By Phil Corso
The sounds of brooms hitting the pavement will be coming more frequently on Bell Boulevard after one lawmaker helped secure more regular cleaning.
In an announcement sent last week, state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said the city Sanitation Department agreed to clean the street along Bell Boulevard once a month, with help from the Bayside Business Association.
“I am pleased that the Department of Sanitation has agreed to help keep Bell Boulevard clean,” Avella said. “This is a vital and vibrant commercial area that needs and deserves to be kept clean and sanitary.”
Avella said the BBA expressed some concern over the lack of regular street sweepings along Bell Boulevard, which created unpleasant, unsanitary conditions. The senator then contacted the DOS, leading to the agreement.
“We only met with Sen. Avella two weeks ago, but his quick efforts in bringing street cleaning back to Bell Boulevard is very important and very welcomed,” said Judy Limpert, president of the BBA.
Lyle Sclair, executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District, said the announcement was well received by the area’s business owners.
“We have a very good working relationship with our government and the Bayside Business Association,” Sclair said. “This agreement shows the kind of strength our partnership with the BBA really is.”
The BID includes more than a half-mile span across Bell Boulevard between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue, with some additional businesses along 41st Avenue. The group also pitches in to help beautiful Bell Boulevard by employing a street sweeper responsible for Bell’s sidewalks and 18 inches to the street’s curb.
“Anything they can get to help us achieve our vision of Bayside Village is always good news,” Sclair said.
According to Sanitation, the first cleaning was scheduled for this week. The monthly cleanups will not be set for any specific days, but the department will send street sweepers to Bell Boulevard whenever there is an extra crew available during the midnight shift, Avella said.
And because the cleaning will be scheduled for the midnight shift, Avella said parking along Bell Boulevard would not be disturbed and Sanitation would not need to input any “No Parking” signs.
“These monthly street sweeps will significantly increase the quality of life for both residents and businesses and allow this area of Bayside to continue to thrive,” Avella said.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
