New Haven Independent

Posted by: Ned | September 18, 2009 11:47 AM

"East Rock Alderman Roland Lemar, who sits on the City Plan Commission, questioned the planned removal of the grass strip". These "grass strips" don't seem to make any sense to me. Dog poop strip, neglected weed strip, broken glass dirt strip or garbage strip really describe what these little dead zones are (more often than not). Maybe these little neglected spaces make sense in the suburbs, but in the city - no.

Posted by: Mister Jones | September 18, 2009 11:49 AM

"The $250,000 overhaul is being paid for by the city."

I thought the city was short on funds, resulting in layoffs. Unless they are getting grants not reporter in this article, I have to wonder whey the city is spending this money now. Our own little economic stimulus? Or a fancier version of fixing potholes before an election?

It looks like a great project on a stretch of Whalley that sorely needs attention, but I have to wonder about the money.

Posted by: anon | September 18, 2009 12:03 PM

These new crosswalk treatments are fantastic -- they have been used in Queens, Boston, etc., for many years -- and should be considered for other locations throughout New Haven. I know that citizens have been asking for them for a while now. Kudos to Regina, Sheila, Mike Piscitelli and the others for finally picking them out.

These treatements are a good first step, perhaps, but pedestrians are still not going be happy if Whalley Avenue is left the way it is - an extremely wide street with no pedestrian refuge and regular 50 mile per hour traffic.

I know there have been plans afoot for many years to change it, but as it stands now, Whalley violates every single design guideline for urban boulevards. Perhaps business owners and commissioners will be happy with the facelift, but elderly pedestrians and children will continue to stay away.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will continue to be hit by cars and seriously injured or killed along the stretch (this is unethical, since we already all know how to prevent these injuries).

Though it is far from a zero-sum game, I would agree with the above commenter, and question whether this is really the best investment of the city's $250,000. $250,000 could have accomplished a lot of traffic calming on our neighborhood streets where children try to play. Unfortunately, there seems to be little in the way of a public process for citizens to review such investments.

Posted by: anon | September 18, 2009 12:19 PM

Ned - these types of spaces wouldn't be neglected if people wanted to spend time on the street. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, that is an issue here.

Answer the community's widespread call to make it a livable place, and it will be well cared for by the community.

Alderman Lemar's question was whether removing the grass strip and trees would be taking us in the right direction, or whether it was just another example of reactionary thinking.

Posted by: Norton Street | September 18, 2009 6:36 PM

If you say something like this:
"Masterson said that the improvements are intended to enhance the pedestrian experience. 'I want THEM to be happy,' she said."
Chances are you don't know what you're talking about. The people in charge of this should be the people that use these sidewalks everyday, people that are helping themselves and their community not someone who thinks they're helping some poor ole pedestrians.
The pseudo textured street looks nice, but how about tearing up the asphalt and revealing the real cobblestone; that's a better calmer than anything purely visual.
To look at the trees in terms of how many we are loosing and gaining shows a clear lack of understanding as to what street trees are for. You must look at them in terms of how much CO2 they absorb and how much ground they shade at various times during the day and compare for the older trees versus the new ones that will replace them, because surely we are loosing way more than a couple trees, we are loosing large amounts of shaded outdoor square footage. So while it may be necessary to replace trees from time to time, be honest about what we are actually loosing in more terms than just number of trees.

On street parking is desirable, if off-street parking is "necessary" it always goes in the back. Never ever should off street parking border the sidewalk. Something immediately needs to be done at the corner of Sherman, that parking lot is a sick joke. Same goes for the package store at the corner of Winthrop, both lots need to be paved over with either concrete to match sidewalks or some type of textured material like brick or stone.

Lets also get some "bus only" lanes because at certain parts of Whalley there are 7 friggin lanes, 7. And they're all for cars. When the buses begin to run more efficiently due to the bus lanes, then ridership would increase, further unclogging traffic. The people who designed this city would be disgusted at our current usage of Whalley.

Posted by: Chris O | September 20, 2009 9:13 PM

More trees not less. Previous pavers not more concrete. Offset the trees into the sea of sidewalk. Trees properly placed enhance business while enhancing the pedestrian experience and providing green services. I think this plan need to be re-thought. one progressive idea ( "elastomeric material") and 3 regressive ideas. I hope they leave in some money to cut new tree pits.

Posted by: W.A.R. Member | October 1, 2009 8:06 AM

I was thrilled to read that the City Plan Commission had approved $250 million for improvements on a small section of Whalley Avenue. But what has not been mentioned either in any of the media is the important role a strong citizens group had in making this all happen. W.A.R. (Whalley Avenue Revitalization) was formed over 3 years ago to address the deterioration of Whalley Avenue, the need for extreme beautification, decrease crime and therefore provide an economic boost to the businesses. Think how many autos travel down Whalley each day!
The co-chairs of W.A.R., Nadine Herring and Moti Sandman, held monthly meetings. The members of this committee held tight and insisted that money and efforts be made by the City and its economic development arm.
Now hopefully, block by block, from Broadway to the Westville Village border, Whalley will be one of the avenues in New Haven that will look like the street we had envisioned: great facades, classy signage, plantings, lower lighting lamps, crosswalks, thriving businesses that are used by its neighbors and those traveling from the outskirts.