MHNA Preservation & Design Committee supports designation of the Lobby at 200 Madison Avenue as Interior Landmark

200 Madison Avenue (at 36th Street) has been proposed as an interior landmark. Elaine Silber, co-chair of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association's Preservation & Design Committee submitted testimony in favor of designating 200 Madison Avenue as an interior landmark. The testimony was sent to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and Community Board 5. Elaine Silber’s Testimony. This item is on the LPC agenda for September 28, 2021. See LPC agenda www1.nyc.gov/assets/lpc/downloads/pdf/calendar/9-28-21.pdf.  

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MHNA Survey 2021: 'How Will Congestion Pricing Affect You?' Summary of Responses

The survey, How will you be affected by Congestion Pricing? was sent by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association to people on its email list of approximately 1,600 email addresses. There were 448 responses to the survey. The MHNA email list is composed of MHNA members and people who are interested in Murray Hill. Murray Hill is located in midtown Manhattan, in the proposed congestion zone. The vast majority of respondents are opposed to congestion pricing, coming from a deep sense that it is unfair to have a targeted tax on people just because of where they live or do business. There was also skepticism that the congestion pricing fee would be effective at reducing traffic or improving the MTA. Some people felt that it would have negative unintended consequences, hurting business and residents in the area and causing prices to rise. Those who supported congestion pricing were more accepting that government had correctly defined the issues and consequences, and would deliver on the promises of the program.

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Celebrating 60 Years of Preserving, Beautifying and Improving Murray Hill

The preservation of Murray Hill’s unique residential character goes back to 1847, with the Murray Hill Restriction. Financier J.P. Morgan took up the fight to preserve this historic residential neighborhood in 1914, when he formed the Murray Hill Association. The current Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (originally called the Murray Hill Committee) was formed in 1960 to oppose Robert Moses’s plan to create the Mid-Manhattan Expressway (unbuilt) by widening East 36th and East 37th Street between 3rd and 11th Avenue. Since then, the MHNA has been working continuously to preserve historic Murray Hill and to advocate for the neighborhood as a historic district and for landmark designation for its significant buildings. The Association also works to protect, preserve and beautify the community with greening and cleaning projects, promotes civic engagement, helps our neighbors in times of need, reaches out to the Murray Hill community through its newsletter, website, eblasts and social media, and is a voice for the neighborhood on issues such as safety, noise, traffic and transportation. We also promote Murray Hill businesses and provide ways for neighborhood business owners to meet and exchange ideas. Our mission is to keep Murray Hill a highly desirable place to live, work and visit.

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Your continued support ensures the beautification of the Murray Hill malls on Park Avenue

Patrons of Park Avenue maintains and beautifies the malls on Park Avenue. Your donation to POPA ensures the continued annual plantings of spring tulips, summer begonias and fall chrysanthemums, along with weekly maintenance. Support for POPA is an ideal way for Co-Op Boards, Property Management Companies, small businesses and individuals to show your love for Murray Hill. Participation as a Gardener is $500 and up. To become a Gardener, or to sponsor a higher level of support for the malls, please contact Victoria Spagnola, 50 Park Avenue, Apt. 14C, New York, NY 10016 or by email at victoria.spagnola@patronsofparkavenue.org. You can donate online at murrayhillnyc.org/donate. If you donate online, please notify us so that your donation will be properly acknowledged.

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Newest Murray Hill Cultural Medallion Dedicated to William Delano and Chester Aldrich

The Preservation & Design (P&D) Committee of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association  announced that its most recent Cultural Medallion was dedicated in May. This medallion, honoring the life and work of architects William Delano and Chester Aldrich, was installed at 126 East 38^th Street, where they had their offices. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chair of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center (HLPC) which sponsors the Cultural Medallion Program, presided over the ceremony.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources Page

NYC's Reopening

New York State and NYC reached the goal of a 70% vaccination rate for adults, and the hospitalizations and deaths are low. As a result, most of the covid restrictions have been lifted. The CDC has recently issued revised guidance. Federal guidelines are still in effect. For information about specific NY agencies, check with the agency’s website. Learn more at the links below.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) covid webpage cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDC Interim Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

CDC map of U.S. Community Transmission covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_community

CDC Guidance for Travelers cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) webpage on covid vaccines fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines

Federal laws and regulations regarding covid cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cdcresponse/laws-regulations.html

U.S. Department of State COVID-19 Travel Guidance for U.S. Citizens travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information1.html

Federal resources for small businesses that are impacted by covid covid-sb.org.

New York State reopening guidance for businesses forward.ny.gov and governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2021-05/NYS_CDCGuidance_Summary.pdf.  Learn more at forward.ny.gov/active-industry-guidance.

New York State information about reopening, covid rates and zones, vaccination program, covid restrictions and guidance, travel advisory, etc. coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.

New York City covid webpage (for individuals and businesses) www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/index.page.

New York State Business Pandemic Recovery Initiative. The Empire State Development page with information about grants, tax credits, and technical assistance programs for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more at  esd.ny.gov/business-pandemic-recovery-initiative.

New York City Department of Health (DOH) covid webpage www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page

The NYC Citywide Information Portal with resource guides for businesses and individuals, including COVID-specific resource guides for New Yorkers www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/resources/resources-for-new-yorkers.page and 311 portal.311.nyc.gov.

Key to NYC: Vaccination Proof for Indoor Activities 

NYC Small Business Services www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/index.page

Proof of vaccination: the CDC card you obtained when you were vaccinated, the New York State approved Excelsior pass app, NYC COVID Safe app, which stores a picture of your card and can be downloaded from the Apple store or Google Play store.

More details at the links below

• Vaccinations
• Testing
• Neighborhood houses of worship, museums, educational and cultural institutions that are open
• Neighborhood restaurants, food & spirits that are open for outdoor dining, indoor dining, delivery & pickup 
• Neighborhood retail, health care (including pets) & services that are open 

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More than 50 volunteers signed up for the Keep Murray Hill Clean campaign

Intrepid Murray Hill residents braved the cold and rain to take part in the December kick-off event for the Keep Murray Hill Clean campaign. They heard from Councilmember Keith Powers and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, as well as from speakers from ACE, who talked about additional cleanup they will be doing on the busier commercial avenues. The ACE program provides work for homeless individuals, and their work in Murray Hill is being funded by the City. A big thank-you to the volunteers who signed up to Adopt-a-Block and to those who helped make the kickoff event a success! 

Keep Murray Hill Clean volunteers can take care of their adopted block on their own schedule and can also join in a clean-up event every third Saturday of the month. We are also seeking volunteers who can help with organizing the cleaning events. 

If you would like to adopt a block, please join our Facebook Group at facebook.com/groups/KeepMurrayHillClean or email us at greenandclean@murrayhillnyc.org. Donations are welcome at murrayhillnyc.org/donate. The Keep Murray Hill Clean campaign is a program of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Green & Clean Committee. MHNA trustees Stein Berre & Michael-Ann Rowe co-chair the committee, and Michael-Ann is organizing the Keep Murray Hill Clean initiative.

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MHNA Tree Guard Repair and Replacement Program

The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Green and Clean Committee has a program designed to help individual homeowners and residential buildings in Murray Hill repair or replace broken tree guards on their property. Tree guards (hoops) have proven very helpful in protecting our trees. The style of tree guard we support is illustrated in the photo. The Association will contribute 50% of the cost of repairing or replacing a tree guard, up to a maximum of $500 per installation. Any resident wishing to have the Association help out with a project of this type should contact the Green & Clean Committee greenandclean@murrayhillnyc.org.

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Call 311 for information about city services or if you want to report an issue

Or log the issue on the 311 website www1.nyc.gov/311.

Grafitti, litter, noise, homeless assistance, unsafe traffic, condition of streets or sidewalks, overflowing litter baskets and more can be reported to 311. Keep reporting every incident to 311. 

For homeless encampment calls, if there is no indicator of crime, you can also contact the Department of Homeless Services and email photos at dhsjcc@dhs.nyc.gov. They are now handling homeless outreach. Please include photos, date, time and location of the encampment and reference the 311 log # if possible.

Call 311 for information about city services or you can visit the nyc.gov website. 

If you are not getting results from 311, you can also contact your Community Board and NYC Council Member to let them know what's going on.

If you see illegal activity or danger to yourself or others, call 911.

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