Atlantic Avenue Atlantic Avenue Atlantic Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and the East Life on Atlantic Avenue River is one of the great streets of New York. It is home Atlantic Avenue is ... to people of various cultural backgrounds, vibrant and • a healthy and vibrant commercial corridor; Master Plan successful businesses, long standing institutions, and rich • a unique mix of businesses, retail shops, restaurants, architectural character. This 1.5 mile stretch of Atlantic residences, and institutions; Avenue knits together the established neighborhoods • a street with tremendous energy and momentum; of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and a major thoroughfare for automobiles and trucks; Downtown Brooklyn. • • a neighborhood street with many unique goods and The avenue serves as both a major transportation services including food markets, laundromats, dry corridor and a vibrant neighborhood street. It is a cleaners, car services, pet shops, bicycle shops, and major east west connection through Brooklyn, as well as the like; a local connection between neighborhoods, destinations, • a destination for shopping and dining; and activities. The renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn, the surrounding neighborhoods, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and the Brooklyn waterfront have infl uenced the uses and activities of the Avenue. The scale and length of the Avenue, its relationship to well-established communities, and the connection to strong anchor uses at either end presents an opportunity for Atlantic Avenue to become a grand urban street. With creative rethinking of the existing street, emphasizing relationships and connections, and a focus on emerging uses, the functional requirements of the Avenue can be balanced and leveraged to build a great boulevard. Community members provided input at a series of public and Leadership Conference meetings Atlantic Avenue is the seam between well established brownstone neighborhoods and Downtown • a place to buy antique, new, and unique home Brooklyn. Anchored on the east by Atlantic Terminal and furnishings; on the west by the river, it is the primary commercial • diverse in its architecture and scale with historic and transportation corridor connecting these buildings and store fronts, three to fi ve story neighborhoods and uses. buildings, and a few buildings up to twelve stories; The Master Plan was developed through an open public • a diverse mix of culture and history, and; process engaging business owners, tenants, neighbors, • a sampling of foods of the world, particularly the and agencies through one-on-one interviews, Leadership Middle Eastern fl avors Conference meetings, and public meetings. “The future of Brooklyn is being The diversity of Atlantic Avenue is one of its greatest written on Atlantic Avenue...” This brochure is a summary of the most important results assets and should be preserved and enhanced while of this process. For more information, please view on- achieving new business and real estate investment. Marty Markowitz line at www.atlanticave.org Atlantic Avenue Local Local Avenue Atlantic Corporation Development Avenue Atlantic 494 11217 NY Brooklyn, www.atlanticave.org 718.875.8993 ph. Brooklyn Borough President yoes + weisz Conference people and LLC, business Leadership Pauls Avenue Robert residents, and LLC, Atlantic for: persons Schwartz Sam Council Prepared Inc., local Civitas by: President, area Prepared Borough Avenue Brooklyn The Atlantic By: the of Funded organizations community and Parking Improvements Goals Master Plan Implementation Shop Shop Shop Shop Shop A major issue for the merchants on the Avenue is the lack of parking and the reduction of parking due to peak hour parking regulations. A primary focus of the master Strengthen connections to existing and Recommendations Priorities Merchant Zone Merchant Zone plan was identifying areas for improvement of the emerging attractions and communities parking regulations. Three primary improvements are Atlantic Avenue is anchored by the East River and future Accent Improve connections Redevelopment of the Brooklyn Men’s House Paving recommended. First is the installation of Muni-Meters Brooklyn Bridge Park on the west and BAM to the east. The There are many connections along and across the Avenue that of Detention on the Avenue, second is increasing 1-hour meters to Avenue is also surrounded by great neighborhoods, Downtown need to be improved. Specifi cally, the intersections of Furman/ The House of Detention has been temporarily closed. It is still 2-hour meters, and third is the reduction and potential Brooklyn, restaurants, and retail establishments. Connections Columbia, Henry, Court, Boerum, Smith, Bond, Third, and a Department of Corrections asset. Steps should be taken to elimination of peak hour parking regulations. are important both along and across the Avenue. Fourth. secure the site for redevelopment as a mixed use development Parking Parking project with retail on the ground fl oor and residential above. Muni-Meters • Muni-Meters will add 15-20% more spaces to the Increase walkability of the street Create development opportunities Locate seating Bike racks placed near Street lights: pedestrian While Atlantic Avenue is walkable today, improvements can be adjacent to trees lighting for safety and scale, with a consistent Avenue (approximately 35-50 spaces) The neighborhoods surrounding Atlantic Avenue are Streetscape implementation made to increase pedestrian safety and enhance the pedestrian effi ciency design and spacing • NYCDOT reports that the Avenue will be among the underserved by retail. The current vacancy rate is about Infi ll street trees and pedestrian lights, relamp existing light experience both along and crossing the Avenue. fi rst Brooklyn neighborhoods to receive muni-meters 5%, or roughly 37,000 square feet, comprised of several fi xtures, add trash receptacles, bike racks, wayfi nding signage, Drive Lane (1-2 years) small spaces. With the surrounding neighborhoods having and benches. Desirable storefront, signage and window treatments Identify new development opportunities tremendous spending power, the challenge for new 1-hour to 2-hour Meters Atlantic Avenue is a mature corridor with very few development is not market, but rather availability of space. Boerum place zoning analysis • 2-hour meters will allow shoppers and diners more undeveloped sites available for development. The The master plan focuses on identifying prime development and A detailed zoning analysis for the Boerum Place opportunity Organize the Public Realm time on the Avenue neighborhoods surrounding Atlantic Avenue have tremendous redevelopment sites that with appropriate incentives serve as Streetscape Elements Impact Capacity to Implement sites should be completed with the City Planning Department. Street Trees/pits • Infi ll ‘No Standing’ areas and add meters to the side spending power and are signifi cantly under served from a retail catalysts for change. This effort should capitalize on existing community support, Streetscape Improvements Planters and Tree Guards streets perspective. There is pent up market demand and limited Infi ll Lighting (Pedestrian & Auto) adjacent redevelopment, and the ongoing efforts in There are many areas of Atlantic Avenue that have • NYCDOT reports that 2-hour meters will be space on the Avenue. The goal is identifying viable sites and beautifully developed streetscape elements. However, Building/Storefront Lighting Key Create gateways to the avenue Downtown Brooklyn. Sidewalk Paving implemented for most of the Avenue, except the necessary tools and incentives to enhance redevelopment the Avenue has many gaps in the streetscape. High Most people fi rst experience Atlantic Avenue through one Benches/Seating Medium between Boerum Place and Clinton Street and reinvestment on the Avenue. Opportunities have been identifi ed for streetscape Banners/Flags/Signage of three major gateways; the Brooklyn Queens Expressway Low Flatbush Avenue improvements within the public realm of Atlantic Trash Receptacles (BQE) and future Brooklyn Bridge Park on the East River, Relamp Existing Pedestrian Lights Peak Hour Regulations A detailed study addressing the full range of pedestrian Avenue. As illustrated above, an organization of Achieve consensus on traffi c management Boerum Place from the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Fourth Transparent Window Shutters • Reduce or eliminate PM peak hour parking and transportation circulation for Flatbush/Atlantic Avenues sidewalk elements provides a clear area for pedestrians policies needed to accomplish the vision of Avenue/Flatbush Avenue intersection at Times Plaza. Each of Building/Store Signage regulations on the south side from Boerum Place to and associated intersections is critical. This study should be to walk, a merchant zone for outdoor display or seating, Bike Racks the Avenue as a great street these locations has the opportunity to provide a unique arrival Third Avenue coordinated with ongoing development efforts in Downtown and a defi ned area for street trees, furniture, and other Neck-downs at Intersections Atlantic Avenue is a major transportation corridor and experience to Atlantic Avenue. • Eliminate AM peak hour parking regulations on the Brooklyn, BAM, and the Atlantic Terminal. amenities. This organization and grouping also allows will continue as one for the foreseeable future. Traffi c south side from Hicks Street to Clinton Street for uninterrupted pedestrian movement from vehicles to management issues range from traffi