2013-dot-sustainable-streets-lowres

WORLD CLASS STREETS“Corona Plaza …has immediately becomea magnet for people looking for asafe place to relax, eat, read, play andeven enjoy a game of dominoes”—Queens Economic Development CorporationCorona PlazaWilloughby PlazaCORONA PLAZAWILLOUGHBY PLAZACorona is located in centralsquare feet of public open space.Willoughby Plaza in Brooklyn is anpedestrian volumes on WilloughbyQueens, adjacent to FlushingThe space, now known locallyexcellent example of a temporary toStreet. DOT created a temporaryMeadows Corona Park. As oneas “La Placita” uses NYC DOT’scapital plaza construction. The siteplaza in the spring of 2006 to helpof the most ethnically diversesignature mix of crushed gravel,is located in the heart of Downtownaddress the increases in pedestriancommunities in the U.S. accordingnew seating and tables, umbrellas,Brooklyn, a bustling mixed usetraffic and provide a place forto Census data, Corona Plaza areabike racks and greenery.neighborhood in New York’s thirdvisitors and shoppers to rest. Theis a bustling commercial hub thatQueens Economic Developmentlargest business district. In 2004temporary plaza allowed DOT, localincludes the 103rd Street stationCorporation partnered with otherthe Economic Developmentbusinesses and community groupson the 7 line and Q33 bus, a publicorganizations, including theCorporation and the Departmentto experience and observe thelibrary, and a newly constructedFlushing Willets Point Coronaof City Planning drafted theimpacts of the plaza in real time.elementary school. A largeLocal Development Corporation,Downtown Revitalization PlanOnce it was clear that the changenumber of ethnic foods availableCorona Community Actionwhich recommended a series ofhad benefitted the area, DOTin and around the plaza make theNetwork and the Queens Museumzoning map text changes, newinitiated the site’s reconstruction tospace a recognized destination.to schedule seasonal activitiespublic open spaces and othercreate a permanent, capital plazaTo support these activities,and events that benefit the localactions. This set the stage forworking with Downtown BrooklynDOT closed the service road tocommunity.more intense development in thePartnership.through traffic to provide 13,000area, which in turn lead to higherSustainable Streets: 2013 and Beyond127