By Leslie Albrecht
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER WEST SIDE — The battle over whether an Upper West Side breastfeeding boutique can keep its heavy brass door open will go before a mediator Wednesday, and if the parties can't resolve their conflict, a judge will decide the matter.
The Upper Breast Side, a West 70th Street breastfeeding boutique and resource center, is feuding with the board of the Pythian, the fancy condo building where the Upper Breast Side operates out of a first-floor space. The ornate building is home to Lady Gaga's parents.
The building's board fined the Upper Breast Side $250 for keeping its front door open. Upper Breast Side owner Felina Rakowski-Gallagher said the door, which she said weighs 600 pounds, is a challenge for new mothers when they're pushing a stroller or carrying a baby.
The door used to stick to its frame, and it's so heavy that it took "three full-bodied thrusts" to pull it open, Rakowski-Gallagher said.
Board members could not be reached for comment, and the building's property management company did not respond to a request for comment.
The board has also questioned whether the Upper Breast Side, which sells breastfeeding gear, is allowed to do business in the neighborhood's zoning district, where commercial uses aren't allowed.
News of the dispute, first reported in a New York Times story, touched a nerve among the Upper Breast Side's clients, many of whom credit Rakowski-Gallagher with shepherding them through the often emotional challenges of breastfeeding.
Dozens of mothers have called or emailed Rakowski-Gallagher and left messages of support on the store's Facebook page, asking if there's anything they can do to help.
"It is beyond incredulous that someone would try to close a resource that is so vital to pregnant women and nursing moms....I'm beyond disgusted," wrote one commenter.
After she was fined, Rakowski-Gallagher filed a discrimination complaint with the state Division of Human Rights.
On Wednesday the two sides will meet again but if they're unable to come to an agreement the issue will go before a judge in April, Rakowski-Gallagher said.
"I want this thing to be resolved," Rakowski-Gallagher said. "I remain hopeful that the board will locate their humanity and we can move forward."
She said if the matter didn't come to resolution, she might consider moving to another location.
"Sometimes when one door closes God opens another one someplace else," Rakowski-Gallagher said.
