The fifth that is allowed to flourish around 73rd and 74th Street would not be allowed in many parts of the United States.
Heck, it wouldn’t even be allowed in other parts of Jackson Heights!
It’s been interesting to read the different perspectives on the same plaza space. The many shoppers--and loitering customers--dropping their trash along 73rd and 74th street and 37th avenue is a bigger issue than the plaza, in my opinion.
Last I noticed, there are garbage cans on each corner of every intersection on 37th from around 75th or 76th street street up but not one on any corner below there. This may be because sanitation removed them due to too much household garbage being dumped, I don't know. But only one store around there even has a sign that says "Customers please don't throw your garbage on the street"
Obviously the plaza wasn't fancy before this reno and agree it probably won't be ideal after, but I often saw women and children there, and think it’s much better for the general vicinity since they closed that little street to traffic.
It seemed very well-used by assorted members of the JH/Elmhurst community who were not prostitutes, drunks, drug addicts and/or homeless. People like that were hanging around and inside that subway entrance well before the street was closed, they’re just more visible by comparison to all the regular people who are also using the area since the traffic is gone. In general, the seediness level seems much better to me than when cars and buses dominated.
I remain hopeful the renovated plaza will be a positive influence over time, and in any case think it’s much better than it was.