Questions Arise Over Possible Upper West Side Delivery Worker Hub

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A little over a month after a proposal was revealed from the Parks Department to build a charging and rest station for food delivery workers on the Upper West Side, Council Member Gale Brewer has penned a letter to the city with a set of questions and concerns.

The proposal to the city shows that Verdi Square, which is the park outside of the 72nd Street 1, 2, and 3 subway station, is the next planned site to convert a vacant newsstand into a haven for food delivery workers.

Brewer reached out to local stakeholders about the planned delivery hub, including the 72nd Street Block Association, the Columbus Avenue BID, Landmark West!, and Friends of Verdi Square.

Community Board 7 has also scheduled a joint hearing with its Transportation, Parks, and Environment committees to discuss the subject on Feb. 14.

"More than likely, most will testify against the hub," Brewer wrote in a letter sent to Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Donoghue on Tuesday shared with Patch. "I am supportive of the workers having a safe and clean environment to recharge and rest but I also join community members in wanting more information about the specific proposal."

Brewer mentioned that Friends of Verdi Square has maintained the space for years by removing invasive species, reducing the rat population, and adding tables and chair. Given the organization's years of work some sort of joint effort would have to be created between it and the new delivery hub, Brewer said.

Here is a portion of the questions from Brewer given to her by Upper West Side community members about the possible hub.

• Are there plans, drawings, or renderings of the proposed structure that can be made
  public ahead of the hearing?
• Are there specific hours during which this hub will be open?
• Is there an estimate for the number of users for this proposed hub?
• How many toilets will be installed, and what is the cleaning and maintenance schedule?
• What will prevent homeless from using the hub as a living space?
• What measures will be used to prevent e-bike and pedestrian collisions?
• How will the community be able to contact any staff?

Brewer ended her letter with a plea for a representative from the Parks Department, along with representatives from the management company of the hub and Los Deliveristas Unidos/Workers Juice Project to be present at the Feb. 14 meeting.

A Parks Department spokesperson told Patch it is reviewing the letter. The agency also confirmed it will be at the meeting on Feb. 14.

The exact timeline on the charging and rest station remains unclear.