Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Park Slope Group Wants 4th Ave Subway Changes Now
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 20, 2008
Modified Oct 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 20, 2008
Modified Oct 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Some Park Slope activists have so little faith in the MTA's promise to renovate the dreary Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street station that they're imploring transit officials to scale back their plans and instead make a few specific improvements immediately. The massive refurbishment was supposed to begin this year and turn the "dank and dark" station into a light-filled hub with clean windows and a new copper roof. But the plans were later scaled back and postponed in the shadow of looming budget shortfalls.
The MTA now says the most urgent repair won't begin until 2010, to be completed in 2012. The more cosmetic improvements, like the long-overdue coat of paint and window repairs might not be done until 2014. Michael Cairl of the Park Slope Civic Council isn't holding his breath; he tells the Brooklyn Paper, "It’s become clearer that NYC Transit is not going to do a rehab of the Fourth Avenue station." Cairl's group wants the MTA to think smaller by implementing a few basic changes now, like reopening a long-shuttered entrance on the eastern side of Fourth Ave. (Park Slope commuters have to cross five lanes of perilous traffic to get to the F train.)
Cairl also says the MTA should put in a newsstand or cafe, which "would be a way for the MTA to make some money," he suggests to the Daily News. But New York City Transit spokesman Charles Seaton says they're sticking with their plan, and everyone can just forget about opening up that other subway entrance: "That’s something that we’re not contemplating at this point. The point is that [the project] is fully designed, and so making any changes in the new entrance is a major change."
Photo of Fourth Avenue elevated F platform courtesy Dalton Rooney.
Tagged
4th
9th
ave
avenue
delay
f
group
MTA
overhaul
park slope civic council
platform
rebuilt
renovation
smith
st
street
subway
train
work
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .