Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights is in the running to be turned into a traffic-free corridor as part of the city's Open Streets program, as announced by the nonprofit Bridge Street Development Corporation.
A proposal for the program, which closes off city blocks to vehicular traffic to promote business development, was presented at the Community Board 8 Environmental, Sanitation and Transportation committee meeting on Tuesday by Bridge Street.
The proposed Open Street stretches from St. Marks Avenue to Eastern Parkway and would last from 12:00pm to 6:00pm on two Saturdays a month from June to October, according to Tiara Robertson, the senior program manager of economic development at Bridge Street.
Robertson called the Open Street idea a “collaboration” between Bridge Street and Franklin Avenue Merchants, an area merchants association. Robertson said there will be kid-friendly programming with music, games and opportunities for businesses to expand their operation onto the street.
“This is not a new relationship we’ve had with Franklin – now we’re just trying to take it to the next level,” said Robertson, sharing examples of past events held on the avenue, including Halloween celebrations and a summer art walk.
The city’s Open Streets program in Brooklyn has seen its fair share of popularity and controversy. Robertson said the organization is well aware that Open Streets can be an inconvenience for some, and aims to be transparent about its plans.
“We will continue to do our outreach, we will let residents know and show up to other community board meetings, just so we can have everyone there," she said.
Many residents brought up concerns of accessibility in the area during the event.
“At one point, I didn’t have Access-a-Ride, and did have a disability, and faced the issue of actually having to connect,” said Anika R., a Crown Heights resident who shared her mobility challenges at the meeting. “So I bust my butt to find a train station that had an elevator that would allow me to get off the train and connect to a bus, and now you’re telling me that you’re going to move the bus?”
Robertson told the crowd that Bridge Street would partner with the New York City Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on identifying a reroute for the Franklin Avenue B48 bus during Open Streets.
Community outreach will continue before the proposed start date of June 7, Robertson said. The proposal states there will be a paid staff from Bridge Street and local volunteers from the Horticultural Society of New York to provide additional sanitation services and manage barricades used to block off the street.
While some raised eyebrows for an additional Open Street to be created in the area, some community members said this is a silver lining for Franklin Avenue, which has experienced a face lift in recent years with the addition of new businesses.
“Anything positive is always great for the kids and the community and the businesses,” said Kevin Phillip, owner of The Rum Bar on Franklin Avenue. “I’ve seen a lot of gunplay and never seen too many people walking up and down that avenue and protesting it.”
