The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Dumbo Improvement District held a press conference this morning to announce the opening of the Manhattan Bridge Archway in Dumbo, a joint project of both groups with Rogers Marvel Architects and Jim Conti Lighting Design. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, among others attended.

The opening of the archway is one of the initiatives of the Dumbo Improvement District and will be opened in two stages. The public space has been closed for 17 years and previously occupied by DOT’s Division of Bridges for the cutting and storage of metal needed for bridge projects. Today marked the “soft opening” at which point the Improvement District will keep the Archway open to the public as a pedestrian thoroughfare and plaza, locking the gates at night. The archway will be further beautified with lighting, benches, and to remove the asphalt to reveal the Belgian blocks and will be open 24 hours upon completion to coincide with the Manhattan Bridge’s 100th birthday in 2009. This fall, the Dumbo Improvement District will continue to fundraise, to support the longer-term restoration of the archway, maintenance, and programming costs. The Dumbo Improvement District’s annual fundraiser, Dumbo Fight Night 2008, will be held on October 2, 2008. As Marty Markowitz stated in his speech, he envisions events with tables, benches, and exhibitions in the 8,000 square foot archway once the restoration is fully completed.

 Rogers Marvel’s rendering of the completed Archway

It’s obvious that parking is a touchy issue in NYC, with deeded parking spots going for $225,000 in Manhattan. Dumbo’s spots aren’t quite that high, yet, but in this small neighborhood, a change in parking signs and regulations bring out angry reactions in some. The Dept of Transportation has updated signs overnight, and the repurposing of the Pearl Street Triangle from a parking triangle to a pedestrian park started heated discussions in earlier posts about Pearl St. Triangle beginning work and its progress.

The dozen or so spaces lost to the Pearl Street Triangle have been reclaimed with a few changes in parking regulations in three areas:

1. Pearl Street (Between Plymouth and Water Street) is now a “No Parking Fridays 8-9:30am” area.
2. Pearl Street (Between Front and York Street) is now a “No Parking Fridays 8-9:30am” area.
3. Anchorage Pl (against the Pearl Street Triangle) is now a “2 Hour Parking 9am-7pm except Sun” area.

Below is a rough Google Map that shows their approximate locations (in red). I’ll also try update the map with street regulations. Please check back on the Location page for parking updates with the below GMap.

Parking Restrictions in Dumbo
(Note: The street regulations are regularly updated by the Department of Transportation. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the below map is accurate. It is intended as a general guide. Please check street signs.)


{GMaps View Larger Map}

The Dumbo Improvement District has pushed the DOT to move quickly on the Pearl Street Triangle and even worked on the plaza with their own staff. On Tuesday, the Dumbo BID staff painted the plaza area grey, and by this morning, some planters have been put in place. There’s some discussion from Monday’s post about Pearl Street Triangle on whether or not the street furniture will encourage homeless people to linger around. While no one wants to see someone else homeless, we can’t just push them out to another neighborhood. Out of sight, out of mind is not a way to help others in need. As one commenter stated, “Homeless people need SERVICES, not to degrade themselves by begging for spare change.”

The Dumbo BID plans an “adopt-a-street-fixture” program to allow business and residents to dedicate furniture to public spaces. Community-based public art is also in the works for the Pearl Street Triangle. Work on the initial phase of the triangle is scheduled to be completed in early July.

 Pearl Street Triangle, 26Jun2007

 Pearl Street Triangle, 28Jun2007

 Pearl Street Triangle, 28Jun2007

 Sidewalk reconstruction is a parallel improvement by the property owner Josh Guttman, separate from the work with the DOT along Pearl Street, 28Jun2007

{Pearl Street Triangle Plaza Begins Work, 25June2007, DumboNYC}

[UPDATE: More Pearl Street Triangle updates.]

Starting today, the Pearl Street Triangle will be closed to begin work on the pedestrian plaza. Water Street between Pearl Street and Anchorage Place will be closed to traffic. Cars parked in the triangle (between Anchorage Place and Pearl Street) will be towed and the dozen or so spaces will be gone for good. The initial planters and furniture will be installed while the pavement is being put in place to accommodate the area. This project is one of the previously announced initiatives by the Dumbo Improvement District. The NYCDOT will revise parking regulations in the immediate surrounding area to provide some additional parking spaces.

Previously:
{Pearl Street Triangle Survey, 28Mar2007, DumboNYC}
{Pearl Street Triangle Planning Session Tomorrow, 21Mar2007, DumboNYC}