Zoning changes around Union Square, specifically to OUR zone, C6, are designed to make it easier for a wider variiety of businesses to set up shop at the ground floor level and above. The details are here. For example,

• Arcades

• Axe-throwing

• Billiards/pool halls

• Bowling alleys

• Escape rooms

• Golf simulator driving range

• Indoor go-karts

• Indoor skateboard park

• Interactive or virtual reality attractions

• Laser tag

• Miniature golf

• Observation towers

• Ping pong/table tennis

• Play spaces/family fun centers

• Wax figure exhibitions

• Seasonally: haunted houses and similar fright attractions

• Comedy shows

• Concerts

• Dancing

• Open-mic night or poetry reading

• 3-D printing

• Brewery

• Ceramic studio

• Jewelry making

• Wholesale and/or large-scale bakery

• Woodworking

• Other food and beverage producers, such as coffee roasters, ice cream makers, and shared commercial kitchen or food business incubator space

• Other makers

Bring your electronic junk to the north end of Union Square on January 12 from 10-2. Here are the details:

We accept the following working and non-working consumer electronic equipment:

• Computers (laptops & desktops, servers, mainframes)
• Monitors (CRT and flatscreen)
• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)
• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, cords, chargers, etc.)
• Tablets and e-readers
• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.)
• Printers under 100 pounds, scanners, fax machines, etc
• TVs, VCRs, DVRs, DVD & Blu-ray Players
• Digital Converter Boxes, Cable/Satellite Receivers
• Portable music players
• Audio-visual equipment
• Video-games
• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs
• Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.)

We no longer accept:

Batteries (except lead-acid batteries from UPS (uninterrupted power supplies) systems, rechargeable batteries can be dropped off for recycling at any store that sells them, also check out IKEA and Staples stores for battery recycling.

Media, such as disks, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, etc.

Please visit greendisk.com to purchase a shipping label to get these items recycled

Party City begins the new year with its demise.

Sad to see that Patisserie Fouet on 13th St. is no more. It closed suddenly and without much explanation. Perhaps an end-of-year lease situation. They do have another location at 776 9th Ave at 52nd St.

This remarkable site from the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation takes us on a lot-by-lot tour of Lower 5th Ave. from 8th St. to 14th St., telling the story of every building at every address over time. Layer after layer of history is revealed, with lots of photos. A remarkable effort!

This 1920 photo shows the northeast corner of 5th Ave. and 13th St., the current location of The New School’s main building. If you look down 13th St. at the right of the photo, you can see our 13th St. building. 104 years ago!

Soon to arrive on 4th Ave. between 12th and 13th Streets is Schmackary’s Cookies, which allegedly sells more types of freshly baked cookies that any other cookie store.

The Union Square Partnership has released its latest annual survey of people’s opinions about our neighborhood’s livability in terms of cleanliness, safety, landscaping, lighting, and quality of life. It makes for an interesting read. One highlight:

“USP is committed to enhancing livability in the Union Square 14th Street district through its Clean + Safe program. According to the 2024 survey results, satisfaction for district conditions improved or remained consistent compared to 2023 results, with satisfaction for public safety increasing by 15%. This notable increase follows USP’s deployment of Public Safety Officers (PSOs) in June 2023, and survey respondents noted that their patrols have had a positive impact in Union Square Park and the playground. Despite this improvement, respondents dissatisfied with the conditions expressed ongoing safety, sanitation, and quality of life concerns around the district, including the lack of City enforcement and City services for those in need. USP is dedicated to continuing investment in the PSO program and increasing coordination with City agencies and law enforcement in response to the community’s quality of life concerns.”

Please note that the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for 7-11 East 13^th Street Tenants Corp. will be held on Tuesday, December 3^rd at 6:00PM. The meeting will be held at Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Avenue located at 11 East 11^th Street, New York, NY 10003.  A formal notice of the meeting will follow.

The primary purpose of the meeting is to elect the Board of Directors for the upcoming year. If you are interested in running for a seat on the Board, please submit a short synopsis or bio outlining your qualifications and desire to run for the Board of Directors. You may send this information to Mecca White at Mwhite@akam.com no later than Friday, November 1, 2024, so that your name may appear on the ballot.

We look forward to your participation at the Annual Meeting.