Overpass Restoration Part Of Brooklyn Boulevard Plan
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As the city planning department holds public hearings on zoning changes to the 4th Avenue commercial district in Brooklyn, other enhancement projects are already in the works. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.Currently, the grimy overpass at the 4th Avenue and 9th Street subway station is covered with a billboard, graffiti and painted over windows. Underneath there's dim lighting, shuttered stores and netting to catch falling paint.
"The residents deserve something better than these deplorable conditions," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
BP Markowitz recently put in $2 million to help fund the MTA's renovation of the 1930s Art Deco structure. It's part of a larger $100 million rehab project of an adjacent elevated station. Work can already be seen in progress on the other side of the overpass where new windows are now in place.
Markowitz considers the station pivotal for the makeover of 4th Avenue, which is part of a six mile stretch that runs through several neighborhoods including Park Slope, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge.
"The potential is unbelievable. I see it as Brooklyn Boulevard," Markowitz said.
To help create a grand boulevard, Markowitz tapped his chief of staff Carlo Scissura to head a task force.
"We want 4th Avenue to be a truly mixed use community with people living here, shopping here, working here, dining here," Scissura said.
Trees would provide relief from endless blocks of pavement, and plazas would be created at key intersections. In Bay Ridge, a revamped look is being proposed for 86th Street and 4th Avenue. In Sunset Park, there's a pedestrian-friendly vision for 43rd Street and 4th. A newly expanded Times Plaza where congested 4th, Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues now meet is also in the works.
The task force will be meeting with residents of the different neighborhoods along the 4th Avenue corridor starting next month.
"We'll listen to what people have to say. What do people want to see on 4th Avenue; Are there things that people want that can activate the street; Are there safety measures that the city can put in right away?" Scissura said.
At the same time, the city planning department is working to amend zoning rules to make sure all new developments on 4th Avenue provide ground floor retail to enliven the underwhelming thoroughfare.