Coalition wants to limit East Village chains

The East Village Community Coalition wants to blunt the impact of chain stores between 13th and Houston streets and Third Avenue and the East River. The group is calling for a “formula retail” zoning plan that would limit the number or character of chain stores in the Village. E.V.C.C.’s cofounder Michael Rosen introduced the idea after the coalition published its second annual pocket guidebook to independent East Village shops. The E.V.C.C. recently partnered with the Pratt Center for Community Development to research ideas.