Public Space
Streetsblog Basics
Jackson Heights Public Plaza, Thursday Afternoon
Courtesy of Clarence Eckerson, Jr., here are some more scenes from the Jackson Heights pedestrian plaza that don't fit the New York Times' preferred narrative. Clarence says he passed through the plaza three times yesterday and it was bustling each time. On a Thursday.
March 23, 2012
The Jackson Heights Plaza Photo the Times Doesn’t Want You to See
Gotta hand it to the Times for some devious photo editing in today's Metro section. Check out the barren seating and shuttered storefronts in the shot that accompanies Sarah Maslin Nir's two-sides-to-every-story piece on the new Jackson Heights plaza. That plaza must really be a failure, right?
March 19, 2012
Eyes on the Street: Foot Traffic Pours Into Jax Heights Plaza
Reader Marcus Woollen submits this picture of the Jackson Heights pedestrian plaza on 37th Road taken yesterday afternoon.
March 12, 2012
Flushing Transpo Project Boosted Safety While Curbing Congestion
It might not be as bold or attention-grabbing as the overhaul of Times Square and Herald Square, but a set of changes made to New York City's third-busiest pedestrian intersection is having its own quiet success. In Downtown Flushing, a 2010 project that expanded sidewalks, daylighted dangerous intersections, and introduced numerous turn restrictions is boosting safety even while traffic flows more smoothly, according to a new evaluation from NYC DOT [PDF].
March 5, 2012
Do You Have Car-Free Streets? A New Resource for North American Ciclovias
Pop quiz: Where was the first ciclovia?
March 1, 2012
Unhealthy “Foods”: Huge Whole Foods Parking Lot Will Discourage Walking
The proposed Gowanus Whole Foods is moving forward after eight years of planning and debate, following a vote by the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals today. With it will come a 248-space surface parking lot: a semi-suburban design plunked down amidst some of Brooklyn's most walkable neighborhoods.
February 28, 2012
Don’t Let Cuomo Greenwash His Cars-Only Tappan Zee Bridge
Governor Andrew Cuomo may have axed plans ten years in the making to build transit across the Tappan Zee Bridge, but hey, at least he promised to consider turning the old structure into a park, right?
February 24, 2012
What It Looks Like to Walk the Length of the BQE
Here's a project we're glad not to be doing (but we're thrilled someone is). Gallery owner Robert Hult is spending today walking the route of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, not on the highway but as close alongside it as possible, and posting regular photos to his Twitter account.
February 17, 2012
Productive Exchange of Ideas Breaks Out at Fort Greene Plaza Workshop
The reports are in, and it seems like Fort Greene residents were able to have a productive workshop with NYC DOT and the Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB) last night to discuss the new public plaza planned for Fowler Square. A reader informs us that aside from a few minutes of haranguing from a few individuals, attendees could sit down together and share ideas.
February 17, 2012
Tonight: Help Shape the Future of Fort Greene’s Fowler Square
NYC DOT, Council Member Tish James, Community Board 2, and the Fulton Area Business Alliance are hosting a community workshop tonight to gather ideas for a new plaza at Fowler Square -- the triangle formed by Fulton Street, Lafayette Avenue, and South Elliot Place in Fort Greene. In addition to lending your expertise as the new public space takes shape, this is an important one to turn out for because a handful of project opponents have managed to commandeer past meetings.
February 16, 2012