Manhattan street‑activities committee approves holiday curb‑lane activations, flags crowding and narrow‑street risks

The Manhattan Street Activities and Resiliency Committee on a December virtual meeting approved short‑term curb‑lane and sidewalk activations for several holiday pop‑ups and private events, but members pressed organizers to limit queues, avoid amplified sound and coordinate with nearby small businesses.

Committee chair Will Benish began the meeting noting a technical glitch that delayed some notifications. The committee heard presentations and asked detailed operational questions before taking voice approvals on business items in a later business session.

Lars Maradakis of GSS Security Services, speaking for the GoodButter BYOMA skincare pop‑up at 21 Green Street, said the venue’s TPA occupancy is 150 and the planner asked to use the west curb lane between Canal and Grand as a guest queue to keep the sidewalk clear. “The capacity of the venue, per the TPA is a 150, people occupancy,” Maradakis said; he added the plan calls for bike‑rack barricades and two security officers to manage the queue and keep the pedestrian right‑of‑way unobstructed. Committee members emphasized barriers in the curb lane and no giveaways or amplified sound.

Amanda, representing Parachute Home, described a 22‑by‑8‑foot mobile greenhouse that would sit in the curb lane on Crosby Street as a holiday display and “photo moment.” She said no sales would occur from the greenhouse and staff planned to cap inside occupancy at about six to eight people and to provide free coffee for a short Friday period. The applicant removed an earlier proposal for propane heaters and any open flame after staff warned that would change the permit class.

Salvatore, who manages cafes for Chobani, described a chestnut‑cart operation in front of the SoHo flagship that would roast chestnuts inside and transfer them to a battery‑powered warming cart outside. “The chestnut cart itself doesn’t have an open flame. It’s battery generated, and there is a warming plate,” he said, adding that staff hold food‑handler cards and that the team would keep stanchions inside unless a queue formed.

Several members raised crowding and access concerns. The committee clarified SAPO’s holiday embargo on several high‑pedestrian blocks and advised applicants to avoid Prince Street and other embargoed stretches during the busiest hours. Members also questioned an application that referenced two locations for a JD Sports activation, noting Mulberry Street appeared tight and urging the applicant to move the queue into the curb lane so sidewalks and small businesses would not be disrupted.

Representatives from Kate Towers outlined a late‑night, invitation‑plus‑pay table‑tennis event tied to an Airbnb experience at a Mulberry Street youth center that would require temporary curb‑lane logistics and sidewalk barricades for equipment staging and guest queuing. Committee members pressed the organizers to do targeted outreach to residents, limit late‑night outdoor activity, and plan for traffic and noise management.

In the business session the committee recorded voice approvals for the discussed curb‑lane uses and noted conditions: no amplified sound, no open flames, barricades as needed, and neighborhood outreach when late‑night or high‑attendance elements could affect residents or small businesses. Several items had incomplete applicant notification due to the earlier technical error; the committee said those items would receive committee comments to SAPO rather than immediate denial.

The committee closed the meeting by scheduling follow‑up items for January, including a DSNY appearance and a proposed DEP briefing on a sound‑pollution app. Members also asked staff to send written comments to SAPO and to confirm final sites for applications that listed multiple locations.

The committee did not adopt new policy; the approvals were limited, operational permissions tied to conditions and follow‑up.