On a slow roll It’s taking a millennium to make safety changes outside Downtown high school BY COLIN MIXSON The city’s Transportation Department is still studying ways to safeguard kids at Millennium High School nearly two years after a taxi driver slammed into a former student there, and local civic gurus say officials need to streamline the process for improving traffic safety before another scholar gets hit. “A student could die as we wait for these studies to be completed,” said Community Board 1 Education Committee Chairwoman Tricia Joyce. “Clearly we need another way to do this.” The city began exploring ways to shore up safety outside Millennium after a cab driver collided with a 16-year-old girl outside the school’s S. William Street entrance in January 2017, leading members of CB1, along with former state Sen. Daniel Squadron to highlight the lack of appropriate signage around Millennium, and demanded city transit officials join locals on a walkthrough of the site.
It was roughly two months following the crash, before agency reps eventually joined community board members on a tour of the block outside the school between Broad and William streets in March, although it would take until October for DOT even to install a school crossing zone and 20-mph speed limit signs outside the building. Meanwhile, board members insisted that other hazards plagued the street, making the area unsafe for youngsters hitting the streets en masse after classes — namely large trucks that routinely park in no-standing zones due to lax enforcement, blocking students’ view of incoming traffic on the curving street. The community group complained about careless drivers in a 2017 resolution calling on DOT to install a speed bump on the block. But city officials claimed they couldn’t install the bump without first studying the street, and it took another five months before former Manhattan Transit Commissioner Luis
Photo by Colin Mixson
The city’s Transportation Department finally installed signs outside Millennium High School ten months after a student was hit by a cab driver, and local civic gurus claim more is needed to safeguard kids.
Sanchez claimed via email that there were too many curb cuts on the street to permit the requested hump — which was not the answer locals were hoping for after the long wait, according to Joyce. “The city has a criteria and if you can’t check certain things off a box, they just say no, it doesn’t matter if it’s logical or not,” said Joyce.
Undeterred, the board followed up the very next day with a new request, this time asking the city to install a crosswalk outside the school’s mid-block entrance, which would be accompanied by a flashing traffic light. Of course, that appeal required yet another study specifically for the crossSLOW ROLL Continued on page 12
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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mall businesses are the heart — and stomach — of our Lower Manhattan community. The coffee shop between home and the subway; the dry cleaner around the corner; the pub where everyone knows your name. In anticipation of Small Business Saturday on November 24, the Downtown Alliance is profiling a handful of these Lower Manhattan businesses in a video series titled “Small Business Spotlight” to make the case to “Shop Small”. Here’s a quick recap on the Lower Manhattan businesses featured so far: s¬ YogaCare - This yoga studio is a great place to find your calm — and keep it. Cofounder Candice Miller says instructors strive to both teach and empower students to achieve an inner calm in a noisy, bustling city. Yoga-
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SHOP SMALL! Care has classes in Bikram, Dharma, meditation and breathwork, and their flagship offering, the Full Circle Lifestyle Program. 121 Fulton Street, Third Floor, (212) 964-6411, yogacare.com
s¬ "ISCUITS¬ ¬"ATH - It’s “Dogs First” at Biscuits & Bath, where the staff prides itself on putting the needs of your pet above all else. Whether it’s veterinary care, daycare or overnight boarding, this doggie heaven is fully prepared to meet your pooch’s every need. Dogs are grouped by personality, and vets from NY Veterinary Practice keep an eye on the dog’s well-being. Biscuits & Bath offers pick-up/drop-off service. 71 Broadway, (646) 786-0981, biscuitsandbath.com s¬ 4HE¬ -YSTERIOUS¬ "OOKSHOP¬ - It’s whodunits galore at the city’s only bookstore specializing in the mystery
October 18 – October 31, 2018
genre. The walls inside this Lower Manhattan gem are chockablock with books that indulge in all things mystery — from thrillers to espionage to detective yarns. There’s a children’s section brimming with classics like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. The shop also has seven subscriptions — or “crime clubs” — that deliver members a new signed, first-edition book every month. 58 Warren Street, (212) 587-1011, mysteriousbookshop.com
s¬ &RESH¬ 3ALT - This long-time neighborhood staple serves up delicious cocktails until 4AM most nights and has been the go-to spot for Lower Manhattanites seeking a night out — or a nightcap — for 14 years. In addition to a kitchen that stays open until midnight, Fresh Salt boasts one of the city’s best Happy Hours. Everyday from 4-8p (yes 4 happy hours!), patrons
can score $6 wines, $5 well drinks, $5 drafts (all craft beers) and discounts on house cocktails. Special cocktails returning to their menu this fall include a spiked eggnog with fresh whipped cream; and hot-mulled apple cider with bourbon that’s served up in a vintage Pyrex-mug. 146 Beekman Street, (212) 962-0053, freshsalt.com
s¬ -ARTIN¬ "USCH¬ *EWELERS This full-service store sells and repairs jewelry and watches, and creates custom designs to fill out every holiday wish-list. Maria and Eva Busch, Martin’s niece and great niece respectively, run the store with love and great customer care. Leading up to the holidays, Martin Busch hosts events to help you buy that special gift for yourself or a loved one. November 16 is “Ladies’ Night” where women can come in and enjoy drinks, snacks, and give-
aways all while filling out their wishlists. On Small Business Saturday (November 24), customers can enjoy free jewelry cleaning in addition to a “sip n shop” with mimosas and 20% off all full priced items. 85 John Street, (212) 349-2230, martinbuschjewelers.com Continue to follow the Downtown Alliance’s Instagram TV series (“downtownny” on that platform) and on our website (www.downtownny.com) as we visit more local businesses leading up to Small Business Saturday. Are you a small business south of Chambers Street? Reach out to Heather Ducharme, the Alliance’s Director of Storefront Business Engagement, at hducharme@downtownny.com, if you need help navigating city agencies or have a concern that you think needs to be heard. DowntownExpress.com