Jackson Heights Life

The following is Jackson Heights Green Alliance's official statement on the issue.  I read an earlier version of this at the meeting.

JACKSON HEIGHTS GREEN ALLIANCE

STATEMENT ON 37TH ROAD PUBLIC PLAZA IN JACKSON HEIGHTS

The 37th Road Public Plaza is the product of a sound idea and perhaps less-than-perfect execution, whose success is nevertheless already visible and will become even more obvious with time.  We wish to emphasize that, while this project is not of our making, the Jackson Heights Green Alliance fully supports it.

The claim has been made that the 37th Road Public Plaza initiative is being rammed down the throats of the community with no public meetings or input.  We find this claim not only unfounded and untrue, but destructive to the community dialogue.  This was a road, and therefore under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT). 

The decision to convert it to a plaza was a direct outcome of the DOT’s Jackson Heights Transportation Plan which was years in the making and included a robust public involvement process – with walkthroughs, open houses, public workshops, and several community board meetings.  Our members have attended many of the workshops, having come across flyers for them posted around the neighborhood.  The claim that the plaza had no public process is false and inflammatory, and we wish those who are making it would, for the benefit of honest, civil community dialogue, stop.

As to the merits of the plaza itself, the claim is also being made that it has resulted in increased vagrancy, gangs, trash, and a drastic drop in business. We think this characterization is unfortunate in a neighborhood that prides itself on its diversity.  And, with regard to this last claim, it is our understanding that no data has been offered to support it; therefore, the rest of the community is being asked to simply take their word for it.  As local residents who have observed the plaza countless times and at all times of day, all we can say is that we, again, are troubled by this claim, as 37th Road appears to us more busy and vital than ever.

Jackson Heights has one of the lowest percentages of open space in the city, and for that reason, the Jackson Heights Green Alliance has successfully advocated for the 78th Street Play Street, which is also becoming a plaza this year.  The key to a successful plaza is that it must be used, and therefore it is helpful if it is located near to other activity.  In that case, we have Travers Park.  But, in many ways, 37th Road is even more fortunate in its location, nestled between the busy 73rd and 74th Streets, and the second busiest subway station in Queens.  It is, by far, the busiest pedestrian location in the entire neighborhood.

There was a lot of doubt and skepticism when the Times Square plaza was established, but a recent article in the Times Real Estate section said that the end result has been to render the retail there some of the most valuable in the whole city.

Regressing to the point of allowing motor vehicles back on the 180-foot stump of public space that was 37th Road, in this heavy pedestrian center, would make no sense.

In summary, a lot of claims are being made with very little – or in some cases contrary – data in evidence.  Jackson Heights needs open space, and 37th Road is an excellent location for some of that open space.  To many of us, this is an experiment that is working.  But we suggest that whatever decision gets made be made on actual verifiable data, and not just on a lot of claims, however passionately or frequently stated.

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The Jackson Heights Green Alliance is an entirely volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2007. Our mission is to expand, protect, and promote open space in Jackson Heights, New York. Our recent successful initiatives include the award-winning 78th Street Play Street and the Grow A Park campaign to expand Travers Park. For more information, visit our website: www.jhgreen.org

Seriously, the Little India section of JH is very popular for both South Asians and persons of other ethnicities, bot local and visitors. I believe it would be MORE popular if it was maintained in better order by shop owners.  I know I would be more encouraged to shop there. Shopkeepers: are you listening, for once?!!

I have my own complaints about JH, but Dan Dromm has been a consistent advocate for everyone who lives here. I am stunned by how tireless he is.  I've seen it first-hand and I've seen it repeatedly.  I am no push-over (as you suggest those of us who support Dan Dromm are) but I am sorry to see that you are disatisfied with someone who actually accomplishes things for JH.  But this is your opinion and I'm sure you have your reasons for having it.

I wonder how many members of the J.H. Green Alliance ever spent a dime in any of the businesses on 37th Road. As long as you continue to never put your money where your mouth is, your opinion is worthless. It's also unfortunate that you actually believe the bunk Danny Dromm spoons out. No one in that Town Hall meeting asked for the Transportation Study to be reversed. They asked for it to be reviewed for alternatives. A 'review' and a 'reversal' can hardly be called the same thing.

I buy liquor at that liquor store. Am I allowed to have an opinion?

Yes, anyone who shops on 37th Road is entitled to an opinion. If you don't mind having to step over piles of garbage or share your plaza table with people who are simply loitering or sleeping or intoxicated, then so be it.

-the merchants did ask to have the Q47 and Q49 bus stops returned to the 37th Road, BUT they did NOT ask to have the buses returned to 73rd St (the obvious route should be on 35th Avenue and Broadway since these are two double lane roads that would allow for emergency and delivery vehicles to stop in front of buildings/businesses without creating a traffic jam; NOTE that this is the same route used when 37th Avenue is closed for parades)

Thanks for your permission. Sometimes the place on 37th Road has Russian Standard and Cuervo at a better price than the place up at 37th Avenue and 75th Street. I also commute using that subway entrance, and last year I used to take the Q49 bus to the subway, so that makes me kind of a trifecta.

It had always puzzled me why the bus stops were on 37th Road. With the buses idling there, it tended to make that block loud and noxious, and there was a little bit of "Frogger" traffic dodging to get across the street to the subway entrance. Also, the new 74th Street subway station has that really convenient bus terminal built right into it, and the main entrance to the subway station has more gates and more walking room than the 37th Road entrance does, which means it's better for handling a bus-full of traffic. It's also easier to get up to the 7 from the main entrance, with wider staircases. So for the bus commuters, parking the buses at the main subway terminal rather than the 37th Road entrance makes a lot more sense.

Meanwhile, now that the buses aren't dumping into the 37th Road entrance, we don't get that crazy clog when a busload of people are trying to go down the two narrow-ish staircases in the morning. It's far from deserted - there's a steady flow of people in and out of the station at that entrance - but the passenger load is much more appropriate for the size of the entrance and staircases.

Yes, anyone who shops on 37th Road is entitled to an opinion.

As Liam says, all members of the community are entitled to a point of view. The notion that valid opinions about the pedestrian plaza are limited to those who spend money on 37th Road is quite obviously incorrect.

-the merchants did ask to have the Q47 and Q49 bus stops returned to the 37th Road, BUT they did NOT ask to have the buses returned to 73rd St (the obvious route should be on 35th Avenue and Broadway since these are two double lane roads that would allow for emergency and delivery vehicles to stop in front of buildings/businesses without creating a traffic jam; NOTE that this is the same route used when 37th Avenue is closed for parades)

So the thousands of people who use the Q49 & Q47 should endure a longer and less direct commute for the benefit of the merchants

I didn't realize that city transit was really a subsidy for local business. Here I thought the idea was to get people to work and other appointments in an efficient and expeditious manner.

By the way, the bus stop that used to exist on 37th Road was only supposed to be temporary. Busses were routed there while the terminal was being reconstructed.

Different neighborhood, different context, different issues... but it's still interesting to see what's happening elsewhere:

http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/18/willoughby-plaza-already-a-hit-gets-a-capital-upgrade/

It's gratifying to see the changes being implemented at the plaza. It's swept and spritzed and used regularly and the planters are a nice addition. It's so satisfying that city officials have paid attention to the people! Donald Dromm seems to be a good guy.