Politicos Rally To Save Chelsea's 'Last Ungentrified Block'

Protesters and politicans plan to rally in Chelsea on Saturday against the displacement of a handful of small businesses on Ninth Avenue by landlord Morris Monian.

Eight stores along what organizers are calling “the last ungentrified block in Chelsea” —including Chelsea Liquors, the Ninth Avenue Gift Shop, Sweet Banana Candy Store, New Barber Shop and Famous Deli—have between three months and two years before their lease expires.

Organizers said the shops cater directly to residents of the Fulton Houses affordable housing complex across the street.

The flier reads: “We don’t need another designer shop …another fancy restaurant …another high priced food market! We need the Mom-&-Pop stores that have served this community for years.”

“We don’t want them replaced … we don’t want to be priced out of our neighborhood. Show your support on May 3rd. Be there!”

Since Mr. Moinian’s Fortuna Realty company bought 112-126 Ninth Avenue for $31.4 million last November it appears he has been laying the groundwork for plans to “renovate and upgrade” the building to lure high-end retail.

A press release from the protesters claims “the owner of the building at 112 Ninth Avenue is refusing to renew leases for the businesses, which are being forced out to be replaced by newer, upscale businesses, while the superintendant in the building is being forced to give up his apartment to make way for a swimming pool.”

City Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Tom Duane and Assemblymember Dick Gottfied are expected to join.

Read the full release below:

NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO RALLY TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHELSEA FACING EVICTION

Manhattan -- West Side neighborhood groups and residents will be joined tomorrow by City Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Tom Duane, and Assemblymember Dick Gottfied for a demonstration and rally to protest the eviction of several long-standing neighborhood businesses in rapidly-gentrifying Chelsea -- some of the few remaining old-time businesses in the neighborhood. The businesses -- two small grocery stores, a gift store, a barber shop, and a liquor store -- are just a few blocks from the Meatpacking District and the trendy, recently-opened Maritime Hotel, but are also directly across the street from the Fulton Houses NYC Housing Authority development, and serve a still significant lower- and moderate-income population in the neighborhood. Residents are worried that with the disappearance of these stores, along with many other older business in recent years, Chelsea is losing its character, and lower-income residents are losing their ability to afford to shop for even the most basic services in their own neighborhood. The owner of the building at 112 Ninth Avenue is refusing to renew leases for the businesses, which are being forced out to be replaced by newer, upscale businesses, while the superintendant in the building is being forced to give up his apartment to make way for a swimming pool.

WHAT: Demonstration and Rally to Protest the Eviction of Long-Time Chelsea Small Businesses
WHEN: Saturday, May 3rd, 1-3 pm
WHERE: Ninth Avenue btw. 17th and 18th Streets
WHO: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Stringer, State Senator Duane, Assemblymember Gottfried, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, Community Board 2, Community Board 4, Metropolitan Council on Housing, Chelsea Coalition on Housing, Fulton Houses Tenant Assoc., Elliott Chelsea Tenant Assoc.,Fulton Youth of the Future, Chelsea for Peace, Save Chelsea, West Side Neighborhood Alliance, Chelsea Midtown Democratic Club

Join your neighbors!
Show support for the small stores
that have served Chelsea for many years.

SAVE OUR SMALL STORES!
SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
SAVE THE DATE!

SATURDAY, MAY 3RD
1 pm TO 3 pm, 9th Ave.
BTWN. 17th & 18th STREET

We don’t need another designer shop…another fancy restaurant…another high priced food market! We need the Mom-&-Pop stores that have served this community for years. Chelsea Liquors, the 9th Avenue Gift Shop, Sweet Banana Candy Store, New Barber Shop, and Famous Deli—8 stores in all, are threatened. We don’t want them replaced….we don’t want to be priced out of our neighborhood. Show your support on May 3rd. Be there!

Endorsed by: Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, State Senator Thomas K. Duane, State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Community Board 2, Community Board 4, Metropolitan Council on Housing, Chelsea Coalition on Housing, Fulton Houses Tenant Assoc., Elliott Chelsea Tenant Assoc.,Fulton Youth of the Future, Chelsea for Peace, Save Chelsea, West Side Neighborhood Alliance, Chelsea Midtown Democratic Club (list in formation)