Friday's parting shots

The car-free Open Streets of St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue is now ... open on the recently milled roadway. 

We asked several city official-type folks about when the program was starting up this year, what the hours would be, etc., and we didn't get any concrete answers. 

No one seemed to know what was going on...

We'll try to get some more answers in the days ahead...

DOT proposes Avenue B makeover, looks to residents for guidance

Photo by Stacie Joy

The Department of Transportation is inviting residents to share feedback and ideas on the future of Avenue B.

The DOT "is proposing a street improvement project on the Avenue B Open Street between East 14th Street and Houston Street." 

The Avenue B Open Street Project Proposal has the following goals:

• Build on the success of the Open Street, provide permanent public space and ease operations for larger events 

• Improve safety on the corridor, focusing on schools 

• Create safe cycling connections 

• Calm traffic on the corridor to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists 

• Replace Open Street barricades with design treatments. 

A copy of the survey is here. 

Here are a few of the ideas from the proposal...

While there isn't a deadline for sharing thoughts on the proposals, organizers of Loisaida Open Streets have informed us that they hope to receive as many comments as possible before tomorrow evening's Community Board 3 Transportation, Public Safety, Sanitation, and Environment Committee meeting. 

There is an item on the docket related to preliminary findings for the Avenue B Open Street. The hybrid meeting starts at 6:30 at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. You can also take part via Zoom. 

This stretch debuted as an Open Street during the spring of 2020. 

Per the program overview: 

New York City's Open Streets program transforms streets into public space open to all. These transformations allow for a range of activities that promote economic development, support schools, facilitate pedestrian and bike mobility, and provide new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community.

Today (Saturday!) on Avenue B

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Loisaida Open Streets (@loisaida_oscc)

Also: The DOT is proposing a street improvement project on the Avenue B Open Street between East 14th Street and Houston Street. Find the survey here. 

(H/T Edmund John Dunn)

Here are the official local Open Streets for 2023

This past Earth Day weekend, city officials unveiled the list of 2023 Open Streets, 160 locations that equal nearly 300 blocks in the five boroughs...

This year’s new Open Streets feature locations across the five boroughs, including in Bushwick & Brownsville, #Brooklyn; South Jamaica, #Queens; & Soundview, #theBronx. More Open Streets are being finalized, with anticipated launches on/after 7/1. Details: https://t.co/Cvz8Quf16F

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) April 22, 2023

The Open Streets initiative launched in the spring of 2020 to give pandemic-weary residents more space to take in the outdoors. 

Only some people are enamored by the program. Per Gothamist: "Opponents of the program have complained about losing valuable parking spots, and argue that Open Streets inhibit emergency vehicles and hinder residents with limited mobility."

Here are the local Open Streets...

• Avenue B, Sixth Street to 14th Street (limited local access)

Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Partner: The Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition

• Bleecker Street, Mott to the Bowery (full closure)

Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Partner: Von Design Ltd 

• Bond Street, Lafayette to the Bowery (full closure)

Hours: Monday-Friday, 4:30-11 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Partner: il Buco 

• Fourth Street, the Bowery to Second Avenue (full closure)

Hours: Thursdays, 4-9 p.m.

Partner: Fourth Arts Block (aka FABnyc) 

• Seventh Street, Avenue A to First Avenue (full closure)

Hours: Monday-Friday, 4-11 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon-11 p.m.

Partner: Overthrow Hospitality 

Top photo on Avenue B via @loisaida_oscc

City looking for feedback about the Open Street of Avenue B

Since the spring of 2020, the Avenue B Open Street has hosted a variety of free events, including art shows, musical performances, theater, fashion events and exercise classes. 

The citywide Open Streets program was designed to ease the isolation of the pandemic by expanding outdoor public spaces. 

The Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on the Avenue B corridor, where activities take place between Sixth Street and 14th Street. 

NYC DOT has been conducting community outreach to better understand how the Avenue B Open Street is used, and how the community wants to see these corridors used in the future. 

NYC DOT is currently collecting feedback from the community for a design proposal for the Avenue B Open Street. Members of the community are invited to review the design proposal materials ... 

Here's a look at a preliminary concept...

The biggest proposed changes would occur between Seventh Street and 10th Street, which will better prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, expand public space and add amenities. Specifically, Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street would be a pedestrian plaza, with "dedicated space for programming, markets and more." 

You can find the feedback form at this link. And go here for the design proposal. Tomorrow (Sept. 30) is the deadline to submit your feedback. 

The Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition is the DOT's community partner and volunteer group overseeing the Open Street of Avenue B. 

Photo via @loisaida_oscc

Saturday's parting shot

A scene from the Car Free Earth Day activities on Avenue B today... photo by Derek Berg...

About the Winter Fest on Avenue B today

Several community groups and artists are coming together today for the Avenue B Winter Fest (which, given the temps in the high 50s today, may feel more like a Spring Fest) ...

Here's some of what to expect from 1-5 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street:

• 1:15 and 2 — ShapeUp NYC Cardio classes
• 3 — Mazarte Dance Company (Mexican folk dance)
• 4 — FABnyc musical guests
• 4:30 — 3rd & B'zaar Hot Fashion Show
• 5 — Sunset photo op

There will also be an interactive tape art installation via the artist Kuki and coffee and cocoa courtesy of the recently opened Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge.

Plus! Reps from the Department of Transportation will conduct a survey and outreach about the Avenue B Open Street. If you can't make it, then you can fill out the survey online here.

You can read more about the city's Open Streets program at this link.

Saturday's parting shot

A scene from the LES Culture & Community Day on Avenue B today ... photo by Derek Berg...

Friday's parting shot

On the Open Streets of Avenue B today, featuring a Charlie Parker tribute and chalk art for kids ... photo by Derek Berg...

ICYMI: City Council voted to make Open Streets permanent

On Thursday, City Council voted (39-8) to make the Open Streets program permanent — even after the pandemic. 

The bill has moved on for approval by Mayor de Blasio, who has already signaled support of the program. 

According to various media accounts, Open Streets will be overseen by the Department of Transportation or local community organizations that can apply to manage the programs in their neighborhoods. 

In addition, roadways included in Open Streets will be up for annual review, at which point the DOT can recommend permanent design changes to streets, such as the construction of pedestrian plazas. 

Per Gothamist:

Currently, there are around 235 Open Streets locations comprising around 70 miles (there are roughly 6,000 miles of roadway in New York City). Only about 50 of those locations are managed by a local partner, like a community nonprofit or a restaurant; the rest are technically managed by the NYPD and the DOT, and are essentially neglected.

In the East Village, Avenue B between Sixth Street and 14th Street is hosted by the Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition, which continues to add programming. (For instance, they teamed up with the 14th Street Y for a series of fitness classes between 13th Street and 14th Street on Sundays and Wednesdays in May.)

Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera introduced the legislation, Int. 1933-A. She discusses the next steps in this Streetsblog op-ed from Saturday:

With this legislation passed, I'm excited for the future of open streets. That doesn't mean there aren't still challenges ahead. City agencies must now take greater ownership in these efforts and swiftly respond to people who have committed vandalism and physically and verbally threatened open streets volunteers. We need Mayor de Blasio to expand on the $4 million he committed in this year's budget to open streets operations and to start sending out his new City Cleanup Corps workers into communities to help keep open streets barriers set up and our streets free of trash.

You can read more about Open Streets at NY1 ... Gothamist ... and Streetsblog.

Photo from Saturday by Stacie Joy

Open Culture on the Open Streets of Avenue B

Tomorrow (Saturday!), several community groups and artists are coming together for Open Culture, an afternoon "to lounge, listen to music and help draw a giant street mural with tape artist Kuki." 

This is happening from 1-5 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

On the runway along Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Sunday afternoon, more than two dozen local artists, designers and merchants came together for the Ave B Eco-Friendly Fashion Show... featuring upcycled and vintage clothing on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Loisaida Open Streets and the East Village Community Coalition sponsored the event.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos from along the runroadway .... showing the array of creative and wearable art looks... (click on the images for more detail)... 
 

An eco-friendly fashion show on Avenue B

Local merchants and designers are teaming up today for the Ave B Eco-Friendly Fashion Show... it starts at 12:30 on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

You can find more info on the participants via Instagram. 

The show is brought to you by Loisaida Open Streets and the East Village Community Coalition.

Another chance to Zumba on the open streets of Avenue B this afternoon

The Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition is hosting two Zumba sessions this afternoon on Avenue B between Ninth Street and 10th Street... there's a low-impact version at 1 p.m. followed by an all-level session at 2 p.m. 

Community Boards hosting town hall to discuss the Open Restaurants and Open Streets programs

Open Restaurants and Open Streets, two programs the city introduced last year during the pandemic, are the subject of a virtual town hall this Tuesday night.

Community Board 3 and Community Board 6, which serves the east side from 14th Street to 59th Street, are hosting the event... with sponsorship by local City Council members Carlina Rivera and Margaret Chin as well as Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

Per the invite: "Hear from agencies to clarify regulations and answer your questions to make these programs work better for us." 

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. You may submit questions in advance here.

Details to tune in follow:

Online: https://zoom.us/j/97467588948

By Phone: +1 646 518 9805, +1 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 974 6758 8948

Saturday's parting shot

A moment from today's free zumba class on Avenue B courtesy of the Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition ... photo by Derek Berg... 

ICYMI: City makes outdoor dining permanent

And in news you likely read about yesterday, Mayor de Blasio announced that the City's Open Restaurants program will be extended year-round and made permanent. The extension also applies to Open Streets: Restaurants, which provides restaurants expanded space on 85 car-free streets citywide on certain days.

Here are some particulars from the city's press release about how restaurants will able able to protect diners from the winter-time elements: 

Heating 

As cooler weather arrives, the City will allow restaurants to incorporate heating elements into their outdoor dining setups. Electrical heaters will be allowed on both sidewalk and roadway. Propane and natural gas heaters will be allowed on sidewalks only; they will remain prohibited in roadway seating. Propane will require a permit from FDNY and compliance with FDNY regulations for outdoor use, handling and secure outdoor tank storage overnight. Official guidance on what will be considered approved installation and use of heating elements will be released before the end of September, and restaurants are prohibited from installing heating elements until guidelines are released and followed.

Tents

Restaurants will also be permitted to use tent enclosures to keep diners warm. In partial tent enclosures, at least 50 percent of the tent’s side wall surface area must remain open and electrical heaters are allowed. In full tent enclosures, the tent’s side walls may be closed but occupancy limitations will be capped at 25 percent of capacity, and indoor dining guidelines must be followed; electrical heaters will also be allowed. Enclosed structures, such as plastic domes, will be allowed for individual parties and must have adequate ventilation to allow for air circulation.

These local streets will now be open during the week for dining

Mayor de Blasio announced yesterday that 40 city streets participating in the Open Restaurants program on weekends can now operate during the week. 

Here's where you can find the daytime hours around here:

• Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street (Organizer: Becaf LLC aka Poco). Hours:  Mondays-Fridays noon-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.

• Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue (Organizer: Derossi Global). Hours: Mondays-Fridays 4-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.

• Bleecker Street between Mott Street and the Bowery (Organizer: Von Design Ltd). Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 5-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.

• Bond Street between Lafayette and the Bowery (Organizer: il Buco). Hours: Mondays-Fridays noon-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.

The Open Restaurants program is set to end on Oct. 31st, but, as Gothamist noted, Mayor de Blasio has suggested that he wants to make it permanent, calling it "a stunning success." 

St. Mark's Place between A and 1st now an open street for dining on weekends

St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue has been added to the list of the city streets closed off for dining on the weekends. 

Back on Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced 40 open-street additions for the city's Open Restaurants program. He also extended the program through Oct. 31. 

This block of St. Mark's join these other EV streets already participating in the program (as of July): 

• St Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue 

• Avenue B between Second Street and Fourth Street 

• Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue 

These corridors are in dining mode on Friday from 5-11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

New barricade placement along the Open Streets of Avenue B

[Photo last weekend by Vinny & O]

In an effort to improve access for the FDNY along Avenue B, the
Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition announced new placements of the wooden and metal barricades that help keep the Open Street free for pedestrians and cyclists.



Per their social media posts from yesterday: "Please don’t move them out of these positions. We want #Loisaida Open Streets to continue & we need your help to ensure that!"

Reps for Engine 28/Ladder 11 at 222 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C had previously expressed concern about accessing Avenue B with barriers placed in certain positions. (Not sure how they navigate Avenue B between Second Street and Fourth Street when it is closed for outdoor dining on weekends.)

The local volunteers came together last month to form the coalition, painting and repairing the barriers that are up along the Avenue from Sixth Street to 14th Street daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The city announced the Open Street plan in late May to help residents safely get some fresh air while social distancing.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New community coalition helping keep Avenue B safe for cyclists and pedestrians