‘Maybe Next Year’ For Third Avenue Pedestrian Mall

It looks like the Third Avenue Pedestrian Mall will not be coming to Bay Ridge this year.

After the proposal turned into a hot-button issue, possibly due to bike lane backlash, it was rescinded by the same local pols who brought it up. Councilman Vincent Gentile blamed the DOT for the decision to cancel rather than riled-up residents.

From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“Immediate plans for the pedestrian mall have died,” Gentile told the  community board. “DOT said this year it cannot be part of Summer  Streets.”

Dorris Cruz, Chair of Community Board 10’s Traffic and Transportation Committee, thought the proposal was too little too late.

“After considerable intense discussion, the committee came to two  conclusions. This is a complicated endeavor and the proposal should have  come to the board months earlier, in March or April,” Cruz said. The committee issued a laundry list of concerns, including whether there  would be enough police assigned to the avenue and where cars parked on  the avenue would be towed.

The proposal for closing Third Avenue was first made public at a community board meeting on June 8. It had the support of State Senator Marty Golden, Councilman Vincent Gentile and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny  

Councilman Vincent Gentile represents City Council District 43, which includes Bay Ridge,  as well as parts of Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst

Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny represents Assembly District 46, which includes Bay Ridge, Coney Island; as well as parts of Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: City Nixes 3 Ave. Pedestrian Mall