Next week city and other officials will give the public an overview of steps they plan to take to lessen the effects of the redesign of Chatham Square, where construction is expected to begin this summer.
The $50-million Chinatown project includes redesigning the square to align the streets leading into it, narrowing Park Row, and adding plaza space at Chatham Square and on Park Row. It has been opposed by Community Boards 1 and 3, but Board 3 is working with the city on possible modifications to the plan. The construction is expected to take three years and will be done principally in the Board 3 area but near the border to C.B. 1.
The public C.B. 3 hearing on Tuesday will include information on construction phasing, community outreach plans, regular “stakeholder” meetings of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center, rent subsidies for small businesses affected by the construction and possible art work for construction barriers, according to the tentative agenda. The Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which is providing most of the money for the construction, also runs the commercial rent subsidy program, known as Small Firm Assistance grants.
The hearing will be on March 3, 6 p.m., at P.S. 124, 40 Division St., and will include a Mandarin translator.
