Aren't there enough Starbuckses in this city.
Part of a $60 million plan for a huge public plaza has recently been compared to opening a Starbucks by local residents, considering the museum wishes to add new lighting, plantings, fountains and a ticket kiosk, but the real debate came over tables, chairs and red umbrellas, DNAinfo reports.
There is already a cafeteria at the museum, but the addition of these few amenities - good for the summer - drew discord at the Community Board 8 meeting Wednesday night.
"This spells Starbucks: a place to hang out all day and have coffee," said CB8 member Peggy Price of the plaza. Opponents of the already existing kiosks and food vendors outside the museum were flabbergasted at the new addition and the fact that none were removed to offset the situation.
Earlier this week, neighbors called the proposed plaza nothing more than an unwelcome "hangout."
The Met's director and CEO, Thomas Campbell, told residents that the redesign and additional seating would help diffuse the traffic around the museum.
Board members that are against the chairs and seating are naturally arguing that the plans may not have the aimed effect. Constant notations of the neighborhood being a predominantly "residential" area seems to be irritating those in favor and at the museum.
"I'm tired of disapproving things because this is a residential area," board member Helene Simon told DNAinfo, emphasizing the various institutions present in the neighborhood that constantly cause disruptions that would be a problem in the suburbs.
NYC is not the suburbs.
For more on the story, check out DNAinfo
