The Department of Design and Construction will upgrade 69 non-standard street corners — they were identified by the Department of Transportation as the top of the list citywide and since they are in historic districts, they are getting special new standard treatment. In July, the projects were put out to bid. The projects will start in spring and summer 2024 and end about one year later.

The goal is to add pedestrian ramp and make the crosswalks compliant using standard DOT materials; the DOT’s goal is doing the entire city eventually.

Most of the curb cuts will be made of pigmented concrete with granite curbs and granite crosswalks in the pattern shown above, where it was installed on Vestry in spring 2022. The larger pavers are 2 x 3 feet, 5″ thick, and are smooth but textured, interlaced with 3 x 5 x 5″ granite Belgian block. The image below shows the pattern of the crosswalk from above as well as a cross section that shows a 9″ concrete base to support the pavers.

The list:
Jay & Staple — all four corners
Laight & Collister — T intersection on south side
Jay & Greenwich — east side of Greenwich
Harrison & Greenwich — east side of Greenwich
Vestry & Washington — all four corners (though Washington is already asphalt so those crosswalks will remain that way)
Watts & Greenwich — western side of Greenwich

Members of the CB1 Landmarks Committee (sort of) liked the plan, but bemoaned the fact that the stretch of Greenwich between Canal and Harrison needs to be repaved with cobblestones calling it one of the most dangerous streets in Manhattan — and said while the crosswalks had their support, the DOT should be rebuilding the roadway as well (see photos below). Members said that stretch of roadway was cobbled about eight years ago, and a year or two later, it was destroyed.

“Axles have broken, pedestrians have been seriously injured. DOT has said they cannot afford to repair them,” one member said. “The beds were never set in concrete, but in a layer of sand.”

DDC did the presentation and noted several times that they are just the contractor — they get a scope of work and carry it out. Presenters made it clear that DOT would have to provide a different scope of work to do the roadway.

Members also complained that there are different solutions at different crosswalks, which is certainly true — the most recent crosswalk project carried out by the DDC has honed granite Belgian block, seen below at Laight and Greenwich.

One DDC employee said the city was sued for ADA compliance, so it has committed to reconstructing all crosswalks in the next 30 years.