Brooklyn supportive housing project debated

New project would house women transitioning from shelters or hospitals; opponents expressed concerns about project’s impact on neighborhood. On August 25, 2010, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s proposal to allow Providence House to develop a six-story, 26-unit supportive housing project at 329 Lincoln Road in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens section of Brooklyn. Providence House, established by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, provides supportive and transitional housing … <Read More>


Joshua Benson on DOT’s Bicycle Program

Joshua Benson, the 33-year-old Acting Director of Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs for the New York City Department of Transportation, admits to being particularly fond of the basket sitting at the front of his simple single-speed bike, noting how it allows him to carry anything from groceries to his laptop and projector on the bike. Benson started riding a bike as a student at NYU and now commutes to Downtown Manhattan every weekday from his home … <Read More>


BID for Sunnyside,Queens approved

Plan encompasses 290 businesses in Sunnyside. On February 7, 2007, the Planning Commission approved an application by the Department of Small Business Services to create the Sunnyside Business Improvement District to cover 92 tax lots and 290 businesses primarily along Queens Boulevard, and Roosevelt and Greenpoint Avenues. The proposed BID will focus on sidewalk and gutter cleaning, graffiti removal and snow removal for bus shelters.

The $300,000 first-year budget will come from assessments on commercial … <Read More>


Street furniture franchise challenge rebuffed

Losing bidders challenged DOT’s selection of Spanish-based outdoor advertising franchisee. In May 2006, the City approved a 20-year franchise to Cemusa, Inc. to construct and maintain citywide street furniture, including bus shelters, news racks and pay toilets, on which Cemusa would be permitted to sell advertising space. Approval by the City’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee came after a DOT-initiated request for proposals, a DOT-review and award process, and a public hearing. 3 CityLand 129 … <Read More>


DOT Assistant Commissioner Kerry Gould-Schmit Talks About the Plan that Will Generate Over $1 Billion in Revenue

In May 2006, the Department of Transportation obtained final approval on a 20-year street furniture franchise, a plan that will bring over $1 billion to the City while it meets its main goal of providing more useful bus shelters, sleek news racks, standard-sized newsstands and for the first time: permanent public toilets. The plan originated from a 1992 experiment by the David N. Dinkins’ administration that placed four public pay toilets on city sidewalks but … <Read More>