On Tuesday evening (June 25th), a special meeting was held by the Community Board 3 (CB3) in Manhattan, New York City to discuss a project by the Department of Transportation to construct a bus island on Park Row in Chinatown. Community residents and board members participated in a voting activity during the meeting, with a significant number of Chinese residents expressing strong opposition to the construction of the bus island and police car parking spaces.
Park Row serves as a vital link between Chinatown, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the downtown Manhattan area. The reconstruction project for Park Row is part of the wider reconstruction plan for Chatham Square/KimLau Square in Chinatown. It entails the establishment of a concrete bus island in front of Luna Pizza on Park Row to replace the existing spacious bus stop, and the addition of 15 New York City Police Department parking spaces north of the “Chatham Green” residential building on Park Row. This reconstruction project has faced strong opposition from Community Board 3 and local residents.
Member of the board and Chinatown resident, Jian Li, who has been living in the area for 23 years, representing residents of the core area, stated that the project is a revival of an old project from 2008, reminiscent of the closure of Park Row without any environmental or economic assessment after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The reconstruction project would make Park Row narrower, creating an environment filled with security guards, police dogs, concrete barriers, and toll booths, squeezing what should be more spacious community public space.
Triple Edwards, a resident of the Chatham Square residential building and a cycling enthusiast, can see the planned location of the proposed bus island from his home. He expressed concerns that as a primary mode of transportation, building a concrete bus island at the expansive bus stop would narrow the road significantly, obstructing the passage of cyclists and posing a threat to pedestrian safety, especially for individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and children.
He also worries that the addition of 15 police parking spaces on Park Row would turn the street into a one-way lane, leading to congestion of vehicles behind the bus parking station.
Based on the discussions at the meeting, the Manhattan Community Board 3 will draft a resolution representing the opinions of the community residents, urging the Department of Transportation to halt the proposed changes to the current status of Park Row.