Comments on: Houston Street Gets Tree-mendous New Sidewalks http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:36:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Davis http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-42493 Davis Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:05:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-42493 Gee, Gerg, let's see... On the micro level the trees provide shade. On the macro level the trees suck a tiny iota of global warming-causing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And Fonzie from Happy Days liked trees too. Thus, the trees are literally cool. Gee, Gerg, let's see...

On the micro level the trees provide shade.

On the macro level the trees suck a tiny iota of global warming-causing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

And Fonzie from Happy Days liked trees too.

Thus, the trees are literally cool.

]]> By: Gerg http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-42487 Gerg Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:04:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-42487 "Cool! Literally!" Really? How does this affect the temperature? "Cool! Literally!"

Really? How does this affect the temperature?

]]> By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-42465 Hilary Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:20:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-42465 If we really want to create beautiful green boulevards in New York, our design standard should be double rows of trees. It's not often done in this country, so I was surprised to see it done to great effect in Yonkers of all places. If we really want to create beautiful green boulevards in New York, our design standard should be double rows of trees. It's not often done in this country, so I was surprised to see it done to great effect in Yonkers of all places.

]]> By: mork http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-42464 mork Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:04:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-42464 Kathy, So the question is, as always, why do we give so much space away to cars? Kathy,

So the question is, as always, why do we give so much space away to cars?

]]> By: Kathy Podgers http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-42445 Kathy Podgers Sat, 05 Jan 2008 18:31:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-42445 Cool! Literally! But New York City has wide sidewalks that Cambridge, MA does not have. No way can we widen sidewalks to accomodate trees, pedestrians and cars! Cool! Literally! But New York City has wide sidewalks that Cambridge, MA does not have. No way can we widen sidewalks to accomodate trees, pedestrians and cars!

]]> By: Clover http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41172 Clover Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:03:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41172 First up - those trees are the existing trees before construction began. They were never moved, and their pits have been ENLARGED. With the smaller sidewalk, the trees used to be right on the edge of traffic, so now they will be more protected. The larger sidewalk is fantastic for pedestrians. It may not be 100% perfect, but it is a 100% improvement. First up - those trees are the existing trees before construction began. They were never moved, and their pits have been ENLARGED. With the smaller sidewalk, the trees used to be right on the edge of traffic, so now they will be more protected.

The larger sidewalk is fantastic for pedestrians. It may not be 100% perfect, but it is a 100% improvement.

]]> By: flp http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41157 flp Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:49:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41157 whoah!!!!! make canal a ONE way street with GRAND the opposite direction pair (right where the exisiting bike lane lies???), sounds like a disaster in the making based on some of the arguments made re. proposed one way streets in brooklyn!!! park slopers, chime in here please! wasn't there a claim that one way streets tend to create faster and, therefore, nmore dangerous traffic? i can see that being the case, but do not know whether any studies, etc. back that up. whoah!!!!! make canal a ONE way street with GRAND the opposite direction pair (right where the exisiting bike lane lies???), sounds like a disaster in the making based on some of the arguments made re. proposed one way streets in brooklyn!!! park slopers, chime in here please! wasn't there a claim that one way streets tend to create faster and, therefore, nmore dangerous traffic? i can see that being the case, but do not know whether any studies, etc. back that up.

]]> By: Ian D http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41154 Ian D Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:46:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41154 <blockquote>If only they would do the same on Canal (Where theres about 100x more pedestrian traffic)</blockquote> Drum roll please... Well, David, meet CATS (Canal Area Traffic Study). At presentations last week, NYMTC presented some possible scenarios to change the traffic and streetscape in the corridor. Nothing is set - they are trying to gauge community reaction to their study. The one scenario that would leave a lot of street space for other uses, such as possibly extending sidewalks along Canal, is to make Canal St. a one-way street (with Grand St. becoming its opposite-direction pair). There are a lot of details to work out, but Canal is projected to be rebuilt (the way Houston St. was) in 2012 and that will be the big opportunity to change the road completely. Make sure you stay plugged in and offer input... http://www.nymtc.org/catsII/projectupdate.html

If only they would do the same on Canal (Where theres about 100x more pedestrian traffic)

Drum roll please...

Well, David, meet CATS (Canal Area Traffic Study). At presentations last week, NYMTC presented some possible scenarios to change the traffic and streetscape in the corridor. Nothing is set - they are trying to gauge community reaction to their study. The one scenario that would leave a lot of street space for other uses, such as possibly extending sidewalks along Canal, is to make Canal St. a one-way street (with Grand St. becoming its opposite-direction pair).

There are a lot of details to work out, but Canal is projected to be rebuilt (the way Houston St. was) in 2012 and that will be the big opportunity to change the road completely. Make sure you stay plugged in and offer input...

http://www.nymtc.org/catsII/projectupdate.html

]]> By: david http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41083 david Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:44:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41083 I live nearby - I like these new 'stretch' side walks. Puts plenty of distance between you and the traffic as you walk down Houston and there's plenty of room for cyclists on the sidewalk too! If only they would do the same on Canal (Where theres about 100x more pedestrian traffic) I live nearby - I like these new 'stretch' side walks. Puts plenty of distance between you and the traffic as you walk down Houston and there's plenty of room for cyclists on the sidewalk too! If only they would do the same on Canal (Where theres about 100x more pedestrian traffic)

]]> By: flp http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41068 flp Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:38:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41068 those trees are gonna be nowed down so fast by the speeding traffic if REAL traffic calming measures, such as bike lanes, are not installed! either that or the exhaust from the potential increase in traffic plus overdriving to enjoy the maximum potential of the speedway will kill the tress before they are old enough to look like real european trees rather than just a set of sad, sickly new york sidewalk trees. those trees are gonna be nowed down so fast by the speeding traffic if REAL traffic calming measures, such as bike lanes, are not installed!

either that or the exhaust from the potential increase in traffic plus overdriving to enjoy the maximum potential of the speedway will kill the tress before they are old enough to look like real european trees rather than just a set of sad, sickly new york sidewalk trees.

]]> By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41066 Hilary Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:16:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41066 Those tree pits seem to be smaller than what is required -- let alone less than optimum. Would have been nice to use some other material or treatment than plain concrete. I mean if it has aspirations to a European promenade... Those tree pits seem to be smaller than what is required -- let alone less than optimum.
Would have been nice to use some other material or treatment than plain concrete. I mean if it has aspirations to a European promenade...

]]> By: John Hunka http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41063 John Hunka Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:41:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41063 Does anyone know whether permeable or porous pavement was used around the trees? I hope so, since porous pavement is good for trees and reduces water pollution from combined sewer overflows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeable_paving Does anyone know whether permeable or porous pavement was used around the trees? I hope so, since porous pavement is good for trees and reduces water pollution from combined sewer overflows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeable_paving

]]> By: dbs http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41056 dbs Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:31:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41056 Speaking of which, still waiting for Streetsblog to report on DCP's Street Tree Planting zoning text amendment! http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/index.shtml The amendment is set for a City Planning hearing on Dec 19 (see page 14 of http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/luproc/calendar.pdf ) and pending approval of CPC, a City Council vote early next year. Speaking of which, still waiting for Streetsblog to report on DCP's Street Tree Planting zoning text amendment!
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/index.shtml

The amendment is set for a City Planning hearing on Dec 19 (see page 14 of http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/luproc/calendar.pdf ) and pending approval of CPC, a City Council vote early next year.

]]> By: ln http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41050 ln Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:59:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41050 An european promenade, are you kidding? Those trees do not make up for the fact that this street is designed to be an even more dangerous speedway which will allow and even facilitate cars and trucks to continue to maim and kill even more pedestrians and cyclists. Right now it continues to be an irresponsible illegal construction site which has already killed 3 cyclists and untold pedestrians. A protected bike lane would look very nice next to those trees, wouldnt it? Go get 'em Alan Gerson! An european promenade, are you kidding? Those trees do not make up for the fact that this street is designed to be an even more dangerous speedway which will allow and even facilitate cars and trucks to continue to maim and kill even more pedestrians and cyclists.

Right now it continues to be an irresponsible illegal construction site which has already killed 3 cyclists and untold pedestrians.

A protected bike lane would look very nice next to those trees, wouldnt it?

Go get 'em Alan Gerson!

]]> By: mf http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/comment-page-1/#comment-41049 mf Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:30:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/03/houston-street-gets-tree-mendous-new-sidewalks/#comment-41049 This is in direct contrast to the "traffic calming" at Adams Street in Brooklyn that seems to have reduced the size of the sidewalks by a few feet. This is in direct contrast to the "traffic calming" at Adams Street in Brooklyn that seems to have reduced the size of the sidewalks by a few feet.

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