On Saturday, October 15, the Department of City Planning (DCP) organized and led a public workshop to engage stakeholders in the Sheridan-Hunts Point Transportation and Land Use Study. Almost 80 community residents, elected officials, business owners, and other interested stakeholders participated in the five-hour workshop along with representatives from multiple city agencies. The goal of the day was to allow stakeholders to help the City develop scenarios for the future of the Sheridan Expressway and the surrounding area.
The day began with an informational open house and interactive activities including a scale model of the Sheridan Expressway and surrounding neighborhood. Interactive boards allowed participants to indicate where they live/work, what they use and what they want to see in their neighborhood. A video interview booth allowed participants to voice their thoughts on the process, their neighborhood, and their needs. A “virtual tour” of the area via information boards engaged participants in facts about the area. The workshop centered on break-out groups that were staffed with facilitators, urban designers and note takers to capture ideas about land uses and local streetscape and design issues in three Sheridan Expressway scenarios: the expressway remains, the expressway is modified into a boulevard, and the expressway is removed.
Other agencies who participated in the workshop include NYCEDC, NYCDOT, HPD, and the Deputy Mayor’s Office, as well as the private architectural firm WXY Architects. DCP will arrange for the model and information boards to be available for public input at DCP’s main office as well as at select locations in the Bronx. The interagency team will use the input from the workshop, Community Working Group, website, and model tour, to shape scenarios for further study. Additional public input will be solicited when the draft scenarios are shared publicly via open houses in Winter/Spring 2012.
Check back frequently for more information about upcoming public events.
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