Trip No More!
Belgian Block Restoration
Dumbo's Streets to be fixed! Read all about the plan to save the Belgian Blocks and improve biking and walking conditions around the neighborhood.
Starting in late 2018, New York City Department of Design and Construction will rehabilitate Dumbo's beloved but beleaguered Belgian block streets - improving safety, replacing hundred year old water and sewar pipes, updating our sidewalks and bike lanes, adding crosswalks, and completing the transformation of the Pearl Street Triangle and Archway into a permanent public plaza. The Dumbo Improvement District and Community Board 2 have been advocating for this project for more than a decade. It has been approved by CB2 and the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Many thanks to NYCDOT, NYCDEP, Councilmember Steve Levin and former Borough President Marty Markowitz for funding this critical infrastructure project, saving our Belgian blocks and making Dumbo a more pedestrian friendly, bike friendly, historic, charming and flood resistant neighborhood.
Phase One of a capital project to improve Dumbo’s streets and infrastructure while restoring the historic Belgian block was completed in 2011. Dumbo will undergo Phase Two, a major capital project to upgrade sewer and water infrastructure, reconstruct our Belgian block streets and build-out the Archway plaza space. Streets on the docket include: Pearl Street, Water Street, John Street, parts of Front Street and Jay Street, Pearl Plaza (including Anchorage Place + the Archway), Adams Street, Plymouth Street and Main Street.
Here is a look at the way the City will restore the Belgian blocks by keeping the old original stones and adding a granite bike lane. Smooth stones will also be put into crosswalks to ensure ADA accessibility. This design was endorsed by Community Board 2 and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Dumbo's streets are broken. Click here to read a report produced by Street Plans on the deteriorated state of DUMBO streets. Spoiler alert: we got a D+.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE.
APPENDIX ANALYSIS HERE.
