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TESTIMONY

Julie Stein on Supporting Economic Opportunity and Modernizing Union Square through City of Yes

6:00:50

·

124 sec

Julie Stein advocates for the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity initiative to modernize Union Square's commercial landscape and reduce retail vacancies.

Stein emphasizes the potential for unique in-person experiences to revitalize Union Square and attract office workers, residents, and tourists.
She notes that Union Square is recovering toward pre-pandemic foot traffic levels but still faces challenges with retail and office vacancies.
The testimony compares Union Square with SoHo, highlighting the success of experiential retail due to more permissive zoning in SoHo.
Stein calls for zoning amendments to allow for a variety of experiential retail options in Union Square, similar to SoHo.
She stresses the importance of clear regulations to support small business owners and expand foot traffic, tourism, and the public realm.

Julie Stein

6:00:50

Good afternoon.

6:00:51

My name is Julie Stein, and I'm the executive director of Union Square Partnership.

6:00:55

I'm here to speak in support of City of Yes for Economic Opportunity.

6:00:59

As a business improvement district, we are focused on the health of our dynamic with workplace ecosystem.

6:01:04

And thanks to that mix of usage, Union Square's foot traffic is nearly recovered to pre pandemic levels.

6:01:09

However, we're still seeing an elevated retail level of retail and office vacancy in line with citywide trends.

6:01:15

We have the opportunity to modernize commercial landscape with unique in person experiences that engage office workers, residents, shoppers, and other visitors.

6:01:23

These in person experiences fit in the play category of that critical live workplace success formula.

6:01:28

Union Square has long had play uses.

6:01:30

The park theaters, concert venues, destination retail, and unique small businesses.

6:01:35

We are now seeing a renewed interest in opening play uses in the district.

6:01:39

Comedy in jazz clubs, pla, arcades, and bar games, and a handful of experiential retail stores focused on kids and family.

6:01:45

But these new users are coming in slowly despite a strong customer base in Union Square and retail storefront availability in our district.

6:01:52

Compare Union Square's experience what's happening right now in SoHo.

6:01:55

Which is at the cutting edge of experiential retail and enjoys one of the lowest vacancy rates in New York City in retail right now.

6:02:02

Retailers in SoHo are creating a new kind of storefront.

6:02:05

Focused on immersive experiences that combine traditional amusement uses with their retail shopping experience.

6:02:10

Why are these experiential retailers choosing SoHo time and time again?

6:02:14

One reason is that the existing mixed use zoning is more permissive of these creative offerings than the zoning we have in Union Square, but it doesn't have to be that way.

6:02:22

Today, the city of yes tax amendments have the opportunity to remove these outdated zoning limitations, so we can ensure that business districts across the city have activate storefronts and a diversity in ground floor offerings such as real experiential retail.

6:02:37

This vibrant retail landscape will lead to expanded foot traffic, increased tourism, and a lively or public realm, which supports businesses, increases public safety and improves quality of life.

6:02:47

Furthermore, small business owners are asking for clarity in the rules around these modern uses like experiential retail.

6:02:52

These owning techs amendments will provide the Department of Building Systems.

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Camelia Tepelus, Executive Director, Morris Park Business Improvement District on the City of Yes Initiative and Specific Concerns for the East Bronx

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John Calcagnile, Land Use Chair of Queens Community Board 10, on the Zoning for Economic Opportunity text amendment modifications