The portion of Penelope Avenue in Middle Village that had been closed the last two weeks for sewer reconstruction work will remain shut down even longer.
Earlier this month, the city’s Department of Design and Construction closed Penelope Avenue between 74th and Pleasantview streets, including the intersection of Penelope Avenue and 74th Street itself, to all vehicular traffic as part of a major sewer project. The closure began on Jan. 9 and was to continue until Jan. 18.
However, the DDC announced on Jan. 18 that the locations would now remain closed on or about Monday, Jan. 21, through Friday, Feb. 1. Councilman Robert Holden shared the official DDC notice on his Facebook page.
The street closure includes restrictions on curbside parking and driveway access. Only emergency and local traffic will have access to Penelope Avenue between 75th and Pleasantview streets.
With many local residents losing their parking spots as a result of the ongoing work, Holden and Community Board 5 have asked the city Department of Transportation to provide some relief.
Ryan Kelley, a spokesperson for Holden, told QNS that the councilman is working with the Department of Transportation to temporarily lift a no-standing regulation along Juniper Boulevard South, adjacent to Juniper Valley Park, which is located a block north of Penelope Avenue.
The no-standing regulation has been in place for years on the park side of Juniper Boulevard South to curb overnight loitering, according to Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano. He’s hopeful that the temporary spots, which would be placed along westbound Juniper Boulevard South between 75th and 71st streets, would be used by residents whose vehicles were displaced by the sewer project.
Kelley noted that Holden’s office has received numerous complaints from area residents about the lack of parking, and the councilman believes the temporary spots would be an ideal solution to their problem. The temporary restrictions would likely be in effect until the work is done.
