This is going to be a tough time ahead. I’ve never been in any of these stations, that I can recall. If they’re in as poor shape as Smith/Ninth is though, it’s necessary.

As the takings issue goes, I much prefer them to spend the extra money and put the subway entrances into the streetwall where possible . . . too many times the sidewalk entrances are too obstructive to pedestrian flow. I can’t stand narrow staircases either. Claustrophobic and adds a depressing quality to entering the subway.

As for the walking distances, I could see people close to Sheepshead Bay opting to walk but Kings Highway is a little far away. It just depends on where everyone’s coming from.

2) South Brooklyn used to the proper name of the lower part of the old City of Brooklyn–today it’s South Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus and surrounding areas. The part of Brooklyn out toward the ocean, which is where I grew up, is southern Brooklyn.

3) There’s been some opposition to the plan further up the line, near Avenue J, I think, because installing elevators to make the platforms ADA compliant will require destroying some of the stores adjacent to the station. Very similar issue to the one the TA faced on Second Avenue when it announced that it was taking corner properties for large subway entrances and people complained.