Facelift for Flatbush?

It's been more than three decades since the stretch of Flatbush Avenue that divides Prospect Heights and Park Slope had anything resembling a makeover. That's all about to change, as the North Flatbush BID begins to solicit bids from contractors for implementing a planting-and-bikerack-heavy redesign from W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. (Nevermind that the rendering above appears to actually be Park Place and not Flatbush.) "We haven’t had a facelift since the 1970s," the BID's Executive Director Sharon Davidson told The Brooklyn Paper. “We should be more of a destination than a conduit to Downtown Brooklyn.” With a recent kick-in from the Borough President, the project currently has $600,000 pledged toward it.
Could This Be the New Face of Flatbush Avenue? [Brooklyn Paper]

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Comments

Looks nice but are they taking another lane away? That stretch of Flatbush is a pain in the ass with traffic as it is.

Posted by: Adam Dahill at June 25, 2009 10:40 AM

Next thing we'll hear about is Atlantic Ave going down to 1 lane each side. [sarcasm]Then, and only then, will the Nets arena get built. One lane in, one lane out. Game night'll be a blast! It'll be like Foxboro (NE Patriots) only better.
[/sarcasm]

Posted by: christopher at June 25, 2009 10:48 AM

Adam:

That is a picture of Park Place...not Flatbush....and yes I do believe that the goal would be to remove a lane from that very narrow strip of Park Place...

I think this would be excellent. The retail along this strip of Flatbush seems to be improving quickly lately, and this would be a great thing to build off of that.

Posted by: 11217 at June 25, 2009 10:49 AM

Would they remove a traffic lane or a parking lane? You need the extra lane of traffic, but you would only lose three parking spaces which are normally taken by UPS trucks.

Posted by: PHfamily at June 25, 2009 10:58 AM

does anyone else giggle when they say the word flatbush aloud?

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 25, 2009 10:59 AM

This is great news. The BID had a community meeting about this last summer and solicited input from neighbors and business owners. They took a lot of notes, and I'm pretty sure they handed it all over to the landscape designers.

An example of good community planning, as opposed to what's happening down at the Atlantic end of Flatbush.

Posted by: WonTon at June 25, 2009 11:22 AM

cool! i've been waiting see some of these renderings. i wonder if they'll show more at the BID annual meeting tonight??

Posted by: i disagree at June 25, 2009 11:24 AM

I wonder if this project will be in coordination with the renovation of Grand Army Plaza. My building (on Plaza St.) just donated $$ to that effort.

Posted by: Lesloaf at June 25, 2009 11:51 AM

What ever happened to the improvements they were supposed to make on Flatbush right as you come over the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn...?

I thought I heard that that strip was also supposed to be getting a major face lift also, no?

Posted by: 11217 at June 25, 2009 12:28 PM

The most northernly stretch by the Manhattan Bridge has permanant "tracks" embedded in the road by heavy trucks, making driving on it similar to going off the road and into a ditch. I do not understand how the city can keep a major thorofare in that condition. I'm noticing this even on residential "avenues" (2 way streets) in BK. It's like some covered wagon being pulled by the Budweiser Cleidsdales on massive growth hormone is canvassing the borough.

Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at June 25, 2009 12:34 PM

Rob... I live in Flatbush now. And yes, it makes me giggle every time.

Posted by: tybur6 at June 25, 2009 1:09 PM

Oh, and trees are always nice.

Posted by: tybur6 at June 25, 2009 1:20 PM

If they're planting trees, they can take as many lanes as they like.

Posted by: mgm at June 25, 2009 11:49 PM