Wednesday, September 4, 2019

L train work moves to the entrance of the future Trader Joe's on 14th Street



As you may have noticed in recent days, the walkway configuration has changed on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue in the L-train rehab zone...



Preliminary work started in the summer of 2017 on building new L-train entrances at Avenue A, including accessibility-compliant elevators.

Here's a rendering...



The front entrance of the incoming Trader Joe's at 432 E. 14th St. is now closed off to pedestrians ...





Pedestrians now have to navigate this path between the Trader Joe's-adjacent construction zone and 14th Street...



As for the Trader Joe's, the store's website simply notes "coming soon."

Not sure how soon "soon" is — especially when you see the inside of the space. Here's how the interior looked earlier last week before the construction moved to the front of the entrance...



Speaking of entrances, crews have restored part of the street and sidewalk outside the Associated across 14th Street...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Trader Joe's finally confirms that a Trader Joe's is opening on 14th Street at Avenue A

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Having a new subway entrance and a trader joes in this area is a game changer. It will only enhance our neighborhood. So happy about this!

noble neolani said...

I live near Ave B so getting to and from the L train will be a bit more convenient. That illustration gives the appearance of the elevator gobbling up most of the sidewalk, an always busy 14th St sidewalk. I've seen a similar elevator on Canal street but one side is set against the curb, here it appears there will be about 24" of sidewalk on either side.

Anonymous said...

Wow, a subway entrance AND a Trader Joe's for Alphabet City! Why didn't anybody think of these sooner?

MrNiceGuy said...

@noble -- that isn't the main sidewalk, there's a landing between 14th St and an access road that runs along Stuytown. That's where the entrance will be.

It's going to be great when this is completed. The slog from Ave A to 1st Ave (after which, you go underground and walk back towards Ave A) has always been a waste of time for all involved. It'll also alleviate platform congestion at the 1st Ave stop. win/win/win!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we wait to see how the final design plays out instead of trying to deduce what will be. I agree with MrNiceGuy.

Anonymous said...

I guess anything could happen, but I know no reason not to assume that that rendering is not the final design at this point in time.
Mr. NG:, I think that noble was refering to the elevator on the South side of 14th. Right in front of TJs. And yes, it looks like that will be a very crowded sidewalk block. Though probably not quite as heavily trafficed as, say, 14th across from Union SQ. We'll see.

MTAtoxic said...

I can't wait for Judlau and the MTA to be gone. They have totally screwed up 14th between 1st and B, and driven out businesses and harassed tenants. This month starts year 3 that they've been working here.. How long does it take to dig a hole? Go already.

noble neolani said...

@Mrniceguy

Look at the sketch again, there are elevators on both sides of 14th Street in front of the coming TJs and on the Northside by the service road strip. I know these renderings are never perfect but it's what I see for now.

sophocles said...

"I guess anything could happen, but I know no reason not to assume that that rendering is not the final design at this point in time."

Triple negative award!