By Alexander Dworkowitz
A plan to beautify downtown Flushing with artwork and historical signs is in the works, although the trash-filled area may soon see a decline in sanitation services, Community Board 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman said Monday.
“What we wanted to see was art in the community in downtown Flushing,” said Bitterman, who was the guest speaker at the Flushing Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Sheraton LaGuardia East. “We’d like to do some type of wood sculptures.”
The Department of City Planning is drawing up the plan with input from Community Board 7 and the city Economic Development Corporation. Three artists, Ming Fay, Dimitri Gerakaris, and Frank Giorgini, have been chosen for the project, and Weidlinger Associates will be responsible for the final design.
The primary goal of the project is to highlight the many historical sites that are spread throughout the downtown area. In doing so, Bitterman hopes to improve pedestrian access to the sites and install “a comprehensive directional and informational pedestrian signage system,” similar to the system of signs in many areas of Lower Manhattan.
In particular, the project is looking to establish a coherent Flushing Freedom Mile, integrating 16 historic sites downtown.
The project also calls for installation of street furniture, more trash cans and bicycle racks at the entrance of the 7 subway train.
Community Board 7 is currently discussing the parameters for a traffic survey of downtown Flushing with the city Department of Transportation.
The project team is also working on the western area of downtown Flushing, which has been the recent focus of developers. For example, 37th Avenue from Bowne Street to College Point Boulevard and 39th Avenue from Union Street to Janet Place are scheduled for “flatbush” lampposts, similar to the ones already on Main Street, as well as curb replacement where needed. The lampposts may also be installed along College Point Boulevard.
Despite her hopes of improving the look of downtown Flushing, Bitterman told the Flushing Chamber that the cleanliness of the area could be compromised further in the near future.
Due to the tight budget, Bitterman said she feared that the Department of Sanitation would cut its daily pickup of trash in downtown Flushing.
“I don’t know how much longer they proposed doing it,” she said, speaking of the Department of Sanitation. “They must maintain a pickup in downtown Flushing on a daily basis.”
Former City Councilwoman Julia Harrison obtained funding for a late-day garbage pickup for the downtown area and that funding will last until June 30, the end of the fiscal year. Bitterman said she hoped Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) would find a way to continue the funding.
Other business areas in Queens have formed a Business Improvement District, which increases taxes on local businesses in exchange for improved services, such as additional street cleaning. But Bitterman said a number of businesses in downtown Flushing owe real estate taxes, making it unlikely that such businesses would agree to a further tax increase for the sake of a BID.
Bitterman also said the 109th Precinct, the third busiest precinct in the city, was overstretched. She said the precinct did not get many new officers because the number of violent crimes in the precinct is relatively low, though quality-of-life problems are common.
“I think downtown Flushing needs a precinct on their own,” she said.
Deputy Inspector Owen Monaghan of the 109th Precinct responded to Bitterman, telling the Flushing Chamber that the precinct expected to receive a group of rookie officers at the end of April.
“There is help down the road very soon,” he said.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
