Clinton Hill's Grand Ave. Gets DOT Upgrade, Street Seats In June

CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — A stretch of Grand Avenue will get a few changes in June, including new street seats put in next week and a list of safety improvements near Atlantic Avenue.

Likely up first will be new public outdoor seating installed on the west side of the avenue near Fulton Street.

The 6-foot by 20-foot platform isn't a new addition, but is moving from its previous spot in front of 966 Fulton Street to the corner of the two avenues. Community Board 2 approved the new spot last month and said that it was moved because of construction at Putnam Plaza.

The Putnam Plaza construction is also a Department of Transportation project. The 15,000-square-foot plaza was put in place in 2011 and is being redesigned to create more shade, more accessibility for seniors and enhance community events held there, such as children's concerts and movie nights.

DOT's Street Seats program is a citywide initiative that began in 2015.

The seats, which can be used as public space by anyone, not just those using the businesses they are in front of, will take up one parking space. They will include plantings and street furniture.

Just a block away, the Department of Transportation will start another project on the intersection of Grand and Atlantic avenues as part of the mayor's Vision Zero street safety program.

Here, the department will be putting in a list of safety improvements that will mirror a similar project they completed at Flatbush Avenue and Bergen Street.

The project includes a curb extension on the northeast corner, a new southbound left-only turning lane, a "quick curb" on the eastern leg of the intersection and a painted median extension on the western leg. The project is set to start this month, DOT said, though an estimated end date for construction hasn't been announced yet.

The newer projects will join some existing work taking place a few blocks north on Grand Avenue.

At the corner of Grand and Myrtle avenues, workers are putting in a new traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk, according to the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.