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Dear Ms. Westcott:
I write to add my name to others who call upon Cooper Union to grant all favorable
consideration to the St. Mark’s Bookshop, an institution which has a long tradition in our
community and which serves an increasingly rare and admirable function. St. Marks is
currently struggling to pay the market rent that Cooper Union is charging them at 31
Third Avenue, and a significant rent concession by Cooper Union could save this
irreplaceable neighborhood institution.
St. Marks has occupied their small commercial space in the ground floor of your
dormitory building since the structure was built in the mid-1980’s. As I recall, Cooper
Union agreed to house the bookstore in this space, at least in part, as a concession to the
community when opposition arose to the construction of another dormitory along 3rd Ave.
I know that economic difficulties are affecting all manner of organizations in these trying
times. However, given the breath of Cooper Unions’ real estate investments, including
the soon to be redeveloped 51 Astor Place as a fully commercial building, I believe that a
rent concession to St. Mark’s Bookshop would not constitute a large burden for your
institution. It could on the other hand preserve a unique neighborhood bookstore.
I urge you to preserve St. Marks.
Sincerely,
Rosie Mendez
Councilwoman
cc: Claire McCarthy