Is the Grand Army Plaza Redesign Bold Enough?

Plus: a new Franklin Avenue cafe, Canyon Coffee’s exclusive florist and a Park Slope spot makes the New York Times critic’s picks.

Hi all,

I made it to two of the Grand Army Plaza redesign meetings over the past week—there’s strong support for something to happen. What it actually looks like is more of a debate.

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Grand Army Plaza’s much-hyped redesign promises safer crossings and greener space—but even some of its biggest supporters say it doesn’t go far enough.

The Department of Transportation spent the past week walking neighbors through its vision for the plaza, pitching a plan to prioritize pedestrians, simplify traffic and better connect the plaza to Prospect Park.

“I love the idea of the project, and I support the idea of the project,” Park Slope resident Daniel Copperman told the Gazette. But, he added, “my concern is the feeder streets outside the scope of this project—and the dangers for people walking there.”

Transportation officials say the plan reorganizes traffic into a continuous loop to simplify movement and ease chronic backups—including on Union Street, which feeds into the circle and was described as a “nightmare” by motorists and pedestrians alike.

The DOT says the redesign would bring order to what’s now a chaotic stretch on Union—giving cars a clearer path and cutting down on the weaving that causes gridlock.

Still, some residents were skeptical the plan will ease backups that start well before the circle. “When you limit the scope of the project to not include a major feeder street, you’re not addressing everybody’s concerns,” Copperman said.

The plan would also cut the number of crosswalks in half, eliminating the frustrating double crossing between the park and the Brooklyn Public Library—where pedestrians are squeezed on a narrow median and can be stuck waiting up to two minutes.

Bus riders could also see a boost, with travel times on the B41 and B69 routes that run through the plaza projected to drop by more than 40 percent.

Longtime Park Slope resident Jonathan Cohn suggested pushing the redesign even further: do away with the loop, push traffic onto the Plaza Streets and open up even more space for movie nights, performances, playgrounds and a dog run.

“We shouldn’t let perfect be the enemy of the good,” said Cohn, an architect who has lived in the neighborhood since 1990. “But I also hope this doesn’t box out a bigger vision down the road.”

Safer Grand Army, the advocacy group that helped revive momentum for the redesign, called it a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity and urged officials to make the project “as big as possible.”

Transportation officials stressed the project is still in its early planning phase, with a community survey open through May 31 on the design of the plaza.

The city expects to wrap its study by late summer and reach a final plan—but it will still take years of planning and approvals before anything is built.

Neighborhood Notes

• Open streets are back. Vanderbilt Avenue kicks off the season this weekend—the first of many Saturdays until September. The program runs on community support, so if you can, chip in to the fundraiser.

• Nacha Focaccia, a new all-vegan focaccia spot, has quietly opened at 800 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. It’s currently in a soft opening, with a full rollout expected next week.

• Park Slope native Miranda Shulman set her new debut novel, Harmless, right in the neighborhood—and Gazette readers will find quite a few familiar spots in its pages.

  “Many neighborhood spots are mentioned in Harmless :). Pizza Plus, Community Bookstore, Connecticut Muffin (I’d been thinking of the one on 1st street, but it’s gone now!), Hanco’s, the Park Slope Food Coop gets very lovingly roasted, and there’s a paint your own ceramics studio VERY LOOSELY based off The Painted Pot :)” Schulman tells the Gazette.

  

  Credit: Dutton Books

• The New York Times has named Park Slope’s Pangat a critic’s pick.

• Council member Chi Ossé, who represents North Crown Heights, spoke to Vogue about his weightlifting routine.

• The City Council published a map of empty or underbuilt lots zoned for non-residential use—and Crown Heights is basically lit up with blue dots.

  

  Credit: New York City Council

• Canyon Coffee’s exclusive florist is Two Lips Floral. Owner Margaret Rogers told the Gazette how the partnership came together:

  “I actually met a lovely lady named Sarah at a wedding last year and she told me she was a barista at Canyon in Echo Park, and that they were opening a Brooklyn location in the winter. We followed each other on Instagram and then 6 months later I got a message from her asking about flowers!

  Canyon has been so fun because they really value beautiful arrangements and it feels like a safe space to try out fun styles and express myself.”

  

• Why have so many beloved businesses on Flatbush closed down?

• New wings spot Drums and Flats is set to open on Saturday at 56 Fifth Avenue between Bergen and St. Marks. They’re inviting everyone to stop by for “buffalo, lemon herb, hot honey, bbq, reverse ranch or pok pok deliciousness.”

• Not sure if your street has a block association? You can check here.

• “Crazy Rich Asians” actress Constance Wu swung by Community Bookstore—calling it “one of my favorite bookstores in my neighborhood” and “a great place to pop into” in a video for Independent Bookstore Day. Fellow fan Katie Holmes chimed in in the comments: “This is my favorite spot.”

• A new flower CSA is coming to the neighborhood. Choose a weekly, biweekly, or monthly share of fresh blooms from a local New Jersey farm, with pickup at Polly's Cafe in Crown Heights or a to-be-determined Park Slope location.

• Park Slope residents are growing frustrated with the city’s response to a series of incidents involving a man they call the "7th Avenue Spitter.”

• Richie's, the Crown Heights bar we've been watching take shape on Bedford Avenue, is officially open. It comes from Andrew Brennan, a veteran of Pig Beach BBQ and Keith McNally's restaurant empire.

Real Estate

Buy a 19th century Romanesque Revival-style church to re-develop in Crown Heights. 1227-1231 Pacific Street. Realtors: Ariel Property Advisors

Nothing’s standing between you and a $13 million Park Slope townhouse with landscaped terraces overlooking Prospect Park and the Manhattan skyline. 60 Montgomery Place. Realtors: Douglas Elliman’s Brendan Moore and Nadia Bartolucci

Credit: Douglas Elliman

Ask Your Neighbor

Our weekly neighbor-powered help desk. Got a rec or a question for next week? Reach out in the comments or at grandarmygazette@gmail.com. This week’s question comes from a neighbor who asked:

“Photographer for family photos in Prospect Park?”

We asked our neighbors last week: “Best place to get fresh cut flowers?” Eight readers shouted out Park Deli on Classon, between Park Place and Prospect Place.

“Park Delicatessen on Classon is the best florist in the neighborhood by a mile. They did our wedding and are our go-to for special occasions.”

“For flowers - hit up Sergio, the flower guy at the corner of St Marks & Flatbush. Hardest working man in town. Never takes a day off, works 8am-11pm everyday, was there through the blizzards helping shovel the neighbors snow. Just a great guy and a neighborhood staple. He also sells wood for fireplaces!”

“Love Park Deli, they’ve been around for a long time too (which props to them!).”

“Park Deli, moonshot farms at the grand army plaza market”

“Best flowers are from A&H on Washington- they last forever and are reasonably priced! The staff are so sweet and my toddler loves to pick things out.”

“Bob and Betty’s on the south side of Eastern”

“flowers by sergio!”

“Park deli, pricy but the best quality”

“Trader Joe’s”

“Ugh DNY closed I would love more recs. The team at the GAP green market is (fire) (heart)

“Botanical Brothers!”

“The flower shop attached to key foods 7th and Carroll.”

“Honestly, for the price? Mr. Kale on Franklin”

“BTS Market on Nostrand!”

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Got a question or bit of neighborhood gossip? Reach me at grandarmygazette@gmail.com or on Instagram.