Stomping Out Flowers in Carroll Gardens
Not everyone in Carroll Gardens has a garden, but even on the streets where cement front stoops stand in for landscaped front yards, many residents brighten their sidewalks with flower-filled planters. Apparently, though, somebody at the Transportation Department isn’t a fan of the pansies and marigolds. Inspectors have been threatening green-thumbed residents to remove their…
Not everyone in Carroll Gardens has a garden, but even on the streets where cement front stoops stand in for landscaped front yards, many residents brighten their sidewalks with flower-filled planters. Apparently, though, somebody at the Transportation Department isn’t a fan of the pansies and marigolds. Inspectors have been threatening green-thumbed residents to remove their sidewalk planters — or face $1,000 fines. “I’m really upset over it,” said Elizabeth Hillery. “Here we had pride in our little gardens, and now they want us to take ’em down.” If crowded sidewalks are the issue, what’s next? The removal of elderly Italians parked in lawn chairs? In this neighborhood, the transportation department better watch their step.
Planters Now No-No on Clinton St. [NY Daily News]
Funny how the flower obstructions are such a problem but if someone puts a basketball hoop in the middle of a sidewalk, thats just fine.
so let me get this right, the city won’t be liable for maintaining the sidewalk outside of private buildings, including trash and cracks, because they can’t afford it. But when it comes to planters, the sidewalks are suddenly the city’s? Or perhaps these planters are equivalent to garbage.
Perhaps they should be more upfront about their planter permit policy.
I believe it starts on p.13 here http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/pdf/revconsent.pdf
(Seems they don’t allow wooden planters of any sort)
Not a new law. This has always been the case. The law does not differentiate between flowers or other obstructions. To mock the law is pointless.