A drab street is to become a handsome boulevard
By Kathy-Ann Joseph
kathyannjoseph@gmail.com
An architects rendering shows Hunts Point Avenue after refurbishing.
The “main street” of the Hunts Point peninsula, Hunts point Avenue, is scheduled to undergo a $5 million facelift next year that aims to improve its appearance and the quality of the neighborhood’s environment.
The new look of Hunts Point Avenue from Seneca to Spofford Avenue will include more trees, planted medians, a bike path and new street lighting, benches, crosswalks, sidewalks and curbs.
In addition, Spofford Avenue between Hunts Point Avenue and Tiffany Street will also be refurbished, with similar tree plantings, planted medians and furnishings.
“It’s going to kick the hood out,” said 24-year-old baby-sitter Ricki Bell at La Tijera de Oro Unisex Barber Shop on Hunts Point Avenue.
“It’s hard to believe they’re going to do such a thing here, but that’ll be real nice”, said 31-year-old David Marques, who works at 99c Plus Discount and Hair Supply on Hunts Point Avenue.
The Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation (HPEDC) spearheaded the changes in an effort to curb truck traffic, aid retail activity and reestablish the residential feel of the street.
Although the changes are only projected up to Spofford Avenue, hopes are that the greening will be extended further along the Hunts Point Avenue corridor to the waterfront and be integrated with the planned South Bronx Greenway.
For now however, the proposed work will follow the outlines of the Hunts Point Vision Plan., drawn up in 2003 by a task force of city agencies, neighborhood businesses and grassroots advocates to chart development over the next 20 years. The Vision Plan called for streetscape improvements to be completed by 2008.
Currently Hunts Point Avenue is a busy but drab two-lane street. A wide striped island separates Eastbound from Westbound cars, buses, bicycles and small trucks. Several intersections, and particularly the one at Lafayette Avenue, have been identified as high accident locations.
Plans call for trees, low growing shrubbery, flowers and benches in medians that will stretch down the center of both Hunts Point and Spofford Avenues, transforming striped islands into pint-sized parks.
The idea is to give residents a place to relax closer to home than the riverfront parks.
“Having something right outside your door makes a difference. Parks may be somewhere residents can go on the weekends, but this will provide residents an opportunity to relax right on their block during the week,” said Paula Caplan deputy director of planning and development at the Bronx borough president’s office.
The trees are also intended to buffer pedestrians from traffic, provide shade and make shopping on the street more appealing. Mamadou Kane, 42-year-old assistant manager of the Hunts Point Avenue store Bargain Times believes it will succeed. “It’ll be great,” he said. “The more trees you have, the more people come out.”
Even more significant, according to the planners, is the impact of planting trees on improving air quality.
The Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation also hopes the trees will create a “green corridor” that will serve as an “unofficially gateway” to the residential section of Hunts Point, signaling truckers that they should stay off the street.
“We have worked to identify a truck route away from the residential areas with designations and signs along the way that works like breadcrumbs to lead trucks to the food industry and industrial park,” said Josephine Infante, executive director of HPEDC.
Infante said meetings will be held to inform business owners and residents of upcoming work on the streets.
Not everyone is enthusiastic. Brian Oh, the 35-year-old owner of Hi-Tone Cleaners on Hunts Point Avenue pointed to the scruffy trees clustered now on parts of the avenue and the beer bottles and cigarette butts in the planters. “From my experience being here and seeing what they’ve done, it doesn’t last. It’s a very good idea, but it just doesn’t work in this area. Maintenance is most important,” said Oh.
Infante said she hopes storeowners like Oh will share some of the burden of maintenance with the Parks Department.
And Hunts Point resident Tisha Rosario welcomed the prospect of a more attractive street. “We’re not a white neighborhood, but that don’t mean they shouldn’t give us an opportunity like this. I look forward to it,” she said.