The Park Slope Civic Council has requested that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority help encourage local businesses to be placed in the retail areas now being renovated at the Fourth Avenue-Ninth Street subway station.
In February, New York City Transit opened the east side of the station to the public, allowing easier access for passengers coming from east of Fourth Avenue, and is renovating other parts of the station — all part of the station component work being done by New York City Transit in conjunction with the massive Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation Project. The project also includes six renovated storefronts on both sides of Fourth Avenue, under the F-train tracks.
“The Board of Trustees of the Park Slope Civic Council requests that when seeking tenants for the subject retail spaces, the MTA actively solicit and give preference to local businesses rather than branches or franchises of national chains,” Civic Council President Michael Cairl wrote in his Oct. 8 letter to the MTA. “Businesses serving transit riders and others, which are operated by our neighbors, would furnish far greater economic and social benefits to the surrounding community than affiliates of retailers headquartered outside of our community.
“We look forward to seeing the great retail potential of these spaces realized.”
The Civic Council has long advocated for improvements to the Fourth Avenue-Ninth Street station to increase pedestrian safety, create a more inviting streetscape, and encourage new retail opportunities.
Updated Nov. 1:
Ian Salsberg, senior real estate manager for the MTA Real Estate Department, replied:
“We appreciate your request to solicit proposals for the retail spaces at 4th Avenue station from local businesses. To help us reach out to these potential proposers, we will be pleased to notify you when the request for proposals (RFP) is issued. Concerning giving preference to proposers that are local businesses, the MTA, as a public authority, is required by law to offer these spaces through an RFP that provides full and free competition. This is as per the Public Authorities Accountabilty Act.
“I look forward to working together to alert any local businesses that may be interested in these retail spaces and submitting a proposal.”