The newsstand in front of Foodtown on 37th Avnue was removed earlier this week (Photo: Queens Post)
Aug. 1, 2019 By Shane O’Brien
An empty news stand located in front of Foodtown on 37th Avenue has been removed ending years of controversy.
The newsstand was installed in front of 76-10 37th Ave. in 2016 amid protests from elected leaders and many residents who claimed it obstructed the sidewalk and provided unfair competition to stores selling similar items. Furthermore, some argued that it was a magnet for graffiti and was a derelict eyesore.
Council Member Daniel Dromm, along with the late State Sen. Jose Peralta, led protests in 2016 calling for its removal. Community Board 3 also voted against its installation at the time.
Dromm has continued to apply pressure on the City to have it removed, and as recently as March penned a letter to the Department of Transportation and Department of Consumer Affairs imploring the agencies to remove it.
The late State Sen. Jose Peralta and CM Daniel Dromm protest the opening of the newsstand at 76-10 37th Ave. in 2016 (Photo: Peralta)
His campaign proved successful, with the Department of Consumer Affairs removing it on Tuesday.
The Council Member said in his March letter that the stand was a public safety hazard, with pedestrians regularly forced to walk on the road due to congestion on the busy sidewalk.
The letter emphasized that the sidewalk space is of paramount importance on that block, noting that there have been pedestrian deaths at the intersection of 76th Street and 37th Avenue.
Dromm said that the stand’s installation was approved based on a 2011 Department of Transportation foot-traffic study. He said that foot traffic has increased significantly in the eight years since the study was conducted.
Dromm said that the newsstand was largely unoccupied, with it only being tenanted for a few months in 2016. The Council Member said that the stand couldn’t compete with the many local shops.
“They were never able to make a go of it, although they were hardly ever open to begin with,” Dromm said in an interview.
Newsstand Letter 2019 by Queens Post on Scribd
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13 Comments
Eyesore, yes but not controversial.
Wow this is what he’s concerned about….does he even go to Roosevelt avenue? What a disaster.
Love the food carts and loud music on the corner of 82nd Street and 37th Avenue. Jackson Heights was so boring without it.
Oh I forgot the other food carts that block subway entrances on Roosevelt Ave. and 82 St.
We need more unsafe congestion in the area.
Members of government should be spending time working to clean up the disgusting mess which is on 38th Street. No street named after two Presidents should look like that. Close down the shady business and closely monitor the individuals that make walking under the 7th uncomfortable.
Good riddance. The newsstand was an eye sore, took up space, and, yes, did have graffiti on it .. done in black marker.
Thanks for that detail!
What about the food carts along Northern Blvd. that are starting to pop up? They take away from the stores that sell food?
Usually the only time he shows up is when he’s around Drag weirdos
respect our former mayor
Ah yes another Xenophobic Bigot in Jackson Heights . If you don’t like it leave right .
Was the news controversial or the stand? Was the news about bike lanes or something?
This is what our senator and city council member were wasting their time on? That newstand wasn’t blocking anyone’s path it was off the corner near the parked cars. Also it provided jobs for the people who worked there. It never had graffiti on it because it was made of stainless steel. What is next get rid of the bench that was next to it or the tree next to that? Come on Dromm you got bigger fish to fry.
I’m all for this newsstand’s removal, but pedestrians being forced to walk on the street because of it? Bullshit.