The Fulton Transit Center in Lower Manhattan has beefed up security due to crime concerns, but tenants say despite improvements, problems remain and there is uncertainty about their future.
Four months after security was stepped up at the hub, employees at various stores say the extra guards and patrols have helped stem an increase in theft and crime.
But some problems remain at the glass-and-steel complex at the corner of Fulton Street and Broadway, as a legal battle continues between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the building, and Westfield Fulton Center, the retail giant that operates it.
The lawsuit is currently in mediation, according to federal court documents, but employees at stores at the center say conditions are a little safer now.
“It’s better now because we have security,” said one Gateway Newsstand employee. “It used to be much worse.”
That’s an improvement from March, when several employees and managers told The Washington Post that the stores had become hotbeds of thieves stealing tip containers and merchandise, forcing several store owners to leave.
Some attributed the change to the addition of at least one extra security guard per shift at the Fulton store, which opened in November 2014 and has struggled to attract and retain retailers.
On Tuesday, two security guards roamed the second floor, keeping an eye on the crowd.
When it opened, the gleaming $1.4 billion transportation hub, located a few blocks south of City Hall, was the centerpiece of New York City’s plans to revitalize the area after the 9/11 terrorist attacks destroyed much of the city’s public transportation infrastructure, according to court documents.
The centre connects five metro stations and nine metro lines, serving up to 300,000 people daily. According to the MTA.
But rising crime and an increase in homelessness, street scammers and vandalism are among the reasons Westfield Fulton Center wanted to exit its operating agreement with the MTA, court documents state.
The MTA initially marketed the complex as the next Rockefeller Center or Grand Central Station, but claimed that assaults and threats to employees were becoming increasingly frequent.
“Few businesses would want to open and operate a store where employees and customers regularly face theft, property damage, bodily harm, or the threat of these,” the company said in a March response to the MTA’s lawsuit seeking to let it retain control.
“The continued decline in safety and security at the Fulton Transit Center has made it nearly impossible to attract ‘quality’ subtenants, with existing subtenants declining to renew their leases and in some cases terminating their leases early, while the remaining existing subtenants are begging Westfield for help,” it continued.
The MTA announced Wednesday that the two sides have agreed to a “detailed division of responsibilities” in the master lease agreement.
“The MTA has full confidence in the NYPD and local security for safety and security at Fulton Center, and we continue to require Westfield to meet its lease obligations to operate Fulton Center in accordance with the standards and requirements set forth in the lease,” agency spokeswoman Joanna Flores said in a statement.
Representatives for Westfield Fulton Center declined to comment Wednesday, citing the pending litigation.
But even as Westfield seeks to break its 20-year lease – with about 10 still remaining – people on the ground say the problems are easing.
That doesn’t mean the thefts are over, though: A Dunkin’ Donuts owner, a man named Daniel, said thieves are still stealing small items.
“They take bottles of water and run away,” he said. “It happens everywhere, but now there is more security.”
Others, including workers at the nearby Krispy Kreme, said the nighttime hours are the toughest.
“I heard from the night shift workers that they usually come around 8 p.m.,” the employee said. “They can be violent. They can even steal from other stores.” [like] Duane Reade. They try to trade whatever they steal for donuts.
“A few weeks ago, one of our employees threw a bag of Cheetos in the manager’s face because the manager wanted to trade some Cheetos for a doughnut,” he continued, “but the employee was told he couldn’t do that.”
The manager of bubble tea chain Gong Cha told The Washington Post that they continue to face problems with thieves trying to steal money from the register or scam businesses by claiming they never received orders they placed through DoorDash or Uber Eats.
“These criminals have taken their criminal activities to a new level,” he said, adding that extra security personnel have helped.
“I don’t think it’s good enough, but it’s a lot better than it was before,” he said.
But there are other complaints about the Fulton, including weak air conditioning and glass doors that don’t open or close reliably.
This causes the temperature inside the store to reflect the temperature outside, making some sellers feel hot and stuffy.
“They haven’t worked in a long time,” one person said. “Every time the MTA says they’ll fix it, they’ll fix it… they never do anything. I have to wear a coat in the winter.”
The person also pointed to a corner of the complex near the Broadway entrance and said the area was not air-conditioned.
“On this side, it doesn’t work,” he said. “When you go by the liquor store, it works.”
“That’s just not true,” he continued. “We pay too much for rent.”
