Expanding on recent efforts to help shape a stronger future for Fourth Avenue, the Civic Council has called on the city’s Department of City Planning to revise the current zoning along the thoroughfare to better serve the community. In addition, the Council has launched a new group that will focus exclusively on developments along the avenue.
In a letter sent to City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden in early February, Civic Council President Michael Cairl noted that the Council’s recent “Moving Forward on Fourth” walking tour “reminded [us] of the missed opportunities remaining as we strive to improve the corridor and plan for its future. Among the buildings that have been constructed in response to the recent rezoning [that allowed for taller buildings to be built on the avenue], there are several with blank facades and new parking rather than active commercial use facing the avenue. In addition, no development has opted for affordable housing, and it is very affordable units that have been and will be demolished for new construction.”
The slowdown in construction due to the national economic downturn can give the department a chance to step back and address these unintended consequences of rezoning, which took place in 2003. “It would be equally timely,” Cairl wrote, “to consider including changes in the rezoning boundaries for neighboring Gowanus, which, if overlapped with Fourth Avenue, could permit broader options for development policy, in terms of both housing and preserving and invigorating our vulnerable commercial and industrial base.”
The Civic Council hopes to work with City Planning “in forging a refined vision for Fourth Avenue.”
Meanwhile, a new Civic Council initiative will focus exclusively on the needs of Fourth Avenue. Following up on last year’s forum, “The Future of Fourth Avenue,” and “Moving Forward on Fourth,” this group will address such wide-ranging issues as parking, traffic, biking, and pedestrian safety; green space, zoning, and land use; housing and schooling; public transportation; sewage and water treatment; and retail, commercial, and small business.
“The time is right to take action and work together as enthusiastic, energized, concerned residents to help shape a bright, vibrant, and successful future for Fourth Avenue,” said group organizer and Civic Council trustee Josh Levy. “I believe we can truly make a difference.”
The group is open to all. Meetings will take place at least once a month. (The first meeting was held on Feb. 17, after Civic News went to press.) For more information, e-mail jlevy@parkslopeciviccouncil.org.
Finally, New York City Transit will soon begin work to restore access to the east side of the Fourth Avenue –Ninth Street subway station. Long a focus of the Civic Council’s efforts on Fourth Avenue, the project will reopen the entrance, improving pedestrian safety for those who would otherwise have to cross the busy street, and allow for greatly needed retail space.
The capital project, which should be completed by the end of the year, received funding of $2 million from Borough President Marty Markowitz and $800,000 from Assemblymember Joan Millman.
Photo by David Herman
from the Winter 2011 Civic News