Community Board Seeks To Curb Illegal Curb Cuts

June’s Community Board 11 meeting focused on three main points: the curb-cutting ‘crisis’, the new Bensonhurst BJ’s location, and the Shore Parkway promenade changes soon happening in the neighborhood.

Assemblyman Peter Abbate and Councilman Vincent Gentile joined Community Board 11 at Thursday’s meeting at the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare to give share their thoughts.

Curb-Cutting Crisis

Councilmen Gentile spoke passionately about his proposed bill to end what he called “the epidemic of illegal curb cuts,” a situation where non-approved parking spots are created by residential owners.

According to Gentile, the bill would require that the Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioner have an illegal curb cut restored at that property owner’s expense.

“It takes away legal spots,” Gentile said. “It is a huge quality of life issue.”

The bill received overwhelming support from attendees at the meeting, with many nodding in agreement and expressing their own frustration.

“We need to get this bill passed to [get] the blight away from our community,” said District Manager Marnee Elias-Pavia.

The Board previously expressed frustration with the curb cuts in 2013, when Chairman Bill Guarinello asked the Department of Transportation to look into the problem, and then appealed to mayor-elect Bill de Blasio to make it a priority.

New BJ’s Location

Bensonhurst’s BJ’s is opening on July 12 at 1752 Shore Parkway and the company is hiring — fast.

Elias-Pavia and Gentile are teaming up to co-host a Job Information Night at 6 p.m. on June 17 at the Sephardic Home Auditorium at 2266 Cropsey Avenue.

According to Gentile, there are 250 jobs available at this store and “we should give these jobs to the community.” Currently, 100 positions have been filled, leaving 150 opportunities still open, including those for clerks, cashiers, stock assistants, merchants, sales representatives, and more.

Shore Parkway Promenade

The stretch from Shore Parkway and 19th Avenue to Bay Parkway has been renovated. The redeveloped path is now open, paved, and accessible to the public. There are 15 new benches, freshly planted foliage, and new drainage systems that prevent massive puddles and flooding.

“You don’t see those moon craters when you walk any more,” Gentile said. “In two weeks, it will be fully ready to enjoy.”

According to Gentile, the project cost half a million dollars to complete.

Happenings This Summer, Save The Date:

• Bensonhurst Green Market: Sundays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 81st Street and 18th Avenue
• BJ’s Job Information Night: 6/17 at 6 p.m. at the Sephardic Home Auditorium at 2266 Cropsey Avenue
• Free Family Movie Night, Frozen: 6/22 at 8:30 p.m. at Seth Low Park
• Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting of the Second 47th Council District Office: 6/22 at 11:00 a.m. at 2015 Stillwell Avenue
• Casino BBQ Night: 6/26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation
• Free Family Movie Night, Wizard of Oz: 6/29 at 8:30 p.m. at Colonel Marcus Park

Other Announcements:

• There has been a small spike in neighborhood robberies. 62nd Precinct Captain, William Taylor, advises residents to not walk alone when it’s late, to be more aware of surroundings, and to keep cell phones and other electronic devices safely tucked away when walking in the dark.
• Residents at Independence Avenue and 15th Avenue submitted over 100 signatures supporting the conversion of the two-way street at that corner into a one-way street due to poor visibility and dangerous driving conditions.
• There are emergency sewer repairs at 67th Street and 18th Avenue, due to a pipe break. Currently, 300-feet of sewer pipe is being repaired, set to be completed by June 30th.
• Elias-Pavia reported that she will be sitting on the planning committee to determine how to allocate $3 million of block grant funding as part of a Post-Sandy Gravesend/Bensonhurst community reconstruction project.