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MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. City officials would like to see an arcade in Mount Vernon, but the proposed location for one is too small, Mount Vernon City Council members said.
Council member Karen Watts-Yehudah said the arcade would be a great opportunity for the city but its proposed location at 128 Gramatan Avenue is a problem. Watts-Yehudah said that she, like many other Mount Vernon residents, would take her kids when they were younger out of the city for this type of entertainment since it is lacking in Mount Vernon.
A lot of people have to take their kids outside of Mount Vernon for birthday parties because we dont have a Chuck E. Cheese or a Dave and Busters, Watts-Yehudah said. Generally speaking we have to create some type of legislation to have this kind of business in the city.
Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Ratan said that zoning on Gramatan Avenue allows up to four amusement devices in that location. However, Ratan said that a business can file for a special permit such as a social club would have even if its really not the use of the property.
We can also revise the code for amusement devices, Ratan said. Yonkers has a good breakdown of amusement devices that gives you rates on the machines you have.
Council member J. Yuhanna Edwards said that the location is big but would not be large enough to accommodate an arcade. Still, Edwards said something has to be done to provide more entertainment in the city for the youth.
We should look into areas around Hutchinson Field because we are in need of an amusement area, Edwards said.
Council President Roberta Apuzzo said that if an arcade is built in that location she could see it overwhelmed by both motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Still, Apuzzo supports building an arcade or something similar at a different location.
I would entertain this proposal more if it were in a different location, Apuzzo said.
Thus far no action has been taken.
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