Community Board 7 Votes Against Congestion Pricing, Cites Issues with Residential Parking Permits

[Photo courtesy of Anna Lewis]

GL Correspondent Anna Lewis attended last nights CB7 Meeting and filed this report:

Brooklyn Community Board 7 (Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park) rejected Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan at its monthly meeting Wednesday night. It objected primarily to the Mayor’s inclusion of a residential parking permit system within the congestion pricing plan.

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) developed the residential parking permit system to address community concerns about a lack of on-street parking potentially caused by congestion pricing.

CB7’s objections to the Mayor’s proposal reflected concerns raised at two separate community forums, held in Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park respectively. They included the effects of the plan on public space, such as decreased access to public parks and museums; questions over the boundaries of the permit zones and their impact on park-and-ride activity in neighborhoods; the exemption of New Jersey drivers from congestion pricing; and questions about permit regulation and enforcement.

Another major concern was that Brooklyn would not receive an adequate portion of the revenues raised by congestion pricing.
–Anna Lewis

Bklink: Sunset Park Hotel

A new building on 39th street between 8th and 9th Avenues in Sunset Park is going to be a hotel. “Those were the rumors and buzz going around. One could also see that the architecture seemed to be more fitting for an office building or a hotel. Now we can confirm that it is a Hotel that is nearing completion at the location. It is ideally situated near the 9th Avenue D train station placing it within a half hour of midtown Manhattan and it is also within easy reach of the B35 and B70 bus lines.”–Sunset Park Blog

Fifth Avenue Big Dig is a Bit Behind Schedule

The GL reader that originally let us know that one-way signs had been put up on Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park, which led to more information about the big dig, found more info about the project. As it turns out it was supposed to start last summer and won’t be finished until sometime in 2010. The work will run from 24th Street to 34th Street. Part of the city’s document is above. Here is what he wrote:

I found out that this project was slated to start last summer and finish in spring 2009. There is a well made, yet cryptic, explanation of the project here. Just look under brooklyn, Reconstruction of 5th Avenue from 24 St. to 34 St., Brooklyn — HWK732C. By the way, this is probably a good web site to check before moving into any neighborhood just to make sure they won’t be ripping out the street and sidewalk right outside the window of your new apartment. The best part of the brochure is where it tells people with special needs to contact the project manager immediately– guess if you’re blind or in a wheelchair don’t expect to leave the house until 2009.

Just think, when the entire project is done around 2035, it will be time to start over.

Upcoming: Sunset Park Rezoning Study Presentation

Sunset Park is among the many, many Brooklyn neighborhoods up for a rezoning, and City Planning will be making a presentation of its Sunset Park rezoning study this month. The big day is Thursday, March 13, and the presentation is scheduled for 6:30 PM in the office of Community Board 7, which is located at 4201 Fourth Avenue (43rd Street). Meetings and discussions about the rezoning have been going on for a long time.

The Big Dig: Fifth Avenue Lowdown

Yesterday, we updated the story we first ran on Friday that a reader had sent about the appearance of one-way signs on Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park. As it turned out info was on the MTA/New York City Transit website in the context of the B63 bus being rerouted going northbound. A reader left another comment late last night that is worth highlighting because it provides a glimpse of what’s to come. Major construction work will be happening to Fifth Ave. over the next several years and the next spot to be torn up will be the Sunset Park shopping district. Here is what our reader wrote:

It’s wonderful living in a city that leaves its residents in the dark about things that have been in the planning for 20 years! 5th Avenue from 24th to 34th Street is going to be torn open for the city to inspect and where needed replace the sewer (waste water) and water (supply) pipes. The job is scheduled to last 18 to 24 months with cash incentives to the contractor to finish earlier. This job is part of a much larger job that extends the entire length of 5th avenue. Bay Ridge was done a few years back – the disruption was awful. The heart of the Sunset Park shopping district will be done when the current job is finished. It will be a nightmare for the mom & pop type stores that have a very low profit margin – their loss of business will be devastating. Your observations of the current work and ideas on how the business district can survive the coming construction would be appreciated – call the Sunset Park Business Improvement District at 718 439-7767.

No worries. Everything should be finished by 2020, give or take.

Fifth Avenue One-Way Update

On Friday, we posted a reader’s photo and questions about one-way signs that had appeared on Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park. One reader left a comment that some type of construction might be taking place and that the street–which is in wretched condition–was going to be repaved. Yesterday, another reader answered the question with some information on the MTA/New York City Transit website. LizD wrote that “As a regular rider of the B63 I’ve seen notices in the buses that Northbound 5th Ave between 39th st and 20th st will be closed effective March 10, 2008, indefinitely. I’ve heard through the grapevine that it’s for road reconstruction. The Northbound B63 will be re-routed onto 4th Ave. The MTA/NYC Transit web site has the details.” Indeed the website says the B63’s northbound service will be “rerouted due to construction on 5 Av between 20 and 39 Sts. Effective Mon, March 10, 2008 until further notice.” The B63 will run on Fourth Avenue from 39th Street to 20th Street and return to Fifth Ave. Also, we forgot to mention it on Friday, but what’s up with the placement of the Do Not Enter sign sideways?

(Temporary) One-Way Action on Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park?

Is Fifth Avenue going one-way in Sunset Park? We haven’t seen anything about this, but a reader sent us the photo above, which shows a new one-way sign waiting to be uncovered at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street that bears all the signs of some temporary changes. (That’s Green-Wood Cemetery in the background.) He writes:

Today I noticed new “do not enter” (DNE) and “one-way” signs on 5th avenue at 34th street. In the picture, the “3” in “34 St” is obstructed from view by the one-way sign, but you can clearly see greenwood cemetery in the background. The one-way is pointing south-bound and the DNE facing north-bound traffic at 34th st suggesting that south of 34th 5th ave would continue to be two ways. The new pattern is not in effect as of yet–I presume they make changes like this in the dark at night.

I’m not sure how far north this extends or whether this is a temporary thing…I called 311 and was told that in order to verify a street sign or traffic change I would need to submit it in writing. I figured I’d ask you first since you seem to know the ins and outs of our fair and gentle borough so well.

Given the furor last year about one-way changes around Park Slope, we doubt that it’s a permanent change. In fact, Fifth Avenue was left off the one-way list. So, we assume it’s a construction-related issue. Anyone know what’s up?

Bklink: Sunset Park Nonprofit

“A Brooklyn agency that’s supposed to help the disabled spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money on fancy cars, flat-panel TVs, business trips and a $100,000 no-show job for the director’s close friend, a report charges. Despite the scathing findings, the Sunset Park group’s longtime executive director, Seibert Phillips – who lied about his education credentials and allegedly let his son, who lives in Atlanta, rack up nearly $18,000 in gas charges on an agency credit card – is still at the agency. Most of the board members at the Evelyn Douglin Center for Serving People in Need (SPIN) are also still in place – even though many are longtime Phillips cronies who failed for years to rein in the lavish spending…”–NYDN

Bklink: Lunar New Year in Sunset Park

The Lunar New Year celebration in Sunset Park will take place on Eighth Avenue on Sunday February 10. The festivities start around 11AM and will go for about three hours. In any case, if you want to see some great photos of last year’s celebration, you can click here and here.–Sunset Park Blog

Bklink: Lunar New Year, Sunset Park Edition

“Chinese New Year 2008, the year of the Rat officially begins on February 7th, but since it’s a work day the real fun will be three days later” on Eighth Avenue in Sunset Park where thousands watch the celebration. “The Brooklyn Chinese American Association that sponsors the annual Chinese New Year’s Celebrations on 8th Avenue have set the date for this year’s parade on Sunday February 10. The ceremonies are slated to begin at 11 Am and last about three hours. Expect to see very major politician and local celebrity at the ceremonies in front of the BCAA headquarters at 51st street and 8th Avenue.”–Sunset Park Blog