- Watty reported that the committee met last week.
3.2. Membership (Allison Tupper, chair)- Allison solicied membership renewals. Eleven people joined or renewed their memberships at the meeting.
3.3. Midtown North Community Council (meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain House)- Darrick and Elke Fears, guest and President of the West 47th/ 48th Streets Block Association, reminded everyone that this is a good venue to complain about prostition and that we should call 911 if we see prostitutes so that the Police Department can properly document the problem.
4. Unfinished Business
4.1. Status of getting approval for amending name of playground- Watty will follow up.
4.2. Towing from New York Press spaces- June Stern reminded everyone that this continue to be a problem. Darrick will contact Colleen Chattergoon, Community Coordinator, Manhattan Borough Commissioner's Office, Department of Transportation, City of New York.
5. New Business
5.1. Discussion on new x-rated shop at 646 Tenth Avenue- as evidenced by the attendance (22 people), residents are concerned about the impact of an x-rated store in our neighborhood.
The owner has not been identified, but we understand it to be someone who lives in Georgia or Florida.
The landlord has been identified as: 646 10th Avenue, LLC, Paul Brusco, Brusco Contracting Corp, (212) 595-9590, 163 West 74th St, New York, NY 10023
Our top concerns are as follows:
5.1.1. Influence on children given proximity of PS 51, Hartley House and the Ryan Chelsea Clinton Health Center;
5.1.2. Capacity to attract undesirable people to our blocks and increase crime rates;
5.1.3. Capacity to provide shelter to prostitutes as the store is open 24 hours a day;
5.1.4. Capacity to attract more X-rated businesses (we already have the Penthouse Executive Club, a club by Edelweiss and Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, Private Eyes)
5.1.5. Influence on property values.
An action plan was developed to address concerns about the new x-rated shop at 646 Tenth Avenue:
5.1.6. Block Association will write and call the landlord outlining our concerns.
5.1.7. Ask all members and friends to write and call the landlord outlining their concerns.
5.1.8. Discuss concerns and obtain input from Community Board Four. Request that they write and call the landlord outlining their concerns.
5.1.9. Discuss concerns and obtain input from PS/IS 51 Elias Howe School and PTA. Request that they write and call the landlord outlining their concerns.
5.1.10. Discuss concerns and obtain input from neighborhood businesses. Request that they write and call the landlord outlining their concerns.
5.1.11. Discuss concerns and obtain input from elected officials: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer Office (Shaan Khan), Council Member Christine Quinn (Danielle Decerbo), New York State Legislature Tom Duane (Philip Yeager), New York State Legislature Richard Gottfried (Eliyanna Kaiser). Request that they write and call the landlord outlining their concerns.
5.1.12. Discuss concerns and obtain input from the police department (Midtown Police Precinct North Community Council).
5.1.13. Renee Stanley (West 44th Street Better Block Association) reported via email before the meeting that there is a mortgage in the amount of $4MM held by Washington Mutual Bank, P.O. Box 9178, Copell, TX 75019-9178. Perhaps a couple of well-directed letters to the bank suggesting that they might not want to have the name of their bank attached to what is going to be a highly publicized battle by local residents against a porn shop in this building.
5.1.14. Paper lamp post alerting neighbors that they need to voice their concerns.
6. Public Announcements- Adjournment- the meeting adjourned and several members went to the X-rated shop to make their objectons known.