The Park Avenue of Brooklyn? Not quite yet.
The plans for improving the streetscape in DUMBO and along Flatbush have gotten a lot of attention recently, but there has been no apparent progress on the promised improvements along the Boerum Place corridor (also known as Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard, right), the street which welcomes visitors crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn.
City DOT has plans for excellent improvements: green plantings in the median (à la Park Ave.), bike lanes, safer pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks, and better turning lanes. All of these would no doubt improve the area’s safety and appearance. In fact, City Planning has said that a “poor streetscape experience” (code for crappy-looking streets) is a major obstacle to Downtown Brooklyn’s growth.
City DOT said back in July that the project “plans to break ground in Summer or Fall 2006.” So where are the improvements? We’ll be calling the City Economic Development Corporation this week to find out.
See below for more pictures.
- Greater Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Improvements (pdf; from City DOT — see page 3)
- Downtown Brooklyn Development Plan (from City Planning — see slide 10)
- 2006 = Change in Downtown Brooklyn (53Boerum)
- Comment below or discuss in the 110 forums.
Rendering of the Flatbush corridor improvements.
Another view of Boerum Place (Brooklyn Bridge Blvd.).
Pedestrian Crossing on Boerum at Livingston Street.
The “crappy-looking streets” and poor pedestrian walkways are the major reasons I rarely venture east of Boerum Place. Even when heading to Smith street, I avoid Boerum Place altogether and take the slightly longer route down Court. It’s cleaner and safer for peds.
I really hope the DOT starts the improvements ASAP.
Comment by Lance — March 10, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Nowhere to go but up. Boerum is the new Park Ave, which used to be kinda crappy too (open cut for steam locomotives later covered over).
I’m really psyched to be moving in kinda soon! Not in the first batch but soon thereafter.
Comment by slappy — March 14, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
At this point we’ve called the city and are waiting to hear back with more information. Will keep everyone posted.
Comment by admin — March 15, 2007 @ 8:44 am
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