DOT

DOT: Nine New Public Plazas in the Works

DOT has announced its selections for round one of the NYC Plaza Program, which invites non-profits throughout the boroughs to propose the development of new public spaces. According to DOT, applicants were chosen based on organizational and site-specific criteria, with special consideration given to areas with low- to moderate-income populations. A total of nine projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx were selected. The complete list is posted on the DOT website. Here's a taste:

By Brad Aaron

11:14 AM EDT on May 1, 2009

Before and after: Fulton St. and Marcy Ave. Image via DOT.

Brooklyn: Fulton Street & Marcy Avenue; Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, applicant. Just off the bustling commercial corridor of
Fulton Street, the Marcy Avenue plaza will narrow the width of Marcy
Avenue between Fulton and MacDonough Streets to create 8,000 square
feet of new pedestrian space in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant. This
project dovetails with the Bedford Stuyvesant Gateway Streetscape
project by the Mayor’s Office of Comprehensive Neighborhood Economic
Development and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, which is
redesigning Fulton Street from Bedford Avenue to Troy Avenue.
The Bronx: Boston Road & E. 169th Street; South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, applicant. By removing a slip lane this project will
expand McKinley Square by 8,000 square feet. This will allow the
community to enhance a farmers market and create a town center for the
neighborhoods of Morrisania and Clermont. The removal of the slip lane
will allow children arriving by bus to walk to nearby PS 63 without
having to cross a street, reducing conflicts between pedestrians and
vehicles.
Manhattan: Forsyth Street (between Canal Street and Division Street); Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, applicant. The Forsyth Street plaza will provide
additional sidewalk space along the western portion of Forsyth Street
to enhance the street environment currently alongside and underneath
the Manhattan Bridge. In addition, the project will create an upper
plaza on a vacant portion of property adjacent the bridge’s off-ramp so
that residents and cyclists traveling off the bridge can enjoy public
open space that looks down upon Forsyth Street and the surrounding
neighborhood. In total, the project provides up to 10,000 square feet
of new public space.

DOT, along with the Department of Design and Construction, will work with the applicants to develop site plans. Construction is expected to begin in 2011, as funding allows.

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

DOT | Parks | Public Space | Quality of Life | Urban Design

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.