With Business Struggling, Stores on Clinton Street Push to Overturn Loading Zone

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It’s no secret that Clinton Street businesses have been struggling of late. Deemed a shopping area, rising rents, decreased daytime foot traffic, and increased real estate taxes have created a perfect storm of hinderance. (Remember also that the street itself is haunted.) A reported nine of twenty-one stores on the west side of Clinton Street are vacancies. Construction on the glitzy 50 Clinton condo project isn’t helping, either. One proposed solution, though, aims to keep vehicle-bound shoppers on the block for an extended period of time.

CB3 member Meghan Joye, owner of Donnybrook and Lucky Jack’s, is leading that effort, and appeared before the Transportation subcommittee last night to pitch the proposal. The short of it is that Joye wants to overturn the outdated loading zone that currently exists on the east side between Rivington and Stanton Streets. This designation forbids curbside parking seven days a week, unless driving a commercial vehicle.

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Joye argues that the loading zone is no longer relevant, and hasn’t been for decades. Especially since there is not a hotel et al. to warrant one. Not to mention, those that would benefit from this arrangement – small stores themselves – can’t take advantage. And then there is the issue of metered parking that is restricted to one hour. Not really designed to allow shoppers to keep on. So, the proposal is as follows:

• Eliminate the loading zone altogether and establish metered parking to allow for more shoppers.
• All metered parking between East Houston and Delancey Streets should be two-hour duration to keep them there.

In the end, Joye collected endorsement from fifteen businesses that are most directly affected by the loading zone. Recognizing the groundswell of support to change the status quo, the panel unanimously approved the proposal. Assuming its rubber-stamped by the full board, CB3 will send its recommendation to the Department of Transportation for further consideration.