Monday, January 25, 2021

Noted

A reader mentioned this today in a previous post about curbside seating... someone has moved into the unfinished outdoor space outside Lucy's on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Steven and Eden shared these photos... not sure if people are living here now or just they just opened a store or lending library...
Not sure when Lucy's was last open... likely until the 25-percent indoor capacity was revoked in December...

18 comments:

Eden Bee said...

I like the library I have so many books I just put out on the street.

Anonymous said...

Thousands of parking spaces expropriated for nothing. Significant amounts of revenue are being lost for no rational reason. Use it or lose it.

ray said...

could be like one of those free stores that are up in williamsburg/greenpoint

https://northbrooklynmutualaid.org/North-Brooklyn-Free-Store

Giovanni said...

Street fair!

Anonymous said...

Of the 400,000+ we lost in the pandemic, who knew it was a few parking spaces we would miss the most.

Anonymous said...

Block after endless block of public space expropriated for free car storage. Significant amounts of revenue lost for no reason and our streets one giant parking lot.

Anonymous said...

Someone tidied up quite a bit since I passed by yesterday morning. I guess their saleperson skills kicked in. Could be someone displaced from the 14th Street first ave -avenue A corridor, which appears way less bazaar-like in recent days.

Anonymous said...

Cars are necessary and have to go somewhere too.
Not everyone can take a bus, train, uber,lyft, etc
somewhere everyday - for different reasons, elderly, handicapped
in some way, etc.
A long commute.
There are different reasons people need cars, just because
some don't need cars, doesn't mean no one else does.

Anonymous said...

It’s not a free store. Someone definitely sleeps in the middle of. Go grab a coffee from sbucks and have a gander

Choresh Wald said...

@anon 7:27 AM: absolutely. But as long as the curb is free for all it doesn't make any sense. Every Tesla that is stored on the street for free is a public policy failure.

Anonymous said...

@Eden Bee - there's a little free library in the park on 16th and 2nd. If you can, please leave books there instead of on the street.

Jill W said...

@ 7:27 there are solutions to having usable vehicles *at the time they are needed* versus having a lot of unused cars taking up space on streets, in parking lots, etc. City land is too valuable to store unused cars. NYC should finally explore proper car share program(s) like Citibike. So that there would be enough cars spread out where they are needed, to use when needed (electric, while we're dreaming). And owning your own private car is a luxury that should be viewed as such, or a business expense that should be factored in properly.

Eden Bee said...

Thanks for the info!

A chap in NYC said...

Cars are such a luxury , i didn't need one until i needed to transport my wheelchair bound child to his doctors and therapists who are scattered around the metropolitan area . most people i know with cars have them because of a need not a want, this city while great for access MTA CABS LIRR it is not that great for all people to maneuver around .

Anonymous said...

@11:45am: First off, how do YOU know the cars parked on the street are "unused"? B/c that's a ridiculous statement.

You say "City land is too valuable to store unused cars." OK, then provide an explanation of what DOES qualify to take up "city land" - is it these unused-in-the-winter outdoor eating spots, and are they more important than being able to park a car?

Even more important: What is the value of being able to get dropped off by a taxi in front of one's home when one is coming home from a medical visit & is using a walker? Also, is city land too valuable for pedestrians to put their feet on? Maybe walking from Point A to Point B in NYC should be taxed, b/c city land is "too valuable" to be used for that.

Please say what the determination of "value" of city land is, and who got to decide on it.

Pat said...

16th & Rutherford Place to be exact, right inside the park entrance.

Anonymous said...

Thank you anon 2:52, I think this person is a bike activist of some sort so has a really distorted view. People need to be reasonable and understanding. It's the side of the road, not Yosemite Park.

Choresh Wald said...

@anon 2:52: that’s right: in order for people to get dropped in front of their building coming back from a doctors appointment you need to clear the curb from cars stored for free. Right now Delivery and utility vehicles have no curb access and end up double parking, crosswalk blocking, engine idling. We all suffer so that one person will be able to store their car for free. And yes, cars are never moved: Open your eyes and take notice: choose a block and document, see for yourself.