From the Times Ledger:
Business owners along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven said their profits have plummeted because of construction crews that block off long stretches of parking spots, even when no work is being done.
For the last several weeks, crews hired by the city have been repainting the support structure of the elevated J/Z train tracks that runs above the avenue. Before the crews paint, they post yellow no parking signs on all the meters for several blocks that are effective for sometimes as long as a week, but according to business owners and workers on the avenue, they do not work each of those days.
“Nobody gives a hoot for the working people,” said Larry Giove, who works at Elita Beauty Salon, at 95-01 Jamaica Ave.
During the first week in October, he said the crews did not show up for two days and no one came to take down the no parking signs.
Customers who would normally have visited the salon did not show up either.
“I can’t lose money because they don’t want to take away the signs,” he said.
The process proceeds in four phases, according to the city Metropolitan Transportation Authority. First the crews strip off the old paint, then they apply a protective coat to the metal, then a primer, then several coats of green paint.
The whole process takes about 10 days, said a spokesman for the MTA, who countered that crews are working on the avenue seven days a week in some capacity.
As far as the parking signs are concerned, it takes at least a day to clear all the parked cars out of the area, the spokesman said, which is why crews leave the signs up even when it appears they are not working.
9 comments:
Hmm, but if they didn't do the construction, debris would be falling on their customers head...
The community has been begging for J train upkeep (including re-painting, it's all part of rust-maintenance) for years now. They're finally doing it and the businesses are scapegoating, as usual...
I dunno, I prefer safety. After all the debris that had been falling off that line, I'm glad MTA is finally doing something about it.
I couldn't agree more on the first commenter. The deteriorated look and state of the el on this avenue would instead lead to a lower proportionate amount of business in contrast with a renovated one. The liberty ave el is a prime example of this. They just got to bear the brunt during the transitional period.
For 20 years the el has been an eyesore.
Do the merchants ever stop to think how many potential customers drove by Jamaica Av due to the run down and seedy looking area?perhaps a bright newly painted el will stir up new business.
I recently went to shop for sneakers. That EL is one fugly looking rusting mess of falling parts and paint chips.
The Ridgewood El isn't looking good also.
I'm glad its getting a good sandblast and repaint in vintage MTA blue VS those horrible 80s Ed Koch colors.
The majority of the complaints stem from No Parking being allowed for 6 or 8 blocks at a stretch -- only to have the MTA cancel the work. Sometimes for an entire weekend. And yet customers cannot park on the streets (tickets have been given out).
The MTA has been doing a good job, getting the work done fast and it will all be over soon -- but the parking situation could have been better coordinated.
It's not blue, Joe. It's green, which is the traditional color for elevated structures.
The frsh paint and repaving has really turned the area around.
In some countries, such work be done at nights.
1) What countries?
2) This work generates light and noise. People live right by the J Line. How will they sleep?
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