Big Swath of Parking Spots Swiped on W. 67th. Locals Peeved at ABC’s Press-Only Privileges

By Joy Bergmann

Last week, residents of West 67^th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue awoke to “NYP License Plates Only” signs spanning almost the entire south side of the block. Without any forewarning, 18 public parking spaces disappeared so that reporters – presumably from ABC News – with New York Press [NYP] plates could have them for their exclusive use.

Multiple incensed tipsters wrote to West Side Rag, indicating that this parking kerfuffle was just the latest “misery” for folks living near ABC. They asked: What gives?

According to a Department of Transportation [DOT] spokesperson, the 67^th Street spots are to replace ABC’s current allotment of NYP parking on the north side of 66^th Street between CPW and Columbus. Why? Because that 66th Street stretch will soon be used to accommodate construction equipment for Extell’s proposed 775-foot residential tower at 50 W. 66^th.

“Lend Lease Construction [sic] is permitted to occupy all footage directly across from their site plus 30’ in both directions to enable the concrete pour phase of their residential housing project,” the DOT said in an emailed statement to WSR. [Lendlease is constructing for Extell, according to posted signs at the building site. Extell’s spokesperson would not confirm the relationship.] “The expeditor, Code LLC, says the work is scheduled until 2022. Lend Lease will install the “No Standing Temporary Construction” signs along the North curb of W66th Street as required, effectively removing the NYP parking.”

DOT continued, “The NYP spaces that were relocated to W. 67th Street are along the back of the ABC building and do not interfere with any residential dwellings along that curb line. DOT installed 18 NYP Authorized Vehicle Only spaces, removing 3 from their original 21 space allotment due to this fact. Also left intact on W. 67th Street was the already established metered parking.”

Though DOT has presented this situation as a swap of sorts, the NYP-only parking signs remained in place on 66^th Street as of Tuesday. That makes a total of approximately 39 spots held in reserve – and many unused. Plus, WSR counted 12 NYP-only spots along 66^th between West End Avenue and Freedom Place near ABC’s second UWS campus.

To be fair, it’s possible that CNN or CBS employees with NYP plates could be parking in these spots and walking to studios at Columbus Circle and 57^th Street. But it’s much more likely that ABC employees are enjoying this valuable perk. Doing the math, if a reserved spot in a garage is worth $500 a month, times 51 spots equals an annual $306,000.

Whoever may be using the spaces, Disney/ABCTV Group spokesperson Charissa Gilmore says, “We did not request the move of spots to 67^th Street,” noting that the ABC team was apparently as uninformed as the neighborhood about the parking change.

Community Board 7 chair Roberta Semer says CB7 wasn’t consulted about the NYP parking switcheroo, “It hasn’t come before us.”

“Nothing to do with anything we’re doing,” added Dara McQuillan, a spokesperson for Silverstein Properties, ABC’s current landlord. Silverstein purchased both ABC campuses in July and is leasing back the properties to Disney for up to five years while Disney builds a new ABC headquarters downtown.

NYPD says they were similarly uninvolved. “We have nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with that sign change,” Capt. Timothy Malin of 20^th Precinct told WSR. “The NYPD does not determine signage. DOT does.”

So, it’s still unclear who initiated the switch, whether the switch is temporary or permanent and perhaps the biggest puzzler of all: Why do TV journalists need reserved NYP parking anyway? When they head out on a breaking story, they’re in a mobile unit production van, not someone’s Kia.

ABC’s Gilmore didn’t have an answer for that one. “We keep our mobile trucks in the garages at West End and 66^th.”

Tipster TH – who lives on the affected 67^th Street block – is fed up. “This is a residential neighborhood. Residents should have the first priority for street parking…why should businesses be given such privileges?”

Mary-Claire Barton – who has lived at 50 W. 67^th for 14 years – says it’s the latest affront from an “arrogant” company that “doesn’t care.” She cites past problems with bright lights, litter, noise and congestion. “Last week, LIVE with Kelly and Ryan did some stunt in front of our building…obstructing traffic from early morning until 11 after the show, ” she says. Another resident said those kinds of street closures and obstructions seem to happen “all the time.”

Asked about the quality of life complaints, an ABC spokesperson said “ABC does a lot for the community, especially WABC, New York’s top news station.”

Adding to the squeeze, ABC has had a giant mobile air conditioning unit parked in two 67^th Street spots since July. Gilmore says it’s needed to supplement a broken system until repairs can be made. There’s also a major sidewalk repair project happening at 27 W. 67^th. And there’s a huge dumpster for a residential renovation project sitting in several other spaces.

“There’s no room for us to park,” says Richard, a building employee at 75 Central Park West. “Nobody’s happy.”

But ever-resourceful New Yorkers are already developing workarounds. “NYP license plates are going to be in high demand on the 67th Street black market,” says Barton. “If you have one, make me an offer!”