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Pop-Up Café Expansion Faces Critical Community Board Vote Tonight
When DOT installed its first "pop-up café" over a few parking spaces on Lower Manhattan's Pearl Street last summer, the 14-table public seating area helped increase business by 14 percent at its two sponsoring restaurants. With New York City still recovering from recession and much of the city starved for public space, DOT has moved to expand the program. Restaurants were given the option of requesting a café and DOT selected twelve locations from that pool of applicants. The selected locations are concentrated in the Village and SoHo, making tonight's Community Board 2 vote a critical moment for the program.
March 24, 2011
At Wash Heights Workshop, Support For Ped-Friendly Plaza De Las Americas
DOT presented the latest design concepts for a permanent Plaza De Las Americas to Washington Heights residents last night, showing a plan to pedestrianize the full block of 175th Street between Broadway and Wadsworth Avenue, in order to make a new space for residents and the popular market currently operating at that location. The design -- 95 feet deep and 165 feet wide, extending all the way into what are currently the parking lanes on Broadway and Wadsworth -- won plaudits from those in attendance.
February 1, 2011
In Unanimous Vote, CB 2 Embraces People-Friendly Astor Place
Last night, Manhattan Community Board 2 resoundingly endorsed the city's plans to transform Astor Place and Cooper Square from asphalt expanses into pedestrian-friendly public spaces. After including some language in its resolution to appease the concerns of certain residents, the roughly 40 community board members in attendance voted unanimously for the plan to transform street space into plazas and expanded sidewalks.
January 21, 2011
Tonight: Backers Needed for Astor Place Reclamation
Tonight, Community Board 2 will vote its recommendation on DOT's plans to make Astor Place more accommodating and inviting to pedestrians.
January 20, 2011
Tomorrow: Tell CB 2 You Want a More Pedestrian-Friendly Astor Place
If you can't make it to Brooklyn for the Prospect Park West forum tomorrow, there's a Manhattan livable streets effort that needs a show of support.
January 19, 2011
City Shows Off Plan to Reclaim Astor Place for Pedestrians [Updated]
Plans to transform another asphalt tangle into a great public space are moving forward at Astor Place, and Curbed has the details. With significant street space being reclaimed for pedestrians, the plan should serve as a new gathering place in the East Village and make the neighborhood safer for walking.
January 7, 2011
With 34th Street Design Due in Spring, CB 6 Is Ready For Busway to Fail
A preliminary design for the proposed 34th Street Transitway is due this spring, DOT said officials at a community board meeting last night.
January 4, 2011
NYC Restaurants in Search of Foot Traffic Can Apply to DOT
A few months after launching the city's first "pop-up café" on Pearl Street in Lower Manhattan, NYC DOT is putting out a call to other businesses who might be interested in reclaiming curbside spaces to make way for seasonal sidewalk extensions, tables, and seating. The department announced today that it's seeking applications [PDF] to expand the pop-up café program to as many as 12 locations throughout the five boroughs next year.
November 4, 2010
It’s Opening Day for the Newest Stretch of Broadway’s Green Ribbon
One of Manhattan's premier public spaces is now safer, roomier, and livelier. DOT officially opened its improvements to the Union Square area today, including new pedestrian plazas and a continuation of the Broadway bike lane into a contraflow lane on the north side of the square.
September 22, 2010
Eyes on the Street: Union Square’s Public Space Makeover Underway
Reader Holly Hudson sends this picture of the north side of Union Square earlier today. Orange construction barrels are lined up here and around the corner on Broadway, as crews get ready to add new pedestrian spaces and extend Broadway's protected bike lane, which will run against the flow of traffic on this particular block.
September 1, 2010