From The New York Shitty Inbox: Monitor Street Reconstruction Postponed!

I have just received word from Lincoln Restler, our 50th District State Democratic Committee person, that the much-maligned “reconstruction” of Monitor Street has been (and I quote) “indefinitely postponed” by our fair city.

That is all I know at this time. Monitor Street residents, rejoice!

UPDATE, 11:59 a.m.: I have been told by a community liaison at Joe Lentol’s office, Amy Clearly, that the Monitor Street reconstruction project has been postponed for two years and is contingent upon the acquisition of the two demapped blocks between Greenpoint Avenue and Norman Avenue. A press release is forthcoming. Nonetheless, this is very good news indeed!

UPDATE, 3:20 p.m.: As promised, here’s the press release from Assemblyman Joe Lentol’s office!

Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Councilman Levin, Senator Dilan Announce Removal of Monitor Street from Nassau Avenue Reconstruction Project

Monitor Street will be removed until title can be acquired to Monitor Street between Norman and Greenpoint—likely at least two years—and then a comprehensive plan that takes into account the community needs and input will be developed that minimizes any impact on residents

Assemblyman Joe Lentol was just as shocked as the homeowners on Monitor Street between Nassau and Norman when a series of letters arrived at their doors informing them that parts of their homes, usually fences and stoops, didn’t belong to them and might have to be removed.  According to these letters, called “encroachment letters,” parts of these stoops and fences lay on city land and would potentially interfere with the upcoming reconstruction plan.

“It was really upsetting for several reasons, first, some of these fences and homes have been in place for a hundred years and in that time no one had ever been told that their home was encroaching on city land,” said Assemblyman Lentol.  “Second, this is the only block not on Nassau Avenue that is being done, people really felt that they were being singled out.  And lastly, this block just had a lot of improvement and infrastructure work done and doesn’t necessarily need to be torn up again at the cost of people homes, peace of mind, their finances and hundred year old houses,”  Assemblyman Lentol concluded.

Originally the project was supposed to include three blocks, Monitor between Nassau and Greenpoint but because the city doesn’t have title between Norman and Greenpoint it dropped down to one block. “I was gratified to learn today that they will be postponing the project until they can acquire the title to all three blocks which should take at least two years. I also have in writing that when they do undertake work on those three blocks of Monitor street, the work will be done with a plan designed to have as minimal impact on the residents as possible,” said Joe Lentol.  “This gives us plenty of time to come up with a plan that has full community input for the planning and accommodates the needs of the community and their houses.”

“I am thrilled that DDC has postponed their proposal to force residents of Monitor Street to dig up their stoops for street repair work. The residents of Monitor Street deserve all the credit for effectively organizing and convincing the city that the proposed construction changes were not necessary.  I also want to thank my colleagues, Assembly Member Joe Lentol and Senator Martin Dilan, along with CB1, for their leadership role on behalf of the residents of Monitor Street,” said Councilman Levin

Assemblyman Lentol was able to organize a meeting with the Department of Design and Construction and residents of Monitor Street and Nassau Avenue, Councilman Steve Levin, Senator Martin Dilan and District Leader Linda Minucci and CB1.  This sentiment was made very clear.  Assemblyman Lentol followed up with conversations with the Commissioners of DDC and the Department of Transportation expressing the views of the community.

“That block of Monitor Street is beautiful, and that is what I heard over and over again from the residents of that block.  They don’t want their block touched,” said Assemblyman Lentol.  “I am really pleased that we have gotten such a positive outcome and are now able to take our time to work towards a really great plan.”  In conversations with the commissioners of DDC and DOT Assemblyman Lentol was told that the process of acquiring the two additional blocks was likely to take two years, which is when a new Monitor Street Project would begin, but the focus would be on the two industrial blocks with deference  being given to the residential block and impact on homeowners being minimized.

“Also it will mean that we will actually be getting work done on the two blocks of Monitor Street that need it and the one block that is already beautiful we can plan carefully and with deference to the houses that exist.  I am proud to have been able to help these residents and to have worked with my colleagues Councilman Levin and Senator Dilan as well as Community Board 1 and District Leader Linda Minucci towards making this happen. Even more so, I am proud of all the residents of Monitor Street who came out to fight this haphazard proposal and stand up for their homes and their community,” said Lentol.

Miss Heather