Commerce BankVernon W. Hill, II Dear Mr. Hill, We are writing to you regarding the new Commerce Bank branch that you are planning to build in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 5th Avenue and 1st Street. We believe that three aspects of your building plan will have a negative impact on the neighborhood and, ultimately, your own business. We would like to talk with you and your local representatives about the following: The "drive-thru"We urge you not to build a "drive-thru" at this location. Fifth Avenue supports a heavily-used bus line, two bicycle lanes, many delivery trucks, and an increasing volume of motor vehicle traffic. Primarily, though, Fifth Avenue is a major pedestrian shopping corridor. The economic vitality of the local merchants and the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhoods depends upon the safety and convenience of pedestrians. By increasing the amount of motor vehicle traffic detouring into the neighborhood and by encouraging vehicles to drive across the sidewalk at two curb-cuts, your drive-thru presents a significant danger and inconvenience to the community. It will generate an increase in traffic congestion and a greater likelihood of injuries and fatalities on the street. Just about every other week we have a major pedestrian casualty in this part of Brooklyn. A car-oriented bank at this location is likely to increase that number. Only about one-third of the households in this area even own an automobile. The vast majority of your customers will be pedestrians. A drive-thru inconveniences and endangers the majority to serve a relatively small group of customers. We believe that your bank branch can be much more successful at this location without a drive-thru. Highway-style "drive-by" signWe urge you to install an awning or sign that keeps in context and character with the rest of the neighborhood. The big, suburban-style "drive-by" sign that Commerce Bank plans to erect on the corner is inappropriate for this location and will creating light problems for residential neighbors. The type of sign you are proposing to erect is more appropriate for a setting in which the majority of existing and potential customers drive by in cars. Suburban building on an urban siteWe urge you to erect a building that better fits the existing context and character of Park Slope and enables a mix of uses. The building youíve proposed is a poor fit for this location. If you come and visit our neighborhood youíll note that most of the buildings maintain uniform facade lines, height and bulk. This creates a well-defined outdoor space shaped by two "street walls" and gives our neighborhood a real sense of place. Likewise, youíll notice that on Fifth Avenue, virtually every building provides a storefront on the ground floor and apartments above. This mix of uses is fundamental to a healthy and functioning urban economy ñ itís what makes New York City work. The large lot that you are building on could easily sustain a number of storefronts and apartments in addition to your bank branch. We have heard that your bank is innovative and customer-friendly. We are certain that Commerce Bank can be a fine addition to the neighborhood. But a good relationship will be difficult if you build a bank at this location that is oriented more towards motorists passing through the neighborhood than the people who live, work, and shop here every day. We hope that you will meet with us to discuss the issue. We can be reached at Sincerely, Aaron Naparstek cc: Jack W. Rainey, VP Government & Community Banking |