Jean Green Dorsey*
160 West 97th Street
New York, New York 10025
December 2, 2008
John Mackey, Chairman
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, Tx. 78703-4644
Dear Mr. Mackey:
I write to you as a citizen, neighbor, potential customer and community stakeholder.
Your organization is planning an extraordinary operation in Manhattan on 97th Street and Columbus Avenue. I have watched it being built and had the opportunity to meet several members of your team.
The current plan calls for a number of delivery truck parking bays along our block. When the plan was first described,w e thought it not in the best interests of the community. Many discussions were held and the building proceeded as first described.
After seeing what has been built and listening to people who actually drive the type of trucks that you will need to effectively deliver your stock, we know that those trucks will never fit into the allotted space. A trip to the site by members of your team will confirm this observation.
What will happen? There is already a precedent in our neighborhood. When a major electronics retailer insisted on being able to unload and deliver from 87th Street off of Amsterdam Avenue, they were warned of a similar problem. Now they unload on the Avenue, guard the merchandise, and walk the deliveries around the corner to the 87th Street entrance. That is a difficult situation that will be multiplied by your needs.
You should know that with several schools in the area, existing parking garages plus a medical facility and a full compliment of residents, parking is a valued commodity and we will fight any attempt to change any of the existing arrangements.
There is still time to require a modification of the plans for your deliveries by the owners of the Park West Willage ["Columbus Village"] space that is being used for your store.
Copies of this communication are designed to deny anyone the possibility of saying that they "did not know" about this problem.
You have the opportunity to be a wonderful corporate neighbor. I hope that happens.
Sincerely,
/signed/
Jean Green Dorsey
Electronic copies to:
* Jean Green Dorsey is a vice president of the Coalition to Preserve West Park North.
John Mackey, Chairman
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, Tx. 78703-4644
Dear Mr. Mackey:
I write to you as a citizen, neighbor, potential customer and community stakeholder.
Your organization is planning an extraordinary operation in Manhattan on 97th Street and Columbus Avenue. I have watched it being built and had the opportunity to meet several members of your team.
The current plan calls for a number of delivery truck parking bays along our block. When the plan was first described,w e thought it not in the best interests of the community. Many discussions were held and the building proceeded as first described.
After seeing what has been built and listening to people who actually drive the type of trucks that you will need to effectively deliver your stock, we know that those trucks will never fit into the allotted space. A trip to the site by members of your team will confirm this observation.
What will happen? There is already a precedent in our neighborhood. When a major electronics retailer insisted on being able to unload and deliver from 87th Street off of Amsterdam Avenue, they were warned of a similar problem. Now they unload on the Avenue, guard the merchandise, and walk the deliveries around the corner to the 87th Street entrance. That is a difficult situation that will be multiplied by your needs.
You should know that with several schools in the area, existing parking garages plus a medical facility and a full compliment of residents, parking is a valued commodity and we will fight any attempt to change any of the existing arrangements.
There is still time to require a modification of the plans for your deliveries by the owners of the Park West Willage ["Columbus Village"] space that is being used for your store.
Copies of this communication are designed to deny anyone the possibility of saying that they "did not know" about this problem.
You have the opportunity to be a wonderful corporate neighbor. I hope that happens.
Sincerely,
/signed/
Jean Green Dorsey
Electronic copies to:
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg
- Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
- Councilpersons Melissa Mark Viverito and Gale Brewer
- State elected officials: Governor David Paterson, Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell, and Senator Bill Perkins
- Commissioners of the Departments of Buildings and Transportation
- Community Board 7
* Jean Green Dorsey is a vice president of the Coalition to Preserve West Park North.
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