There’s a major makeover for Main Street in the works complete with benches, new crosswalks and altered access to the municipal parking lot by Riverspace.
Landscape architect Michael Hakim from Hakim Associates in Harrington Park, NJ presented sketches and photographs describing the three-year collaboration of Nyack Village Board, the village’s Merchant’s Committee and the Chamber of Commerce. The plan covers Main Street from Franklin through Broadway, according to Carol Fleischmann, chair of the streetscape committee. Funding for the project will come from $100,000 set aside from parking fees and a $250,00 block grant the Village has received, according to Nyack Mayor John Shields.
Hakim, who presented to about 40 members of the public at the Nyack Center last Thursday, said the new streetscape would include:
- Two new crosswalks at Bridge Street and Main and on Main between Cedar and Broadway.
- Realignment of the existing crosswalks to better match the street on either side of Main.
- Use of an inlaid thermoplastic material to better outline the crosswalks. The material is long lasting and more durable than paint.
- Replacing the current trees and shrubs with landscaping designed to add shade to the ground level and privacy to second floor residences and offices.
- Addition of handicap cutouts to all crosswalks.
- New benches throughout the downtown district along Main, with tables and chairs by the storefronts of the eateries.
- New lighting similar to the “black acorn” lights used on South Broadway.
- Closing access to the Riverspace parking lot from Main and restriping the lot to create 68 more parking spots.
- Adding additional trash cans with “butt caps” to extinguish cigarettes.
- Recycling containers on Main Street.
- A bike rack by the Chamber of Commerce kiosk near Riverspace.
- New pot planters which double as bollards to protect pedestrians from street traffic.
- Increased pedestrian safety by adding bump-outs to cross walks and adding a subtle curve to the center line on Main Street. Both measures are designed to slow the flow of traffic.
Should the Riverspace Downtown project be approved, Hakim says the plans for the new Nyack streetscape Riverspace will complement each other.
Hakim says the next step in the plan is to create engineering drawings prior to putting the project out for public bid. He added that a maintenance plan should be created as part of the new streetscape vision as well as a future study of signage in the business district.
