One of New York City's most popular and controversial Open Streets has been curtailed this year—but will it be enough to placate the strident opposition?
The Canal Street Open Street in the heart of "Dimes Square" will now only be able to run four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, instead of every day of the week, and the season itself, which starts on April 25, will be cut by seven weeks and will end on October 31. The roadway will also be closed off to car traffic for less time each day—from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., instead of 11 p.m.
The changes were made voluntarily by the Canal Street Merchant Association, which is the group of restaurants who operate the Open Street and the 222-seat al fresco dining operation that spans the two blocks of Canal from Orchard to Essex.
Nialls Fallon, a rep for the group and a co-owner of Cervo's, outlined the new schedule at a jam-packed Community Board 3 meeting in the basement of Rivington House on Tuesday night.
"We're part of this community and care for it deeply," Fallon told the room. "In response to listening to our community, we've made meaningful changes to the program over this year."
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