Six Years Later, Locals Calling for Completion of Allen Street Mall Upgrades
This image has been archived or removed.
The Allen Street Mall – those eight segments of median running from South Street to East Houston – has come a long way in the last decade. Essentially beat up and left for dead, the Department of Transportation finally took notice that changes were needed, and began implementing upgrades six years ago.
Project plans were announced [PDF] in 2009, a few months after the city completed the prototype section at Delancey Street. In the ensuing years, five of the thirteen total blocks were renovated and beautified thanks to an infusion from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. for $5 million. Since the cash went dry, however, there have been few substantial updates to the seven remaining blocks, which cost about $1 million apiece to reconstruct.
Weak links remain. Most of the incomplete blocks sit north of Delancey, where there has been close to zero attention the last decade. Aside from the pilot “mall connections” at Rivington and Stanton that transpired six years ago (never made permanent), it’s been status quo. Not to mention, the constant construction along East Houston for new water main infrastructure all but obliterated the trail head.
This image has been archived or removed.
Locals are starting to make some noise to spur project completion. For instance, the SPaCE Block Association is presently rallying the troops to help draw attention and secure funding to reconstruct the stretch between Madison and Hester Streets.
According to the Parks 2016 Capital Priorities report, the Allen Street Mall is at #13 on the list for relief. So, it might take awhile for anyone to really listen. Unless the local politicians get involved.
Yet, it’s also worth noting that there is still $2 million allocated to the overall project, but earmarked for the purposes of renovating the abandoned bathhouse at Delancey. An additional $2.2 million is needed to see that through, though. (That money will be reallocated if the bathhouse renovation doesn’t proceed)
This image has been archived or removed.
Recent Stories
Work Underway at New Orchard Street Home of Scarr’s Pizza
Scarr’s Pizza is moving up the street. And the work has already begun. As previously reported, owner Scarr Pimentel applied to remove and transfer the liquor license to 35 Orchard (aka 34 Allen) in what was formerly the Lam & Associates insurance office. (A building now shared with Cheeky Sandwiches.) Community Board 3 signaled its […]
Pandemic Pitch: Essex Crossing Tries to Lease its Office Space
One of the crown jewels of the Essex Crossing mega project – namely, 350,000 square-feet of Class A commercial space – is also an Achilles Heel of sorts. And now, a first look. The Commercial Observer spilled ink this week on the challenges of renting this office space during pandemic times, even referring to the […]
Weeks-Long Closure of Nathan Straus Playground was Due to Parks Department ‘Oversight’
Until yesterday, the Nathan Straus Playground was locked up, leaving the community without a popular public amenity for three weeks. The playground, which abuts the Attorney Street cul-de-sac, had been closed without notice or communication from the city. Though the adjacent school, PS140, did have access. When reached for comment yesterday, the Parks Department admitted […]
Someone Sliced Away the Pride Flag from Sugar Sweet Sunshine
It’s not all rainbows for Sugar Sweet Sunshine. Already contending with a spate of garbage dumping on its doorstep, the sweets shop just lost its Pride flag in an apparent hate-driven action. It appears someone snipped the rainbow gay pride flag from the storefront of 126 Rivington Street. We’re told that it had hung here […]
Start of $1.45B East River Park Resiliency Project Delayed
The planned demolition of East River Park for the new coastal resiliency project is delayed, the city recently revealed. The initial scope of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project pegged a start date of September 2020, when areas of the coastline would be roped off ahead of construction. That was the plan through […]
