G r a m e r c y Pa r k

yo u r Pa r k

yo u r N e i G h b o r h o o d

O u r C O m m i t m e nt

AnnuAl Fund C AmpAign

The Gramercy Park block associaTioN

The Gramercy Park Block Association (GPBA) was founded in 1993 by Arlene Harrison after her son Tim was brutally beaten by a random “wilding” gang outside their home on Gramercy Park. As a result, a large group of neighbors established the GPBA, a grassroots, proactive community advocacy group dedicated to preserving and protecting the safety and security, quality of life, historic nature, and property values of Gramercy Park and the surrounding neighborhood.

Protected historic residential nature of Gramercy ParkDefeated liquor licenses for bars threatening to turn Gramercy Park into a nightlife destinationDefended property rights of Gramercy Park residentsEased traffic on Gramercy Park NorthResponsible for seizure of crime-ridden E. 23rd St. Kenmore Hotel, now a model of affordable housing for low-income, formerly homeless adults, many of whom are disabledFacilitated clean up of E. 21st St. Methadone Clinic drug activity and related crime

Defeated plan for E. 25th St. Armory Men’s Shelter to house sex offenders, ex-convicts, substance abusers coming out of Rikers Prison systemHelped establish residence for foster-care children exiting the foster-care systemLed effort to name E. 21st St.“Police Officer Anthony Sanchez Way”

A Few mAjOr AdvOCACy ACCOmplishments

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Ongoing efforts:Children/teenager/senior volunteer networks Support for ill, frail elderly, homebound neighborsThe Doe Fund formerly homeless Community Improvement ProjectKenmore Hall clothing, furniture, food pantry drives for formerly homeless Parish of Calvary-St. George’s Thanksgiving dinner for those in need Brotherhood Synagogue’s clothing drive for children in need Scholarship fund for local student NYTB’s Project LIFT scholarships, mentoring city shelter children

The gramercy park Block Association works with:

Advisory board membersResidentsBuilding boardsBuilding personnelManaging agentsLocal businesses

Community boardsElected officialsPolice DepartmentCity agenciesHistoric preservation groupsBusiness improvement districts

COmmunity serviCe – neighbOrs helping neighbOrs

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The gramercy park Block Association works with:

past efforts:Hurricane Katrina relief effort to rebuild schools, libraries, send hundreds of boxes of clothing and supplies, and airlift children with cancer to St. Jude’s HospitalWorld Trade Center relief effort meals, shelter, critical supplies Wounded Warrior Project backpacks with essential supplies for severely wounded soldiersOperation Gratitude Care Packages for soldiers Serving Those Who Serve home modifications for wounded soldiersHonor the Fallen Memorial honoring soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq

P. S. 40 art, music, planting, culinary programs NYPD Coats for Kids GPBA Children’s Book Drive for Foundling Hospital childrenEaster basket project for Foundling Hospital childrenOffice equipment, furniture, clothing transfer to local nonprofits GPBA/Paddy Maguire’s Ale House Holiday Toy DriveEpiphany Church “Adopt a Family for Christmas” Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Toy Drive Town & Village Toy Drive HSI Naragansett Housing Agency for individuals with HIV/AIDS

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We facilitate:

Crime and health alerts Crisis and disaster preparationCrisis team to assist neighbors in emergenciesChildren’s identification kitsSenior citizen escort Apartment and business security surveysBuilding employee security training Precinct visits by neighborhood children

Navigate Community Board and Landmarks Preservation CommissionAnnual Historic Walking Tour – History and Development of Gramercy Park Tree garden restoration, planting and maintenanceAnnual Neighborhood Preservation, Environmental and Greening Program

histOriC preservAtiOn

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the grAmerCy pArk blOCk AssOCiAtiOn /13th preCinCt pArtnership - Crime preventiOn & publiC sAFety

histOriC preservAtiOn

the grAmerCy pArk blOCk AssOCiAtiOn /13th preCinCt pArtnership - Crime preventiOn & publiC sAFety

National Night Out Against Crime 13th Precinct Memorial Garden seasonal plantingWorld Trade Center Remembrance Ceremony and Breakfast13th Precinct ceremonial and memorial eventsPolice Officer Moira Smith Scholarship Fund for children of deceased officers13th Precinct holiday dinnersBicycles for Police Officers

preservation work with gramercy park buildings including the following:

Former Sonnenberg MansionThe Brotherhood SynagogueCalvary ChurchFormer Salvation Army Residence

We support:

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QuAlity OF liFe

Traffic congestion Nightlife/bar issuesHomelessnessGramercy Park Hotel quality of life issuesNoise Sanitation

We address:

Illegal trucksAuto and bike theft X-rated businesses

Street lighting Sidewalk bike riders Dog etiquette

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Traffic signal changes“No honking” and other street signsTree garden maintenanceGPBA trash receptacle purchases and maintenanceGraffiti removalStreet furniture painting i.e. fire hydrants, traffic boxesSidewalk power washing

We facilitate:

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COmmuniCAtiOns & netwOrking

Community Advisory Board NetworkMeetings with building personnel, police, sanitation workers, business owners, etc.Neighborhood News e-newsletter Website – www.gramercyparkblockassociation.orgNearsay.com blog contributor as “Mayor of Gramercy Park”Social Networking – Facebook and Twitter pagesAnnual Holiday PartyMake Music New York – Free outdoor concerts

Photos:Front cover: ©2011 Day to Night, Stephen Wilkes Inside front cover: Booth Statue with Hydrangeas, Sean BradyPage 1: Alliums with Butterflies, Alex Nguyen Page 4-5: Gramercy Park East Panorama, Sean BradyPage 6: Calder Sculpture: Janey Waney, Sean BradyPage 7: Gramercy Park Panorama, Looking South, Sean BradyPage 8: Gramercy Park Couple in Snow, Patricia Pillette Gramercy Park Christmas Tree at Night, Lois Conner Inside back cover: Gramercy Park Autumn Colors, Si KinsellaBack cover: Snow at Twilight, Sean BradyDesign: Nancy Greenberg

© 2012 The Gramercy Park Block Association

34 Gramercy Park east, New york, Ny 10003 tel: 212.260.3875 Fax: 212.529.8355e-mail: arlenesharrison@yahoo.com

www.gramercyparkblockassociation.org

The Gramercy Park block associaTioN