Submitted by Larry Littlefield, Sep 6, 2007 08:39

In the early 1990s, when arguing against removing zoning restrictions that prevent large stores in certain categories from opening in manufacturing districts, advocates for small merchants claimed they wanted the chains to locate on existing commercial streets to help reinforce them.

Well guess what -- the city doesn't have enough commercial space, particularly if city residents try to shop here rather than (as in the past) the suburbs. So limiting the expansion of commercial space has just created a shortage which has driven up rents.

The advocates for small merchants won their battle in the early 1990s, when the City Council voted down a Department of City Planning proposal, and have large succeeded in keeping new large supermarkets out of poor and working-class areas, raising the price and limiting the quality of food there. Before giving their sympathy to local merchants the City Council should remember they got what they wanted.

The only reasonable argument they have is about taxes, not about zoning. New development continues to be subsidized by tax exemptions in the outer boroughs, helping the upscale retailers that can fight through the special permit process. Existing retail spaces are highly taxed.

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