4 The QUEE NS Courier • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com This is the finalized plan for reconstructing major LIC streets By Angela Matua [email protected] /@AngelaMatua The Department of Transportation has finalized its plans to reconstruct streets throughout major portions of Long Island City. The agency worked with residents and Community Board 2 to decide how to make streets in the Hunters Point Section area of the neighborhood safer for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in January that he would allocate $29.6 million for the project from his Vision Zero capital funds, the largest total for any neighborhood. The DOT allocated $8.8 million for the reconstruction. A spokesperson for Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer previously told QNS the reconstruction will follow a large-scale sewer project in the neighborhood. The sewer project will help streamline issues with plumbing and sewer infrastructure in a neighborhood that has seen rapid development. The project will include traffic calming measures such as speed humps, raised crossings and slow zones and sidewalk extensions on Long Island City streets in addition to total reconstruction of streets extending from Fifth Street and 44th Drive to Jackson and Borden Avenues. Main intersections such as Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue will be transformed to “improve traffic flow” and “reduce congestion.” Curb extensions and extended sidewalks will be added to shorten pedestrian crossing Streets in Long Island City will be reconstructed as part of the mayor’s Vision Zero initiative. time and trees, greenery and street furnishings will enhance its look. The DOT will install new sidewalks along 44th Drive and add a new crosswalk on 44th Drive and Thompson Avenue. The street will also get a raised median with trees to split eastbound and westbound traffic. On 11th Street, buffered bike lanes will be installed along with curb extensions and expanded medians. The reconstruction project will also mean that some parking will be lost or shifted. According to a DOT parking study, Photo by Angela Matua/QNS a total of three parking spots will be lost due to the project. For a full list of changes, visit the DOT’s website. The design contract will be awarded in spring 2017 and community workshops to discuss the project will take place in late 2017. DOWNTOWN FLUSHING ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $500K IN GRANTS FOR SURGING BUSINESS GROWTH By Suzanne Monteverdi [email protected]/@smont76 A bustling area of Flushing qualified for city funding used toward future area business improvement projects. Downtown Flushing was one of six neighborhoods chosen to receive up to $500,000 in grants to conduct local neighborhood revitalization initiatives. Part of the city’s Department of Small Business Services’ (SBS) Neighborhood 360° program — a new initiative that strengthens and revitalizes commercial corridors that anchor the city’s economy by providing funding to not-for-profit organizations — downtown Flushing will be able to tap into funds that can be used for business attraction, retention and support, cleaning and beautification, district marketing, public safety, storefront improvements and other quality-oflife enhancements. Neighborhoods were analyzed through a series of Commercial District Needs Assessments (CDNAs) which identified the needs and opportunities for local neighborhoods citywide. Downtown Flushing’s CDNA was completed in partnership with the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub Business Improvement District (BID) and the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. Improvements the chamber of commerce and BID would like to make with the grants currently include establishing a Formal Flushing tourism program, repurposing under-utilized public and private spaces through arts and culture programming, reactivating the kiosk in front of the Flushing Public Library and investing in additional sanitation and street beautification efforts. The top three issues that need improvement in the area according to downtown Flushing merchants are parking, sanitation and transit improvements, the CDNA report said. “Flushing is a thriving and competitive business community that is continuing to grow and evolve, so it is important that the city works together with community-based organizations to not only assess the needs of the business community, but to provide resources and opportunities for them to contribute to the successful community they helped to build,” Councilman Peter Koo said. Individuals interested in applying for any Neighborhood 360° grants should visit www. nyc.gov. The five other neighborhoods awarded funding were downtown Staten Island, east Brooklyn, east Harlem and Inwood in Manhattan and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. Image via WikiCommons/Yanping Nora Soong An area of downtown Flushing at night.
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