Lawyer to Meet With North Merrick Community Over Proposed Pawn Shop

The attorney of a person who is seeking to open a pawn shop, that residents have spoken out against, in North Merrick, said that he is willing to meet with the community to hear its concerns.

Residents have started an online petition, which has more than 400 signatures, to stop the the business from opening at 1391 Jerusalem Ave. They have also teamed up with Legislator Dave Denenberg and Claudia Borecky, president of of the North Merrick Community Association.

Estate Pawn Brokers LTD was scheduled to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday seeking special exception for the property, but Borecky spoke to Christian Browne, the attorney for Rosemary Matthews of Estate Pawn Brokers Ltd, and had the meeting adjourned.

Borecky said that she and Browne are in the process of scheduling a meeting.

Residents are concerned that if the business opens on Jerusalem Avenue there will be a number of problems which include traffic and congestion, it could attract criminals to North Merrick, causing a potential increase in crime and it will alter the nature of the neighborhood.  

The location is also three blocks from Fayette Elementary School, which is also a major concern. 

At a meeting at Denenberg's district office in Bellmore on Monday, residents spoke against the pawn shop.

Denise Di Filippli is one of the women who started the online petition and lives in close proximity to the property. She said that a pawn shop is not needed in the neighborhood.

"I feel it will completely change the family centered feeling of North Merrick," she said. "It will also bring strangers to a close knit community." 

Trish Apello agreed.

"I strongly feel that a pawn shop in our area, three blocks from an elementary school, across the street from a pre-school is far from an ideal neighborhood business," she said. 

Do you think that a pawn shop would be a negative addition to the North Merrick community? Tell us in the comments below.