Community Board Withdraws Support for Pedestrian Plaza in FiDi
Community leaders have rescinded their previous support for a plan that would close one block of Thames Street, between Broadway and Trinity Place, to vehicular traffic and convert the thoroughfare into a shopping plaza. Read more…
This proposal was first floated in 2016, when Capital Properties, the owner of both 111 and 115 Broadway, twin landmarked office towers located on either side of Thames Street, requested permission from the City to shut the street and line it with shops. In 2017 and 2018, Community Board 1 (CB1) gave qualified approval to the plan, contingent on modifications related to handicapped access and provisions to allow emergency vehicles to use the street.
For decades, Thames Street has been more of an alley than a roadway, used mostly by delivery trucks servicing 111 and 115 Broadway, and savvy downtowners visiting the only sign of life on the dingy block: the superb Big Al’s Pizza. To the distress of pizza lovers, Big Al’s closed a few years ago. Capital Properties originally hoped to have all the necessary approvals in place to begin construction in 2018, but the firm received tentative approval from the City’s Public Design Commission, the agency from which approval is required for all architecture that will occupy public land, only in July of this year.
That approval sent the revised plan back to CB1 for a fresh review. At the Board’s November meeting, Dr. Betty Kay, chair of CB1’s Transportation Committee, opened the discussion and CB1 members began to chime in.
Eric Flores said, “It’s really the privatization of public space. We’re basically giving control of this to the property owner. I actually think that there is a need to keep it open as a street.”
Jess Coleman said, “I want more pedestrian plazas. I want fewer cars on our streets. We all complain about congestion and street safety. This is a solution. We should be asking for more of this. It’s not privatization. This will be space open to the public. This is a very big benefit to our community.”
Pat Moore, who lives steps away from the section of Thames Street proposed for closure, said, “I am totally opposed to closing this street. I was opposed when we voted on it five years ago. After September 11, 2001, the last 22 years have been hell for those of us who live in Greenwich South. We have six working streets. They’re now about to start a project on Trinity Place. We’re going to have traffic jams. Zuccotti Park is one block away. People can always go to have lunch there. They don’t need to close this street.”
Colin Mahoney said, “I proposed that they add super-fast chargers for electric vehicles. But they won’t do that, so I’m against this.”
Jeff Galloway said, “it’s not a pleasant place to be sitting out at a table. It’s always dark between those buildings. Maybe ten minutes a day there will be some sun on part of that street, unless they install artificial lighting, which I would oppose. It will look like a mall. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Joe Lerner, the longest serving member of CB1, said, “for those of you who think this is great for pedestrians, the City does nothing for pedestrians. Get that out of your mind. This is for landowners. They want it closed because it will make their property values go up.”
Rosa Chang said, “I live not far from there and I use that street a lot. It’s an unpleasant street, because the sidewalks are incredibly narrow. I literally find myself walking in the middle of the street, because it is so narrow. So I would actually welcome changing it, so that I can’t get run over.”
Ms. Meltzer proposed that a new traffic study be done to account for the increased vehicular and pedestrian volume likely to result from three nearby developments: 125 Green Street (with 273 apartments), Five World Trade Center (1,200 apartments), and a major new entertainment venue planned for the former American Stock Exchange.
When the vote was called, 11 CB1 members supported the resolution, while 19 voted against it. The measure’s failure to carry had the effect of nullifying CB1’s previous resolutions, which had endorsed the plan.
CB1 member Bob Townley (who voted with the majority) observed after the vote, in a reference to the advisory role of Community Boards, “don’t worry—that street is still going to get closed.”