Comments on: Envisioning a More Livable Columbus Avenue http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:09:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46266 Glenn Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:40:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46266 The whole Community system needs to be overhauled. The people on the Boards are often unrepresentative of the communities they serve. Most are much older, richer and NIMBY-minded than their general area. Many also feel very entitled to be renewed as long as they just have good attendence. The community board offices and staff have few resources and low salaries. Many people I have successfully brought out to CB meetings have been appalled at the lack of good process and professionalism. That said, it is extremely important to turn out at these meetings on livable street issues - just a handful of people supporting an issue can sway the board or at least balance the NIMBY types. The whole Community system needs to be overhauled.

The people on the Boards are often unrepresentative of the communities they serve. Most are much older, richer and NIMBY-minded than their general area. Many also feel very entitled to be renewed as long as they just have good attendence.

The community board offices and staff have few resources and low salaries.

Many people I have successfully brought out to CB meetings have been appalled at the lack of good process and professionalism.

That said, it is extremely important to turn out at these meetings on livable street issues - just a handful of people supporting an issue can sway the board or at least balance the NIMBY types.

]]> By: Dave http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46260 Dave Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:36:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46260 This looks pretty but the NIMBY-types in the CB will yell and scream about less parking, easy acccess to their front door or something as inane. If anything moves forward it will be a much watered-down version looking nothing like the above. Instead of giving more say to the CB's we need a process where intelligent, knowledgeable city planning professionals do what's best for the city. Stop the CB practice of kow-towing to the NIMBY coalition! This looks pretty but the NIMBY-types in the CB will yell and scream about less parking, easy acccess to their front door or something as inane.
If anything moves forward it will be a much watered-down version looking nothing like the above.

Instead of giving more say to the CB's we need a process where intelligent, knowledgeable city planning professionals do what's best for the city. Stop the CB practice of kow-towing to the NIMBY coalition!

]]> By: sean http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46256 sean Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:18:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46256 I'm in London right now, but those of you in the city should really go to those Community Board meetings. There's a reason it's so much easier to bike downtown and it has to do with community pressure. Columbus Avenue is not very nice to bike down. And the avenues on the East Side are worse. I'm in London right now, but those of you in the city should really go to those Community Board meetings. There's a reason it's so much easier to bike downtown and it has to do with community pressure. Columbus Avenue is not very nice to bike down. And the avenues on the East Side are worse.

]]> By: ln http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46253 ln Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:50:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46253 I just returned from London, which is now such a pleasant place to be since conjestion pricing. One of the major improvements that makes it work is a dedicated bike, bus, taxi lane, sometimes physically separated, sometimes painted another color. And they have bus lane cameras too, so any private car in there receives a ticket! And those taking non- or less polluting transport actually move a lot faster. I just returned from London, which is now such a pleasant place to be since conjestion pricing. One of the major improvements that makes it work is a dedicated bike, bus, taxi lane, sometimes physically separated, sometimes painted another color. And they have bus lane cameras too, so any private car in there receives a ticket! And those taking non- or less polluting transport actually move a lot faster.

]]> By: Dave H. http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46249 Dave H. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:21:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46249 It is sort of cheating to compare a winter shot with a summer shot/simulation. Of course the summer one looks more appealing! It is sort of cheating to compare a winter shot with a summer shot/simulation. Of course the summer one looks more appealing!

]]> By: Brandon http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46243 Brandon Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:24:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46243 Can anyone, regardless of residence, attend these meetings? I live in BK but I'd like to go to this. Do they give handouts of the proposals? Can anyone, regardless of residence, attend these meetings? I live in BK but I'd like to go to this.

Do they give handouts of the proposals?

]]> By: Peter http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46238 Peter Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:30:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46238 Community Board presence is key--If you like the BID's presentation, make sure you attend Monday night's presentation. Community Board presence is key--If you like the BID's presentation, make sure you attend Monday night's presentation.

]]> By: d http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46236 d Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:20:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/18/envisioning-a-more-livable-columbus-avenue/#comment-46236 Interesting that there's a pedicab in the rendering when the city has done so much to limit the number of pedicabs. Interesting that there's a pedicab in the rendering when the city has done so much to limit the number of pedicabs.

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