The city’s Dept. of Transportation (DOT) is likely to convert one of the main commercial strips in Sunnyside into an Open Street next month, although some business owners and residents are opposed to the plan and say they have not been properly consulted or informed about the decision.
The DOT plans to close off 46th Street, between Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue, from vehicular traffic from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Sundays under a program that aims to create more public spaces across the city.
The street is instantly recognizable due to a large arch known as the “Sunnyside Arch” which marks the entrance to the one-way, southbound street.
The Open Street, known as a “limited access” plan, calls for a temporary barrier to be put in place to block non-delivery vehicles from entering the strip during these hours. Delivery trucks will be permitted to enter during these hours and volunteers and workers for Sunnyside Shines, the organization that oversees the business improvement district (BID), will move the barriers to let the trucks in and out in order to make deliveries. The Open Street will run until Oct. 31.
Community Board 2’s Transportation Committee unanimously voted to approve the initiative at a transportation committee meeting on April 4 and the board then wrote a letter to the DOT in support of the plan. The vote came four weeks after Dirk McCall De Palomá, the executive director of Sunnyside Shines, presented plans to the committee at its March 7 meeting.
McCall told the Queens/Sunnyside Post that the BID had consulted with residents and the business owners who operate along the 46th Street section before the plans were submitted to the DOT. He said residents were overwhelmingly in favor of the plan and that the vast majority of business owners along the commercial area supported the initiative.
During Community Board 2’s monthly meeting on April 13, some of the residents who testified voiced support for the plan, saying that it will create much-needed public space for residents in the heavily built-up area and will also help generate more foot traffic to the businesses on 46th St.
Others opposed the plan, arguing it would be detrimental to the businesses, as shoppers who rely on vehicles will not have access to the street. Opponents also said it would cause trucks to get backed up on Queens Boulevard, and 46th Street would still be unsafe for children given the trucks will still be permitted to enter.
Amin Siad, who owns Fresh n’ Save supermarket, which takes up the entire east side of the 46th St. stretch, said at the April 13 CB2 meeting that all the business owners along the street are opposed to the plan. Siad said he was initially in favor of the plan, but now opposes it.
“We do not want — and the small businesses in the area do not want — a pedestrian promenade there because at first, I believed it would help businesses, but it turns out it won’t,” Siad said.
Siad did not go into detail as to why he feels it would negatively impact businesses. However, he said it made little sense to create an open street where delivery trucks could still access the area.
“I was told that someone would put up a barrier and remove a barrier ongoing for 12 hours… what’s the purpose then?” he asked.
36 comments:
Wow, that stretch of road must be at least 20 yards long. This will surely trigger the spoiled, pampered, coddled car-totalitarians.
Sad ...
Here we go again. Another socialist idea.
Bike Nazis doing what they do best !
This is all part of the #AGENDA2030 failures.
Some 100 million more people have been pushed into extreme poverty. Over 160 million people have been added to those facing hunger.
Car totalitarians are such snowflakes. All that pampering and they are still whining like two year olds.
Who the hell is that Laura Shepard bimbo? Does she even live in CB2? I know she's a "Queens Organizer" for Transportation Alternatives. Why was she even permitted to speak?
Dems. The party of choice. Except when comes to choosing your school, health care plan, whether to smoke, what kind of car you drive. And now, what oven you are allowed.
But a state full of morons keep voting them in.
Gas grills are on the chopping block too. Wait until they want your gas furnaces and water heaters....I forgot, that's already on their wish list.
So am I supposed to take kitarass comments serious ?
Or just watch CNN like the weak minded ?
If they would leave the rest of us car drivers alone I wouldn't care.
More Woke Crap !
@"Bike Nazis doing what they do best !
Yeah, they're going to be racing up and down that 20 yard stretch of road like they're on the Tour de France.
@"Bike Nazis doing what they do best !
Yeah, they're going to be racing up and down that 20 yard stretch of road like they're on the Tour de France.
Car Transportation Nut said...
What if we add CO2 Eating Microbes to our gas cars ?
Former Republican here. I'm very glad that RFK, who is anti-war, will be running for the Democratic ticket. This will be my first Democrat presidential candidate that gets my vote I haven't voted for anyone in 20 years because of how disappointed I've been with the choices.
I want my 20 yards of street back.
Boo, Hoo!.
Signed.
Car Driving Snowflake
Sounds very much like a Bike Nazis cult.
@Kitara said... What is it that you want ?
I know what I want, I love the truth.
Their reality detachment is incurable.
They’re forcing their woke beliefs into our lives and people are sick of it. Why does the working class let this happen ?
You voted for it you earn it.
It’s your fault for owning a car, say Democrats.
Always remember, there's no such thing as 'free stuff', only stuff paid for by somebody else.
How can a City with so much to offer fall so fast. Sad, very sad...
Instead of DEI and ESG, how about CID: Competence, Integrity & Diligence
Doubling down is the only thing they can do.
Thank You Dark Brandon....
The world is laughing at the stupidity of people we have in government.
"Sneaky Socialism" the continuing saga brought to you by the "Woke" admin.
All I know is that this is Trump's fault.
-An Honest Democrat
LIBERAL PLAYBOOK
1 - legalize drugs
2 - defund the police
3 - encourage violent behavior
4 - no consequences for violent career thugs
5 - eliminate nuclear family
6 - eliminate academic standards
7 - open borders with zero background checks
8 - STEAL MONEY FROM HARDWORKING FAMILIES AND TAXPAYER TO REDISTRIBUTE
9 - CREATE RACIAL DIVIDE WHEREVER POSSIBLE
Will the Chevron Deference Fall to SCOTUS ?
Asking for a friend...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzRCcK22BrE&ab_channel=Styxhexenhammer666
@""Sneaky Socialism" the continuing saga brought to you by the "Woke" admin."
Sorry to disappoint you, but socialism and "woke" are two separate things. "Woke" is just one of the many fads that teenagers and wannabe teenagers have engaged in since the beginning of time. Not much different from other fads like the hippy generation, glam rockers, mods, skinheads, beatniks and whatever. Woke may be a little more annoying, but it is over dramatized by the Murdoch empire (now partially owned by Dominion) and Republicans, pretty much because they have no original thought of their own.
Socialism is what gives you medicaid, medicare, social security, a fire department, a police department, public roads, free street parking, a sanitation department, internet, trade unions and a miniscule amount of worker safety rights. Socialism also gave you a day off on the 4th of July, Christmas, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving etc. Until of course, corporations and their paid politicians gradually take that away.
Socialism also gave you workplace safety, 40 hour work week (well that's gone), child labor laws.
Socialism also gave you safety improvements to your car. Seat belts, airbags etc. Car companies didn't just put that kind of stuff in cars because they were bleeding heart liberals, you know.
So, forgive me when I get annoyed when I hear assholes rant on about socialism. Socialism is the reason we had an American middle class. Ronald Reagan and his corporate enablers put the hammer to that.
Fuck you and your QAnon Buddies if you're having issues with that.
What they do in Europe is a lot smarter, they create roundabouts, little gardens in the middle of the lane that force drivers to zigzag, hence slow down in residential neighborhoods. Think of them as horizontal instead of vertical speed bumps. Forest Hills, Jamaica Estates and Malba are already like that from their original design.
It is out of necessity so that should be OK? Right?
Climate Change Must Be Stopped.Lol...
The deluded one going on about the glories of Socialism has never spoken with some one who has escaped from.a Socialist country nor have they lived under Socialism.
I would not trust Sunnyside Shines to move any barriers or do much of anything. They are head lining the very creepy mentally ill Spratz Donovan to perform under the 40th Street & 46th Street subway stations. Is this guy a convicted sex offender/pedophile? I' ve overheard him on the Q32 bus speaking w/ women a very inappropriate,sexualized manner. Spratz Donovan was describing a sex act to a woman who definitely did not want to hear it .this raised alarms for me.i imagine my surprise when I saw him by 46th street
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