The Future of Austin Street

Last Wednesday, the President of the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce, Leslie Brown, convened several dozen local business owners and community leaders to discuss the future of Austin Street at Bareburger. The business owners underscored the vitality of Austin Street compared to other commercial business districts in the borough. I attended the meeting and would like to share with the community the key issues discussed and considered:

• Enhancing pedestrian experience: Business owners agreed to form a committee and fund a study on the feasibility of Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street’s proposed changes, including their call for enhancing the sidewalk to allow for less congestion. DOT has made clear any extension of the sidewalks must be closely examined for infrastructural impacts.
• Importance of continued parking space availability and opposition to fully pedestrianizing the corridor.
• One-way westbound traffic: One business owner said converting Austin Street to one-way westbound traffic was a good idea, without opposition from anyone in the room.
• The need to evaluate the bike lanes on Queens Boulevard and enhance their usage.

Other representatives also attended, including a representative from Assemblymember Hevesi’s office, who said the issue is a city rather than a state concern. A representative from Councilmember Lynn Schulman also attended and attempted to read her statement, which was not allowed considering Schulman has not responded to or returned the Chamber of Commerce’s phone call regarding the issue.

As studies commence to carefully assess changes to Austin Street, we must facilitate an inclusive dialogue with all groups - pedestrians, drivers, neighbors, visitors, and business owners and consult their views. I encourage all interested in this topic to join our community consultation on this issue including by writing me at ethan@ethanforthecity.com or using the hashtag #ideasforaustinstreet on social media.