Council Member Antonio Reynoso at the Committee Hearing
Open Restaurants Plan intended for Phase 2 start. On June 4, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Open Restaurants seating program and the Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing held the public hearing on Intro 1957, a bill that would create the temporary outdoor dining space. The bill is sponsored by Council Member Antonio Reynoso and was introduced at the May 28th, 2020 Stated Meeting.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson at the Council Stated Meeting. Image Credit: John McCarten
The Speaker’s bill looks to change the way the entire city shares the streets. On October 30, 2019, the City Council approved Intro 1557-A, a five-year comprehensive plan for city streets, sidewalks and pedestrian spaces. The bill was approved by a vote of 35 in favor to 9 opposed with two abstentions. The bill was first introduced by Speaker Corey Johnson on May 29, 2019, heard by the Committee on Transportation on June 12, 2019, and later amended and approved by the Committee on October 29, 2019.
Image Credit: NYC HPD
The City uses ingenuity to make use of City owned spaces in flood plain. On September 25, 2019 City Planning unanimously approved an application to facilitate the construction of resilient housing and create open spaces on 141 city-owned properties, purchased in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The properties involved sustained a level of storm and flood damage equal to at least half their respective value.
413 E 120th Street is one of the sites up for redevelopment. Image Credit: Google Maps.
The RFP was developed using community input through the East Harlem Neighborhood Planning Process and visioning workshops. On August 8, 2019, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner, Louise Carroll, announced the release of a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) regarding the redevelopment of the East Harlem Multi-Service Center site at 413 East 120th Street in Manhattan and the NYPD’s 25th Precinct parking lot on the east side of Park Avenue between East 118th and East 119th Streets in Manhattan. The redevelopment will include affordable housing, retail, and community services. (more…)
Street cuts in Staten Island. Image credit: Staten Island USA.
Street cuts are still a problem in City streets undermining repaving efforts. On July 27, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a pilot program to prevent so-called “street cuts” on freshly paved streets. The pilot will mandate interagency cooperation and coordination to prevent fresh asphalt being marred with street cuts. According to Staten Island USA, street cuts are the name given to the patch job done in the wake of underground work performed by developers, plumbing contractors, gas and electric utilities, cable operators and other entities that wish to, or need to work below the streets. The announcement follows the “Pave Baby Pave” campaign launched in 2014 that has helped repave many City streets. (more…)
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