How about the Mayor not facilitate giving Amazon $1.3 billion in NYC subsidies by bypassing the ULURP public planning, review, and comment processes? (That's in addition to the $1.7 billion in discretionary subsidies from Gov. Cuomo.) They are choosing not only not to help small businesses, but to hurt them by giving their tax dollars to a behemoth competitor, for whom they clear away the regulatory hurdles. There's your City government in action. Gee, thanks. — James on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

Soon there will be nothing left of the Tribeca that I love. I wonder if the finance peeps who've taken over the neighborhood value these kind of places. — Phyllis Ruffer on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

We need to put pressure on Mayor De Blasio and the City Council to come up with some kind of tax and rent stabofor local businesses. The Mayor was pitching something along those lines. We need to get rid of the city taxes on small businesses and we need some kind of built in protections when buildings are sold. Others NYC is going to end up a wasteland. No joke. — Jean Grillo on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

I'm going to aim for Saturdays... And his comment required my approval, so once I did, his went up, but it came to the site earlier than yours (it's time stamped on my end). — Pam Frederick on Where in Tribeca…

What i really love about this is that it's an image of Bill Murray looking up at the stenciled words on the door: Post No Bills. — Roeme on Where in Tribeca…

Thanks James. Clear and helpful. — PVP on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

The trend of empty store fronts all over the city with Real Estate Investment companies that are not involved in a neighborhood. They do not care if their spaces are occupied more than owning in a particular location; hot areas and portfolio addresses are about book values. Often times, they have no community buy in or compelling motivation to provide space to small businesses or any type of local community services. The trend has had a profound negative affect on neighborhoods all over the city. — TK on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

Just out of curiosity...when I was posting I did not see another comment there, and afterwards only mine showed up on the page... Also, will you be posting these on a regular schedule or just randomly...? — Robert Ripps on Where in Tribeca…

I cannot understand why they have not rerouted city buses away from Warren. They barely make it through the single lane that is open, and clog up traffic trying to make the turn from Church onto Warren. Traffic is often at a standstill, making it impossible for emergency vehicles to get through - which is of course dangerous and very scary, but also creates near-constant sirens blaring through the day. — E on Construction update part one: Warren Street

And if they can only get the construction workers to smoke pot under the scaffolding at the END of the day, instead of the BEGINNING of the day when they are on the job, that would be great too! — Maryann on Construction update part two: Worth Street

The Okonite Oilostatic Transmission System dates back to the 1930s. — James on Construction update part two: Worth Street

Walked by Game Stop on Greenwich St. The store is completely gone. Erik mentioned in a post a few months back that the store would be closing after the new year's. In other news a TJ Maxx is coming to Soho, near where the original Pearl River Mart used to be on Broadway. — TribecaMom on Seen & Heard: Winter drive-in at the Oculus

These are clearly "contributing" buildings to the historic district. — James on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

This building is not a city landmark, but is in the Tribeca West Historic District. This map is the best way to explore the city's landmark system. https://nyclpc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=93a88691cace4067828b1eede432022b And this is from the LPC on construction in historic districts: Landmark designation does not "freeze" a building or an area. Alterations, demolition, and new construction continue to take place, but LPC must review the proposed changes and determine whether they are appropriate. This review helps ensure that the special qualities of the designated buildings are not compromised or destroyed. In addition, new construction may occur when an owner of a vacant lot or building of no significance in a historic district wishes to construct a new building on the site. The Commission has approved such proposals when the design of the new building was found to be appropriate to the character of the historic district. — Pam Frederick on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

I'm one of those "imaginary people" who tried to pay for a food purchase with cash and was told that the restaurant only accepted digital payments, even though it didn't prominently display its policy. Fortunately, I hadn't been served any food and canceled my order. That's one restaurant I won't patronize in the future. — Guest on Another Restaurant No Longer Accepts Cash

Timmy takes it at 7:06p. That's a red door on the brick facade of the substation. — Pam Frederick on Where in Tribeca…

And I remember Dudley and the dog Holloween Parade he hosted. — Think Blue on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

Are these buildings individually landmarked or are they just part of the blanket Tribeca West Historic District? What I mean is could they be demolished individually or as a group? — Think Blue on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

It is the Con Ed substation on West Broadway, between Franklin & Leonard streets... — Robert Ripps on Where in Tribeca…

West Broadway and Leonard — Timmy on Where in Tribeca…

Here's the quote from the report. The only analogy it cites is the loss of a temporary *incentive*, as opposed to the addition of a penalty. (State government cannot affect federal tax deductions either.) "While the state level of government is limited in its ability to impact local zoning decisions, one way the Legislature can act is by utilizing its taxing authority. While landlords who leave retail storefronts vacant cannot deduct the lost potential rental income they could have received from their state income tax liability, they, like all owners of commercial real estate, are able to receive deductions for depreciation of the property and operating expenses. To create a disincentive for leaving retail storefronts vacant, the state could explore phasing out those deductions, on a sliding scale, for building owners who leave retail spaces vacant for over one year. New York could also consider various tax incentives, credits, or penalties to dissuade landlords from keeping a store vacant. As one example of this type of policy, the City of London provides commercial building owners who lose their tenants a short period of relief on their business rates, or taxes. After three months, the tax relief expires and owners must pay full business rates even if the store is vacant. This is meant to encourage landlords to rent out their space." — James on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

More clarity from Holyman's 2017 report that suggests a number of ways to help address vacancies on Bleecker Street. This is one of a number of solutions offered in his report : "Phasing Out Tax Deductions for Landlords with Persistent Vacancies: Though landlords who leave retail storefronts vacant cannot deduct lost potential rental income, they are able to receive deductions for depreciation of property and operating vacancies. This proposal would disincentivize vacant storefronts by phasing out these deductions for building owners who leave retail spaces vacant over a year. The report at the link. https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/brad-hoylman/its-bleaker-bleecker-street-new-report-examines-high-rent Another link from the NYTimes from 9/18, for those who want to explore storefront blight further: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/09/06/nyregion/nyc-storefront-vacancy.html?module=inline Very upset to hear that Dudley's will likely be forced out. Yvonne was here before 9/11 and remained here after. She is the proprietor whom I think of first when I think about what gives this neighborhood its heart and soul. She's always warm and incredibly helpful and we will miss her dearly. — HBSB on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

"why do they leave the store front empty for so long?" There could be lots of reasons. If they have a mortgage, they may "need" a certain minimum rent to get bank approval for a long term lease commitment. If not, they may be able to carry the building at zero retail rent in the short term financially, writing off the loss against other gains, as any business does, while hoping not to lock in a low, sub-market rent for the long term. Also, you may have noticed that the retail business is undergoing major structural change, and there are not necessarily enough qualified retail tenants to fill all the empty stores. Further, evicting a nonpaying commercial tenant or one who has done structural damage or illegal alterations is a long and costly legal process, which does not encourage risk taking by landlords. — James on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

Hi James, so why do they leave the store front empty for so long? I know why IPN is, they are going to do construction soon ( which takes years) what about the rest? if no tax benefit why? — NATIVE on Myoptics, Dudley’s, Tribeca Wine closing?

Our dog chases the rats at night and gets a lot of exercise that way. — Max on Construction update part one: Warren Street