L Train Shutdown Could Turn Grand Street into a Car-Free Zone

As part of the plan to remediate the shutdown of the L train, Transportation Alternatives floats a plan to make Grand Street car free from the Williamsburg Bridge east to the intersection of Grand and Metropolitan (pretty much the Kings/Queens line). This would allow buses and cyclists freer travel along Grand, but surely would be greeted with howls from all of the merchants along Grand between Rodney Street and Bushwick Avenue. Still – “complete street redesign” would be a welcome thing in many places.

So Long, Tops

From YIMBY, word that one portion of the Tops Supermarket has a date with a wrecking ball. The 4-story mixed-use building (part of the Lee portfolio), which looks like it dates to the 1860s or so, will be demolished to construct a smaller 2-story commercial structure.

Interesting that there is no residential play here – just commercial.

In Williamsburg, Pondering Life Without the L Train

her most immediate concern was how the woman who cleans their home would get there. On Monday, she and her husband also discussed how he might be able

vs.

If the commute is three times longer, is it worth it?

Perspective, people.

Domino Sugar Factory’s Tiny New Neighbor

Coming soon to 349 Kent Avenue, the vacant lot that once housed Rock Star Bar and was the original home to Pies ‘n’ Thighs (and long before that, the strip club Splash), will be this little building, which is all about balconies, open space and views of the waterfront. Which is a bold marketing strategy, when you consider that the views to the waterfront will soon be blocked by a pair of 50-story towers. And that any other natural light the building might ever see is blocked by abutments of the Williamsburg Bridge. But it will be a half a block from a new waterfront park.