NIMBYs have their say: Tax assessor scandal cited in parking garage battle.

A Battle Royale flared up last week at a Community Board 7 meeting on Manhattan's Upper West Side. At issue was a proposed 180-car parking garage to be built beneath 1926 Broadway by Glenwood Management, the firm owned by Leonard. Litwin. The project received a special permit from the City Planning Commission recently.

Rather than legitimately outlining their gripes, an opponent of the plan hurled accusations of tax evasion at Glenwood--and the 11th hour barb swayed several board members into voting against the project.

Which it did--23 to 12--even after the developer had agreed to lower the number of spaces in the proposed garage from 180 to 150, a substantial concession.

Glenwood Management--among other well-known firms--is reported to own buildings that received low-ball property tax assessments. Still, no owners have been indicted or even sought for questioning, making the jab both mean-spirited and unfair, according to those who witnessed the spectacle.

A Glenwood staffer declined to comment on the meeting.

"Bruce Simon browbeat the board members into voting against the project He yelled at the board 'this is a privilege not a right. How can we give this t someone who has ripped off the city.' I was just plain contemptible, to bring up something like that which has nothing to do with the project," said one witness of Simon's tirade.

Doug Greibel, who owns Rosa Mexicana, a Mexican Restaurant near Lincoln Center, called Simon "out of line." "He played on people's emotions with that remark. It was dirty pooi," said Greibel, a member of GB 7.

Greibel equated Simon's remarks about the tax assessor scandal to "yelling fire in a crowded movie theater."

According to Greibel, more than 30% of his credit card-paying customers come from the outer boroughs by car.

Simon and his wife Arlene are both members of Landmark West!, which bills itself as "the committee to preserve the. Upper West Side." Arlene is president, of the 15-year-old group, whose members include Municipal Arts Society president Kent Barwick, according to their website.

A source familiar with Landmark West! said that it was once a reputable community group, but over the past Few years has become a NIMBY enclave.

"This is the wrong garage for the wrong place," said Bruce Simon, who works as an attorney. Simon and his wife reportedly have parking spots inside a garage under their building--but apparently others shouldn't.

Yet the CPC determined that the project will not have an adverse environmental impact on the area, which explains why they issued the special permit. The garage would be built on the round floor and sub-cellar of an as-of-right residential development here.

Strangely enough, the Simons don't oppose the 29-story mixed-use building slated for the site. What they fear, according to Bruce Simon, is an increase in traffic.

"If Glenwood came here looking for a favor, chances are they won't get it because of this scandal," he said, standing firm against the suggestion that he took a cheap shot at the developer.

Like the Simons, most of the community members opposed to the project live in the Lincoln Center area in buildings with parking garages. Despite claims by both Lincoln Center and local businesses that more parking spaces are needed in the area, opponents of the garage cite increased traffic as a potential issue. Landmark West! even hired a traffic expert to examine the proposal. for a garage. His findings naturally backed up the Landmark West! Mission--hinging on the observation that there is already "adequate off-street parking" in the immediate vicinity of the project, a point that Lincoln Center disputes.

"This garage would not affect traffic on the block. This area needs more parking," said Michael O'Neal, who owns O'Neal's restaurant at 49 West 64th St., directly across from Lincoln Center. For the past 30 years, O'Neal has lived in the area.

"And that was a low blow for them to bring up the tax assessor scandal and mention Litwin's name, saying that he wasn't a good citizen.? Arlene Simon's husband (Bruce) is nuts!" said O'Neal, who added that several board members changed their votes after hearing Simon's tirade.

To be sure, the board's vote does not mean that the garage won't be built. Plenty of developments have moved forward without the GB's blessing. The project now goes to the Manhattan Borough President's office.