We received this tip over the weekend:
[Saturday] night at 2:30 a.m., a policeman from the 61st precinct decided to ticket cars at a decommissioned bus stop located at the intersection of Neptune Avenue and Shore Blvd. The No Standing sign is no longer up and the only parking sign has been changed to reflect alternate side for that area. There is still a bus shelter still standing – however according to Commissioner Brown of the police, there was supposed to be a suspension of ticketing at all decommissioned bus stops. Unfortunately, one of NYC’s Finest did not get the message.
Has anyone else seen officers giving tickets at decommissioned bus stops? There are a few in the area, and it’s worth watching out for. In the meantime, we’re hoping precinct officials see this and correct the mistake.
A fire at a grocery store and residence broke out in Brighton Beach early this morning. FDNY trucks arrived at Neptune Avenue and Brighton 5th Street around 6:00 a.m. to put out the flames. A reader, who sent these photos, said it looked like the fire started in the basement or the ground-level floor. The reader added that something unusual must have been burning, because there was a stench that seemed to be more than smoke.
We’ll update with more information as it becomes available.
The following op-ed is by Allan Rosen, a Manhattan Beach resident and former Director of MTA/NYC Transit Bus Planning (1981).
I got my first glimpse on Thursday of what Department of Transportation intends to do about bus stops no longer needed as a result of the MTA bus service cuts. There has been much speculation about this. Will they increase the number of free parking spaces? Will they install meters? Will they leave the potential parking spaces as “No Standing” zones? Some yuppies have even suggested that former bus stops be used solely for bicycle parking, which, of course, is ridiculous.
After watching DOT in action regarding this and other issues, I have come to the conclusion – and how do I say this politely – DOT is run by a bunch of idiots. I’ve said this before – they make the MTA appear competent by comparison. Let me explain.
Keep reading Rosen’s take on the DOT’s mishandling of bus stop eliminations.
Left: 5-Mile marker photographed by Forgotten New York's Kevin Walsh in 2000; Right: The spot where the mile marker stood, photographed June 16, 2010
A closeup of the stone before it was removed. - Courtesy of Kevin Walsh/FNY
One of two remaining mile markers along Ocean Parkway was plucked from the ground recently after guiding the way for at least 127 years, attracting the attention of local preservationists seeking to safeguard the last gravestone-like signpost.
The stone, which read “5M” – marking the fifth mile from the Prospect Park circle at the southwest corner of the park – stood at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Neptune Avenue. The last remaining stone sits in the grass on the west side of Ocean Parkway, just south of Avenue P. It reads “3M.”
It’s not confirmed yet who removed the stone or when, but the Neptune Avenue corner where it once stood is sporting a new B1 bus shelter and sign, indicating the Department of Transportation may have done it during the corner’s rehabilitation.
Preservationists are now sounding the call to see the remaining stone protected from future “improvements” along Ocean Parkway.
“Those two stones (now one?) are the survivors of a series that has marked the distance along Ocean Parkway for at least 127 years, if not longer,” said Joseph Ditta, author of Gravesend, Brooklyn and reference librarian at the New-York Historical Society. “They are reminders of the days when all travel was by horse and are two of the few markers still in their original positions.”
Read about the history of these stones and preservationists’ effort to protect them. Also, photos of the remaining stone at Avenue P.
ORIGINAL STORY: We’ve heard that a fire erupted at the Brighton Beach Islamic Center at 230 Neptune Avenue (at Brighton 8th Street) around 8:30 a.m. We are heading out to the scene to find out more. Look to our Twitter feed for the latest updates.
This is where the fire was
UPDATE (11:21 a.m.): Sometimes it’s nice to feel like an idiot. Today is one of those days.
I received a voicemail regarding the supposed fire at the Islamic Center of Brighton Beach from a reader who said she heard from her friend that the center “might have been blown up. But whatever it is, it’s on fire and all the windows have been blown out.” I confirmed that there was indeed a fire at that address on Gothamist Maps, posted the info I had, and ran out to see how bad the damage was.
Thankfully, it was minimal, and the damage was not to the Islamic Center but to the attached restaurant. New Shama Restaurant’s (very friendly) owner told us it was a minor incident. They had noticed some smoke coming from their stove’s ventilation shaft (to the right in the photo above), and called the FDNY. It was quickly put out. The religious center was not involved at all and did not suffer any damage.
I like not having to write bad news, so I celebrated by picking up a tamale verde from a street vendor. It was delicious.
The changes to Coney Island Avenue intersections as proposed by DOT
Local leaders are looking for ways to put the brakes on what they say are dangerous and complicated changes around the Coney Island Avenue Belt Parkway overpass being proposed following a Department of Transportation study.
The changes are part of the Coney Island/Gravesend Sustainable Development Transportation Study, a proposal seven years in the making that aims to clear up roadway confusion and improve safety at major intersections between Sheepshead Bay, Coney Island, and Bensonhurst.
The changes proposed for Coney Island Avenue between Guider Avenue and Neptune Avenue are as follows:
- Southbound cars on Coney Island Avenue will no longer be able to make a left turn on Guider Avenue, and instead will have to go to Neptune Avenue.
- On the northbound side of Coney Island Avenue, parking will be eliminated altogether between Neptune Avenue and Guider Avenue.
- Also on the northbound side: a left turn lane will be implemented for the westbound Belt Parkway entrance; a no-turn lane for those continuing on Coney Island Avenue; and a lane for those accessing Belt Parkway East, taking drivers past the car wash.
But the plans have sparked anger from civic group leaders and Community Board 15 for overlooking simple solutions and instead embracing complicated changes that are dangerous to drivers and threaten businesses.
Continue Reading »
Workers from the Department of Transportation arrived at Cass Place and Neptune Avenue around noon today, and replaced the Right On Red sign that we’ve all been missing. You may recall we wrote about the Cass Place sign blowing off the pole after a mid-November storm. The sign was already damaged, with a broken rivet on the bottom. But now we’ve got a new happy, healthy sign to confuse drivers. L’Chaim!
(Thank you, Local Broker, for info and photos.)
You may recall last week’s article about the confusing sign at Neptune Avenue and Cass Place allowing right turns on red. As of Monday morning the sign was missing in action. We’re not sure if the sign was upset by our article and decided to leave for greener pastures or if it was stolen by some prankster. Another possibility is the sign fell down due to damage; in fact last week the sign was swinging loose in the rain because the bottom rivet broke. Looking for answers Sheepshead Bites contacted Community Board 15 for some answers. They told us, “The sign was not removed by DOT. DOT will replace it as soon as possible.” While we wait for Brooklyn Borough Engineer to get back to us on what a “School Day” means we asked CB15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo for her opinion. According to Scavo, “It is meant to mean Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., September to June.” She goes on to say that the sign is mostly intended for weekend drivers.
At the far corner of Sheephead Bay, where it joins Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach, is a sign that causes a whole mess of confusion, traffic backups, and horn honking. One might think it’s pretty clear: “After Stop Right Turn Permitted On Red Except 8am – 4pm School Days”. You might ask yourself what’s so confusing about this sign on Neptune Avenue and Cass Place that’s written out in pretty clear English. But many in the area can’t seem to agree on what qualifies as a school day. The corner is constantly backed up on days school is not in session due to drivers not knowing what qualifies as a school day. Summer was particularly precarious because nobody knew if summer school counts. What about snow days, Jewish holidays, and a plethora of other days? Doesn’t “school day” mean Monday through Friday or “Any Day School is in Session.” After some poking around on the DOT’s website, the only mention of school days I could find is a note that parking in a school zone is permissible when school is not in recess.
So which is it? Shouldn’t the sign just read Monday – Friday, September – June? It’s not as if there isn’t enough space, the No Parking signs in Manhattan Beach are seasonal. One must also call into question why school days even matter. The nearest school is three blocks away on Brighton 14th. Have you been caught in traffic behind this sign? What do you think?
It appears as if the exterior work on the Walgreens going up on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W is almost done. Construction started about six months ago, notes Lisanne Anderson, who shot the above photo, and looks as if it may open sometime mid-summer.
This will be Walgreens’ fifth location in the area. Last June, they bought out Morris’ Drug Store on East 17th Street, where they expanded the store last month by removing the wall separating it from the next storefront, which is part of the same building. There is also a branch on the corner of Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue, in the building that formerly housed the Kingsway Theater, and another branch at Brighton Beach Avenue at the intersection of Coney Island Avenue. Their branch at West 5th Street and Neptune Avenue was probably their only Brooklyn store previously, having been there at least since the late seventies, if not earlier.
Thanks to Lisanne for the information.
