By Bobby Panza
The Upper West Side could soon be getting its own legal supply of marijuana. Two applications for legal cannabis dispensaries have been filed in the district, according to Max Vandervliet, Community Board 7 district manager. Vandervliet made the announcement at CB7’s October full-board meeting, held in person Tuesday night at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church on West 86th Street. Members who couldn’t attend in person “for cause” joined the meeting by Zoom.
“I know this is something that many of you have a strong interest in,” noted Vandervliet who pointed out that there could “potentially [be] two more” dispensary applications coming, bringing the total to four. The proposed addresses for the two known cannabis locations are 2465 Broadway, between West 91st and West 92nd Streets, and 2601 Broadway, at West 98th Street.
The applications will be discussed in detail at the next Business & Consumer Issues Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 11. To sign up for the Zoom link to this meeting, click here.
Officer elections were also on the agendaTuesday night. Compared to last year’s election, which saw a board member use their allotted time to drop a diatribe on a candidate running for Board Chair, elections in 2023 ran a lot more smoothly — not surprising, since all the candidate ran unopposed. One new member joined the ranks of the officers.
Here is the complete roster of officers elected last night:
Board Chair: Beverly Donohue
Vice Chair: Doug Kleiman
Treasurer: Seema Reddy
Co-Secretary: Barbara Adler
Co-Secretary: Alex Bell (New member)
Strategy & Budget Committee Co-Chair Roberta Semer identified the top three pressing issues for CB7 in fiscal year 2025, which are: affordable housing, food insecurity, and education for students K-12.
“Over 25% of the residents on the Upper West Side are food insecure,” said Semer, “which means they might have a decent meal today, but they don’t know if they’re going to eat tomorrow.” Semer also pointed out that some schools are not performing up to capacity, and that the increasing migrant population is being placed in public schools without appropriate resources. The resolution on capital budget priorities for 2025 passed resoundingly.
CB7 closed the night by approving changes within Central Park in an “advisory not dispositive capacity,” Board Chair Beverly Donohue explained. Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ) got the green light from the board to renovate their outdoor seating area with a five-pergola system, which will let the business run year-round. The space will utilize a wooden motorized louver that will let it remain open during good weather, but allow it to close when it is inclement and at night. Ceiling-mounted heaters and fans will also be installed. The seating capacity will remain at 60. LPQ is paying for the renovations and more are expected, said Parks & Environment Committee Co-chair Natasha Kazmi. The board voted 25 in favor of the alterations, with five opposed and four abstaining. After all community boards abutting Central Park weigh in, the matter will move onto the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for final resolution.
The renovations of two restrooms in Central Park were approved unanimously: the Delacorte Theater restroom at West 81st Street, and the Great Hill restroom around West 106th Street. The exteriors of both facilities will remain consistent with their historical design, while accessibility is improved inside with ramps and handrails. Renovations at the Delacorte restroom will take a year, which is expected to coincide with the renovation of the Delacorte Theater. The Great Hill renovation will feature windows with white frosting to match its historic design. Upon completion, that previously seasonal restroom will be open year-round. It will take nine months to complete, starting in spring, 2024. Again,the LPC is the final stop.
The next full Community Board 7 meeting is on November 6 at 6:30 p.m.
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Curious, what is meant by “schools not performing up to capacity” — capacity should refer to the number of seats. Meaning the goal of CB7 is to cram in as many migrant students as possible?
Thank you CB7 – better more accessible public restrooms a big plus. On bigger issues, 4 dispensaries sounds reasonable, and the large priorities good. (Crime, e-bikes etc will doubtless return too.)
25% on the UWS are good insecure. Is it the same 25% who are marijuana insecure? Just wondering.
What does that mean?
If there’s one thing we need it’s stores that sell marijuana at a higher price than the 30 stores in the neighborhood that already sell marijuana. But it’s better because it’s licensed right?
Legal also suports our NY farmers.
Er, yes, it’s better if it’s legal rather than unlicensed stores that sell to minors, that sell product that could be mixed with anything, etc
…there’s already a dispensary operating openly (and therefore, I assume, legally) on Amsterdam and 81st? This article implies that we don’t currently have a legal supply of weed on the UWS.
There are no fully licensed, legal marijuana retailers currently operating on the UWS. All of the smoke shops you see around are operating outside the letter of the law.
There have been raids and fines issued, but it does not seem to be deterring this activity.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2023/07/18/owner-of-illegal-pot-shops-on-uws-to-pay-restitution-forfeit-proceeds-and-cease-sales
That is NOT a legal dispensary. The fact that it is operating openly does not mean it’s legal. Look at the thousands that operate openly, all of which are illegal. It’s out of control.
Congrats and thank you to the officers on the community board.
Phoebe meant “food insecure”
There are already two illegal smoke shops on my block which is the block between 97th and 98th Street on Broadway. Setting up a legal dispensary at 2601 Broadway which is across the street from my building will just make the whole area week even more given that people smoke all the time underneath the scaffoldings and in the staircases leading to the basements of buildings. I think they could have chosen better. And the landlords of these two buildings that accepted these smoke shops, don’t they have any responsibility?
Please PUT THOSE DRUG DISPENSARIES BELOW 91 STREET
We have enough drug stores on every block from 90S up.
Are people now allowed to drink alcohol openly? Just wondering bc it seems that half the time I notice someone step out of an illegal pot peddler store, complete with drug runners (deliveristas) outside, they light up. It’s better than cigarettes but one of these days, someone is going to write about the purposeful brain destruction of all colors of neighborhood kids. Might as well give the drinkers some rights.
It should be interesting when the legal drug dealers compete with these guys. The cachet of walking in and THEN mixing and selling adulterated crap….
The last thing the UWS needs is drug
Dispensaries.
Am amazed at what a lousy job board CB7 is all the time. Their top issues are NOT UWS issues but city issues. All the board does is advocate for marijuana, an addictive substance, and bicycles and e-vehicles. They make decisions and aren’t even elected by the people who live her. The entire board should be voted out.
I assume this was a factor in 2601 Broadway deciding to force out Lenny’s Bagels and Regional, with astronomical rent hikes. Not planning to support any businesses that open in that location.
Time to change who UWS voted for in elections.