Poll

Do you plan to use the facilities at Diversity Plaza once it is done?

Yes, I plan to sit, eat, read a paper, use the internet
13 (23.2%)
Yes, to walk pass it on the way to the subway
16 (28.6%)
No, I will try to avoid the area as too many homeless
5 (8.9%)
No, I think it a waste of 5 million of taxpayers money
22 (39.3%)

Total Members Voted: 56

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Author Topic: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza  (Read 26995 times)

Offline NYC Peromyscus

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #30 on: March 19, 2018, 08:33:40 AM »
Quote from: 80JHer on March 19, 2018, 07:32:21 AM
What masssive infrastructure work had to be done to support some paving stones and 6 street lights?  As others have said, they have seen guys working daily since July.  That’s 8 months of work!

That whole area of western Jackson Heights has had a bunch of utility work going on to replace water and gas infrastructure. Streets surrounding Diversity Plaza have been torn up to various degrees during that same period. The work isn't just to install paving stones and street lights.  It's a good idea to replace all of that now before putting permanent infrastructure in place for the plaza.
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Offline itsit

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #31 on: March 19, 2018, 08:51:56 AM »
 I just hope it doesn't feel like an all male- many of them drunk/high- area again after all of this upheaval. Personally
question leaving the middle area open as I feel that this is counterproductive to a better social and visual environment
here. There are other streets that have way less traffic and commerce that could be used for public gatherings in my
opinion as someone who goes through this area often.
  But still remaining mildly optimistic and hopeful for green anything in that area!
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Offline JK resident

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #32 on: March 21, 2018, 07:25:21 AM »
This area has always been home to homeless, prostitution and day laborers. That is only likely to increase because plans are to include a bathroom in the plaza. Also because there are nearby food carts and the tables and chairs this is likely to be a area full of white styrofoam containers with some food left over. Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves. That is why they work in Manhattan. This closure of the street was made basically to disrupt the cars making a left turn onto 74th Street to alleviate the traffic of Indian stores. Nobody really likes to hang out in such filthy surroundings.
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Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #33 on: March 21, 2018, 01:54:17 PM »
Quote from: JK resident on March 21, 2018, 07:25:21 AM
This area has always been home to homeless, prostitution and day laborers. That is only likely to increase because plans are to include a bathroom in the plaza. Also because there are nearby food carts and the tables and chairs this is likely to be a area full of white styrofoam containers with some food left over. Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves. That is why they work in Manhattan. This closure of the street was made basically to disrupt the cars making a left turn onto 74th Street to alleviate the traffic of Indian stores. Nobody really likes to hang out in such filthy surroundings.

Hey, the reason the plazas work in Manhattan is because sanitation workers regularly clean them.  As long as there's a frequent sanitation program in place for Diversity Plaza, it should be fine. If there isn't...it won't be pretty.
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Offline daisy

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #34 on: March 21, 2018, 11:53:00 PM »
I honestly don't have much faith this plaza will stay clean. The majority of Jackson Heights has trash strewn on many sidewalks in the commercial area, and it does spill over to 35 Avenue as well. It's really frustrating how people just throw trash all over. And the red spitting all over the rest of Jack Hts will dirty the new plaza pretty quickly. Add to that the homeless that hang out on the stairwell, plus what others have mentioned, and I just don't see this plaza staying nice for long. Especially without conscientious people milling about and sanitation workers assigned to it.
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Offline Alfster

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #35 on: March 28, 2018, 02:19:45 PM »
Quote from: JK resident on March 21, 2018, 07:25:21 AM
This area has always been home to homeless, prostitution and day laborers. That is only likely to increase because plans are to include a bathroom in the plaza. Also because there are nearby food carts and the tables and chairs this is likely to be a area full of white styrofoam containers with some food left over. Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves. That is why they work in Manhattan. This closure of the street was made basically to disrupt the cars making a left turn onto 74th Street to alleviate the traffic of Indian stores. Nobody really likes to hang out in such filthy surroundings.

Oh goodie, a new public toilet....I guess that the dregs of society won't just be taking a piss on the side of a building in front of passers by.  What an improvement.  Ugh.  Just imagine the stink that will be coming from the public toilet...Fortunately, the pungent smell food cooking from all of those roach carts should cover it up just nicely.
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Offline CaptainFlannel

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #36 on: March 28, 2018, 02:47:24 PM »
Quote
Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves.
Racist troll is racist.
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Offline JHMNY

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #37 on: March 28, 2018, 02:52:28 PM »
Quote from: Alfster on March 28, 2018, 02:19:45 PM
Quote from: JK resident on March 21, 2018, 07:25:21 AM
This area has always been home to homeless, prostitution and day laborers. That is only likely to increase because plans are to include a bathroom in the plaza. Also because there are nearby food carts and the tables and chairs this is likely to be a area full of white styrofoam containers with some food left over. Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves. That is why they work in Manhattan. This closure of the street was made basically to disrupt the cars making a left turn onto 74th Street to alleviate the traffic of Indian stores. Nobody really likes to hang out in such filthy surroundings.

Oh goodie, a new public toilet....I guess that the dregs of society won't just be taking a piss on the side of a building in front of passers by.  What an improvement.  Ugh.  Just imagine the stink that will be coming from the public toilet...Fortunately, the pungent smell food cooking from all of those roach carts should cover it up just nicely.

MODERATOR NOTE:  Reminders have been posted on other threads about following JHL forum rules... Rules and Guidelines for this Site.  Trolling is not allowed.   
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Offline Sky23

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #38 on: March 29, 2018, 09:14:57 AM »
Quote from: CaptainFlannel on March 28, 2018, 02:47:24 PM
Quote
Public plazas work only if you have civilized citizens that use the tables and clean up after themselves.
Racist troll is racist.

Facts can't be racist. Civilized citizens aren't a certain race but some cultures don't care about environmental consciousness as much as others.
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Offline JK resident

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #39 on: March 29, 2018, 11:13:26 AM »
Exactly. We do have in the area a great amount of people from different parts of the world but that does not mean we have to adopt their sanitation standards. The fifth that is allowed to flourish around 73rd and 74th Street would not be allowed in many parts of the United States. Those three food carts are only adding to the problem.
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Offline Sky23

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #40 on: March 29, 2018, 01:47:18 PM »
Quote from: JK resident on March 29, 2018, 11:13:26 AM
Exactly. We do have in the area a great amount of people from different parts of the world but that does not mean we have to adopt their sanitation standards. The fifth that is allowed to flourish around 73rd and 74th Street would not be allowed in many parts of the United States. Those three food carts are only adding to the problem.

In my opinion, those three food carts are not the problem. They are business owners who unfortunately cater to people who could care less about the cleanliness of their surroundings. What if we just provided more garbage cans, more signs in different languages about proper trash disposal, and maybe finally giving out tickets for littering in public plazas?
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Offline ljr

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #41 on: March 29, 2018, 02:23:51 PM »
Agree with Sky23--and I think that the city has removed garbage cans? There used to be one on my corner but not anymore. Agree that 73-74 Sts. are shockingly garbage strewn--people toss garbage into the tree wells as if that's where it belongs! And from my admittedly limited amount of world travel, I agree that a big issue is cultural differences in how public areas are expected to be maintained. In some parts of the world, this level of mess, for lack of a better word, or an even higher level is simply the norm. And very surprising/offputting to the eyes of someone not used to it.

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Offline Miss Chatelaine

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #42 on: March 29, 2018, 02:41:09 PM »
Quote from: JK resident on March 29, 2018, 11:13:26 AM
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.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #43 on: March 29, 2018, 03:08:13 PM »
my only consolation about seeing these trolls is knowing they have to live among their superiors, day after day, with no recourse except to post here and kick random dogs on the street.
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Offline JK resident

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Re: Work commencing on Diversity Plaza
« Reply #44 on: March 29, 2018, 05:30:15 PM »
Dromm in his infinite wisdom pressured sanitation to remove the trash cans on 37th Ave and 73rd and 74th Street. Now the cups of tea and coffee litter the street and when a shop owner put out a garbage can to collect the mess he was fined. He then removed the can and trash continues to litter the street. This whole problem was created by Dromm who decided the shop owners and residents don’t deserve simple trash cans on 37th Ave. Don’t expect it to improve until Dromm’s  term is over.

As for saying the people posting are trolls, it seems when people disagree with your point of view you accuse they of being trolls.
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