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Yalies Unhappy With Grand Central Pedestrian Plaza Plan
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 10, 2012
Modified Jul 10, 2012
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 10, 2012
Modified Jul 10, 2012
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The idea of closing off Vanderbilt Avenue to traffic and creating another of Bloomberg's patented Pedestrian Plazas for the Grand Central set only reached the public yesterday and already it has haters. Cab drivers, food vendors and, of course, The Post's resident curmudgeon Steve Cuozzo, are all against the plan. Not to mention some disgruntled Ivy Leaguers.
Of the criticisms of the idea—which would close off the very short avenue to the west of Grand Central to vehicular traffic—there are a two that are totally legitimate: First off, there is serious concern from some of the buildings on the strip about getting deliveries in and out. Second, is making sure that emergency vehicles can easily access the street (and Grand Central) when the need arises. The first issue is still being worked out (there must be a way), but the second the city swears won't be a problem: "Rest assured, we will make sure emergency vehicles can get in," Mayor Bloomberg told reporters yesterday.
Still, the complaints don't stop there! For Cuozzo it isn't even the pedestrian plaza itself—he is very much on the record for hating those—it is "the unchecked tampering with the streetscape’s DNA by Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden and DOT chief Janette Sadik-Khan" (tampering which some of us quite like, thank you very much). The Cuozz argues that "a 'new' Vanderbilt Avenue will be the next mayor’s unhappy inauguration present," which really doesn't sound to bad to us.
As for others? Well, let's just say the Yale Club is located on Vanderbilt and though the club itself seems open to talking about the idea, some members are a bit concerned:
A woman standing next to [the club], who would not give her full name, completed the thought. "This is the Yale Club," she said. "It’s famous for being on Vanderbilt Avenue." If cars could no longer drop off or pick up members, she said, "That would kill them."
Well, in that case!
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