Comments on: 2nd Ave. businesses suffering from construction

By: Judith I.

Judith I. — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:12:56 +0000

I agree with Izengabe, that is.

By: Judith I.

Judith I. — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:10:38 +0000

I think you make an excellent point.

By: Maloney touts Second Ave. subway benefits :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:36:08 +0000

[...] along Second Ave. may be suffering through the pains of construction, but according to one politician, the city is enjoying some [...]

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:22:21 +0000

There’s already part of a tunnel there. The MTA had to put the launch box in a place where they needed to be a tunnel. That’s the short of it really.

By: Izengabe

Izengabe — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:20:38 +0000

What I don’t understand is why the MTA choose to do the construction around and close off 96th street to 91st street. That area is a residential area with business, that as this post makes clear, are getting destroyed due to the construction.

Why didn’t the MTA choose the area NORTH of 96th street for the launch box for the tunnel-boring machine? Unlike 96th to 91st street there are virtually no business along the sidewalks from 96th to 99th street. On on side of 2nd ave from 96th to 97th street was a Park (and is now an MTA construction site) and 97th to 99th street is Metropolitan Hospital. On the other side of the street is NYHCA housing with no storefront shops (and much larger sidewalk space). You check it out on google maps and tell me which streets make more sense to dig up:

http://maps.google.com/maps?nu.....038;tab=wl

If the MTA care at all about the people they are inconviencing and the business they are ruining (which they obviously don’t) they would have dug up the section north of 96th street not south!

By: Think twice

Think twice — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:11:26 +0000

It’ll be decades before the SAS reaches 96th Street.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:29:49 +0000

I’m not sympathetic. This will happen whenever the city embarks on a major project that involves tearing up the street. It will happen when the sewer and power lines under the avenue seem need to be replaced. Look at what is happening to Lower Manhattan (and particularly Fulton Street) at the moment. Its one of the reasons why people are really reluctant to initiate vitally need infrastructure projects.

If the subway line were actually completed, that will bring more businesses into the area and the businesses that are able to hang on will reap the benefits. Those that go under, will go under and be replaced. Running a business doesn’t mean you are immune to changes in government policies, natural disasters, recessions etc. and that is why if they can, businessmen tend to keep some cash on hand to make it through the lean times. Maybe some of the stores can work out a reduction in their rents from their landlords while the construction is ongoing.

The joke will be if the subway is not completed, which means that a number of 2nd Avenue businesses will go under for no reason at all. But they will be replaced. Turnover is pretty high on that avenue normally.

By: Boris

Boris — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:36:33 +0000

I agree, but there may be cases where little can be done to speed up the work. For example, the community may try to fight 24/7 operations because they disturb the residents’ sleep.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:09:39 +0000

It seems to me that what would help these business the most would be to finish the subway as soon as possible. That means more funding for the MTA Capital Plan.