L-train non-shutdown fallout: Bike lane battle shaping up along 12th and 13th streets

[Photo on 13th Street near 4th Avenue from early January]

The newish unprotected bike lanes on 12th Street and 13th Street have become a battleground following Gov. Cuomo's sudden cancellation of the L-train shutdown.

The lanes arrived back in late October and early November, part of the city's plans to help move people when the L-train was to shut down in April 2019 for 15 months for Sandy-related repairs between Eighth Avenue and Bedford Avenue.

Now, though, the 14th Street Coalition is asking the city to remove the bike lanes and the newly painted dedicated bus lanes on 14th Street. (The Coalition also sued to stop the bike lanes and busways in October.)

Streetsblog was first to report this past Thursday that someone spread broken glass along parts of the bike lanes on 12th Street and 13th Street on the west side. Per Streetsblog: "[C]yclist Jonathan Warner noticed that the lanes on 12th and 13th streets were covered in patches of broken glass, which he believed was an intentional attack on cyclists."

Gothamist has a good recap at this link. Read Streetsblog's follow-up report here.

At the same time, Transportation Alternatives launched a petition drive to retain the bike lanes (as well as the 14th Street bus lanes). Per the petition:

With M14 buses traveling at barely above walking speed, 14th street sidewalks fill to the brim with pedestrians, 12th and 13th street bike lanes adding a safe way for people to bike crosstown and upcoming infill expansion of Citi Bike, these improvements were needed before the announcement of the shutdown, are going to be needed during the partial shutdown, and will be needed after the repairs are finalized.

These improvements will help provide faster, safer and more efficient modes of transportation for New Yorkers to travel crosstown and alleviate congestion in our streets.

There were also signs up along the bike lanes... an EVG reader shared this photo from Thursday night on 12th Street between Fifth Avenue and University Place...



Per the EVG reader: "Funny thing is, the NYPD does a shit job of policing the lane so there were, as usual, many cars parked right in the green stripe on several other blocks, rendering the bike lane unusable. But that’s normal, whereas broken glass and nasty NIMBY notes are a little more novel."

The arrival of the broken glass and signs drew a strong response from city officials...

This is unacceptable. In my district. Shame on whoever did this. All New Yorkers are entitled to safe streets and shared spaces, on two wheels or on foot. https://t.co/xTAl9c6Sry

— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) January 11, 2019

A statement from DOT Commissioner Trottenberg and @NYPDTransport Chief Chan. pic.twitter.com/XobA6Xr8jV

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) January 11, 2019

In a statement to Streetsblog, the 14th Street Coalition said they "had no involvement in, nor condoned, the defacing of bike lanes."

Meanwhile, also on Thursday, someone painted "Bring back our parking" on 13th Street just east of Avenue A...

Today would be a good day to appoint a Bike Mayor. https://t.co/6pMW9KxgNw pic.twitter.com/wIPdttHY7U

— Transportation Alternatives (@TransAlt) January 11, 2019

The DOT painted over the message on Friday morning, as these photos via Steven show...





Last Tuesday, Andy Byford, CEO of the New York City Transit Authority, told attendees of CB3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee meeting that the fate of the bike lanes is up to the Department of Transportation while the future of the 14th Street Select Bus Service will be a joint decision.

In other post-L-train-shutdown developments... residents are asking what impact Cuomo's new plan might have on the construction on 14th Street between Avenue B and First Avenue.

One longtime 14th Street resident, who has spoken out on the numerous quality-of-life issues the construction has created in the past year, told me this:

"We're not sure if this will affect us at all much. We do hope, however, that the pols will call for an immediate stop to the night time and weekend work. There is no need to subject our neighborhood to these hours now.

Also, the MTA needs to be pressured to finish [the new entrances on] Avenue A. There is no reason it can't be finished now. They were just stalling the use it as the entry/exit for their infrastructure. An exit doesn't take three years to build."

Town & Village has more on this story here.

T&V also noted that workers removed some of the L-train renderings from 14th Street after Cuomo's announcement. A few remain for good measure, though...



The MTA is now holding an emergency public meeting tomorrow to discuss the L-train's reconstruction future.

Green paint arrives on the new 12th Street bike lane

On Wednesday, crews painted the new eastbound bike lane on 12th Street... I spotted them between Second Avenue and Avenue A ...







The bike lane for 13th Street arrived at the beginning of the month.

Meanwhile...

Time elapsed between painting the new 12th street bike lanes and people parking in them 1.0234seconds. #bikenyc @bikeblognyc @evgrieve #eastvillageParking #workingclass @bikesnobnyc pic.twitter.com/38ezAPTQFX

— Christopher J Ryan (@ChrisRyanAction) November 21, 2018

As previously reported, the city put in a bike lane on the north curb of 12th Street from Seventh Avenue to Avenue C, and the south curb of 13th Street from Greenwich Avenue to Avenue B separated from traffic with a painted buffer ahead of the April L-train closure.

The bike lanes are just one of the ways the city hopes to keep people/commuters moving during the 15 (or so) months that the Canarsie Tunnel under the East River gets repaired.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot)

DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot)

DOT crews yesterday painted the new westbound bike lane on 13th Street... starting at Avenue B (the crew was just west of Second Avenue when I saw them)...



There is a curious gap just east of First Avenue... at first glance, it appears the the paint crew simply stopped and continued past the parked car...



However, a reader of the block chimed in saying that there's a curb cut here (and the car parked here later, seeing as the back wheels are on the freshly marked lane)...



The DOT team also skipped the construction zone in front of the incoming Thirteen East + West condos west of Avenue A.

As previously reported, the city put in a bike lane on the north curb of 12th Street from Seventh Avenue to Avenue C, and the south curb of 13th Street from Greenwich Avenue to Avenue B separated from traffic with a painted buffer ahead of the April L-train closure.

The bike lanes are just one of the ways the city hopes to keep people/commuters moving during the 15 (or so) months that the Canarsie Tunnel under the East River gets repaired.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

As we reported on Wednesday, crews are laying the pedalers’ paths and new parking lanes for the protected bike lanes on the north curb of 12th Street from Seventh Avenue to Avenue C, and the south curb of 13th Street from Greenwich Avenue to Avenue B.

EVG regular Lola Sáenz noted this morning that workers are creating the bike-lane outlines on 12th Street ... with crews spotted at First Avenue...





... and heading east toward Avenue C...



One worker told Lola that the green machine is on Greenwich today painting the bike lanes... and making its way toward the east...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

[Click to go big]

Back on Sept. 20, we noted that — presumably — DOT officials distributed the above flyers to residents who live on 12th Street and 13th Street... providing information about protected bike lanes that are in development on 12th Street and 13th Street (as well as Horatio Street and Greenwich Avenue) ahead of the April 2019 L-train shutdown.

As reported in June, the DOT decided against its original idea for a single, two-way bike lane on 13th Street in favor of two separate, one-way lanes for 12th and 13th streets.

The city is putting in a bike lane on the north curb of 12th Street from Seventh Avenue to Avenue C, and the south curb of 13th Street from Greenwich Avenue to Avenue B separated from traffic with a painted buffer and flexible delineators.

Multiple EVG readers have pointed out that this work has started in recent days/weeks (painted buffer and flexible delineators still to come).

Here's a look at 13th Street, starting at Avenue B... where the "No Stopping Anytime" signs are now posted on the south side of the street ...



... at Avenue A...



...a view to the east from First Avenue...



...at First Avenue...



...a view to the east from Third Avenue...



... looking to the west between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...



The work is just underway on 12th Street, where the "No Stopping Anytime" signs arrived ... here are two photos (thanks Brian K!) ... at 12th between Avenue A and Avenue B...



... and between Avenue A and First Avenue...



This link takes you to the DOT's overview for these bike lanes.





During the L-train outage, DOT officials expect these bike lanes to handle a surge in people bicycling. Cycling advocates have applauded this development, citing the lack of protected bike lanes going crosstown.

While the bike-lane work is moving forward, another lawsuit is aiming to put an end to this plan, as well as other L-train related planning. As Gothamist reported on Oct. 2:

On [Oct. 1], West Village resident and attorney Arthur Schwartz filed his second lawsuit against the MTA and the DOT, calling for yet another environmental assessment, as well as last minute changes to the agencies' sweeping mitigation plan. Specifically, Schwartz and his allies are opposed to the creation of a dedicated busway on 14th Street and an adjacent sidewalk expansion for pedestrians, along with the addition of protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th Street.

"The goal is to eliminate those bike lanes as designed, to make them not protected bike lanes or not do them at all," Schwartz told Gothamist, adding that his preference would be for the lanes to be restored to parking spaces. "I just don't think there's any genuinely demonstrated demand for people who used to take the L train who are all of a sudden going to hop on a Citi Bike."

Reader report: Body found in car on 12th Street near Avenue B

A man's body was found inside a car on the south side 12th Street just west of Avenue B early this evening.

EVG reader Blair Hopkins shared this photo.

The word here is that the man was unknown to anyone who lived on the block, and that he was likely there for three to four days. The car has Florida license plates.

Will update if/when more information becomes available.

Updated 8:22 p.m.

According to an EVG reader who lives on the block, there were pill bottles laid out on the hood of the car.

The police are apparently looking at security camera footage from the building across the street from the car.

12th Street brownstone becoming mini university for Jewish education

We've been watching the work continue at this brownstone on East 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

However, this isn't your ordinary townhouse renovation.

Here's the mission statement from the Brownstone website:

The Brownstone’s mission is to use NYC as an experiential classroom to strengthen Jewish identity and peoplehood, foster community development and cultivate the next generation of leaders to ensure Jewish continuity for American Jews.

The Brownstone building, located in the heart of New York’s East Village, will be a hub of dynamic and engaging immersion learning programs for the local community and for collegiates and young adults from across the United States and abroad.

The six-story Brownstone will feature: tastefully appointed meeting rooms, classrooms, a spacious auditorium, library, sleeping accommodations, offices, lounge, dining hall and kitchen, as well as a garden and a rooftop terrace.

And, if you want to know more, then you may watch the movie...

The Mila Kunis 'Black Swan' Oscar campaign heats up

Now including dumpster tagging...

On East 12th Street near Second Avenue.

427 E. 12th St. back from the dead?

So that's what you look like! On Monday, workers removed the long-standing sidewalk shed in front of 427. E. 12th St. across from the East Side Community School...



And now...





There aren't any new permits for this space on file with the DOB. (In fact, all the work permits here have long expired.) Plans originally called for a six-story, 12-unit rental. When we last checked in here, back in November 2009, Massey-Knakal had just listed the pit space for $2.3 million. That listing is no longer active. One neighbor figures the presence of the porta-potty (Johnny on the Spot? Loader Up?) means the crew is there to clean out the hole...

Progress made in trash talk on East 12th Street

A group of residents on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue have had ongoing concerns about the trash piling up outside the buildings that house Ross Global Academy Charter School and East Side High School. With almost 800 kids, the school population between First and Avenue A is considerably larger than the three other schools on 12th Street and requires a greater number of trash pick-ups.

As one resident noted, the schools can dump on the sidewalk any time of the day or night while residents must comply with trash pick-up rules. "Every day we have to walk out of our building and look at bags of garbage and a running stream of sour chocolate milk in the gutter," one resident said. In addition, the fire hydrant on the south side of the street was often piled over with trash.








However, after a series of meetings with school officials, including the building engineer, as well as a flurry of e-mails and phone calls with Sanitation Department officials, there is progress to report. The residents are pleased to note a striking "culture change" in the past two weeks in the way that trash has been managed at the school facility.

In an e-mail, one neighbor noted "the initiative ... to establish an additional late Friday/early Saturday pick-up resulted in the elimination of a growing weekend trash heap which has caused tension between the school and the neighborhood. The constant, ever-heaping mountains of trash present not only an eyesore, but a a health hazard to the community, especially with bedbug outbreaks throughout the city."

On weekends, the sidewalks were trash free... and the fire hydrant has also been painted...



Said a resident: "This is a good start ... we will continue to monitor and review the situation and I look forward to continued collaboration and cooperation."

Hurry! Listing for the last of the Allen Ginsberg apartments goes live this morning

Given how much interest there was the last time around... Dmitry Daniel Kramp at City Connections Realty tells me that the listing will be live this morning. It will appear at Streeteasy later. $1,875 for a renovated one bedroom.... More info here on the history.


Previously on EV Grieve:
Allen Ginsberg's former 12th Street apartment now on the market

Allen Ginsberg's former apartment quickly rented

Last one of Allen Ginsberg's former apartments ready to hit the market

Another one of Allen Ginsberg's former apartments at 437 E. 12th St. (he had three units there) is ready to hit the market, The Real Deal reports. This one will be going for $1,875 per month. The unit will be ready Oct. 1. Here are the details.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Allen Ginsberg's former 12th Street apartment now on the market

Allen Ginsberg's former apartment quickly rented

[Photo via The Real Deal]

A case for Allen Ginsberg Way

From the comments on the Allen Ginsberg's former apartment quickly rented post:

As a long time resident of East 12 Street (I am between A & B) a project I looked into but never took on is to have East 12 Street between 1st and A renamed Allen Ginsberg Way. It is a totally doable project requiring signatures and bringing it up the community board #3. Anyone interested in taking on such project?

Anyone?


[Image via]

Fire trucks outside Motorino

Last night after 11, a reader noted a rather chaotic few minutes... the building in question houses Motorino:

11:21 — They have 12th st between 1st and 2nd aves closed off right now and 3 firetrucks are on the scene looking for what may be a gas leak? They're on the roof of the building now.

11:24 — Hmm scratch that. Looks now like its an electrical thing. ConEd on the scene.

I thought the smoked pancetta might have been a little too smokey. [And the crowd boos....]