Street Clutter in Brooklyn?
City Room, a New York Times blog, published a rant from Julia Willkie over the weekend about the cluttered streets and sidewalks in Manhattan. She cites sidewalk vendors, superfluous “honor boxes” for free publications, and an excess of phone booths among her primary woes. She quite dramatically writes: “The center of the Upper East Side…
City Room, a New York Times blog, published a rant from Julia Willkie over the weekend about the cluttered streets and sidewalks in Manhattan. She cites sidewalk vendors, superfluous “honor boxes” for free publications, and an excess of phone booths among her primary woes. She quite dramatically writes: “The center of the Upper East Side is beginning to resemble a hardened hooker of the night.” What we would like to know is if street clutter has become a problem for any of us in Brooklyn. Readers, what do you think—do the crowds of Seventh Avenue in Park Slope or Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg get you down? Is there a Brooklyn equivalent to Ms. Willkie’s slightly overwrought description of Manhattan’s crowded streets?
Complaint Box: Street Clutter [NY Times]
Photo by makemusicnewyork
I’ve got nothing against people on the sidewalks…that’s how we get around and a sign of life. What I do have a problem with are the “honor boxes” and even worse, the vendors. I don’t care whether they’re selling fruit, incense, t-shirts, hot dogs or pretzels. Why does NYC have to give an individual easy access to setting up some kind of business venture on a public sidewalk? In some crowded areas, the private entrepreneurs take up a large chunk of the public sidewalk.
Lafayette with a stroller is really bad, BrooklynGreene. There’s that one spot… anyways, there were a few times last winter when I was just getting over the broken ankle and pushing the stroller and the snow banks on the curb prohibited me from going in the street and that damn tree… well, I quickly learned to use the other side of the street.
However, all of Fort Greene beats Williamsburg for its construction-clogged sidewalks. There’s a few buildings there (finished now) that I want to go back and egg. Or smash windows. Or create artistic graffiti. Or something.
Hope these idiots don’t end up in my nabe. Standing outside of a club, bar, restaurant looking in -or- listening to a band? It doesn’t make sense (find something else to do dammit!)
Why am I bother to comment…? Oh, yes, we want to keep the “clicks” up on Brownstoner…or whatever they call it…for advertising.
Anyway, yes, I have to say I agree with Robert. Soho can be horrible to navigate! Just atrocious!
I do prefer Fort Greene…I can’t think of any terrible sidewalk clutter. Sometimes there are a lot of people but that’s a good thing. Pequeno must have been in trouble with the City (aside from the violations they recently had). They had tables out to the curb, not just on their deck. It started with them putting small tables along the deck but on the sidewalk. Eventually, they put tables at teh curb. It was tough walking through that but I didn’t complain and simply avoided it. I guess someone else complained or the City took notice. I think Cafe Lafayette was doing the same thing at one point and ceased.
We have very narrow sidewalks up the south side of Lafayette with tree roots and uneven sidewalks. It’s hard to get a stroller or “granny cart” (like the one I use) over the tree roots but other than that, the sidewalks in Fort Greene aren’t bad. Certain areas of Manhattan are a world away in that respect.
Here’s a bright idea – if a particular street is too cluttered for you – how about NOT walking on it?
I love my street. People just wander around on my unbusy, who cares street, spaced out, dropping junk food packaging. That’s about it. No crowds, no strollers, no phone booths, just dorito bags and cupcake wrappers. I can deal with it.
rob – not what today? working in williamsburg? why not? save a ton. i’m over Soho – i’m agreeing with you. it’s more convenient to going to photo shoots in manahattan and having meetings i guess, but that’s about it.
I don’t find people with children and strollers as much as a problem …as those with cellphone, ipods, whatever that can’t walk straight line, stop suddenly (especially at top of subway stairs) because OMG like a text message just ARRIVED and i gotta read it right NOW. and they were like and i was like.
I was trying to navigate 7th Ave on Sunday and I just ended up walking in the street.