Organization Details:

The East 86th Street Merchants/Residents Association is a nonprofit organization established to address quality of life issues affecting the East 86th Street corridor. The association’s goal is to make the area a quality destination for people to live, work and shop. We are working toward a street lined with beautiful trees, clean spacious sidewalks to stroll on, and attractive store signage. We have embarked on a number of beautification and outreach projects to achieve these goals.

Description and/or History:
In 2002, Community Board 8 set up the East 86th Street Task Force to examine issues affecting the corridor and determine the need for an association to represent both merchants and residents. The Task Force conducted a survey which determined that merchants and residents would welcome a group to represent concerns regarding quality of life issues, including congestion, beautification, sidewalk condition, security, signage, construction, vendors and sanitation.

As a result, the East 86th Street Merchants/Residents Association was created in September 2003, and became a 501c(3) nonprofit organization in 2006. Members include residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Current Projects:
The association will be embarking on a capital improvement program which includes new sidewalks, installing benches, bike racks, plantings and historic street lamps. We also work towards bringing the community together to solve issues affecting merchants and residents such as; community forums which bring elected officials and city agencies together with the community. We have developed a safety plan and are agressively seeking to encourage businesses that serve the needs of the community

Contact people:

Elaine Walsh, Board President, (212) 772-7464, (email) Susan Gottridge, Vice President, (917) 250-9007, (email)

Address:

Lenox Hill Station, P.O Box 206 New York, NY 10021 (See a map)