Construction begins on public plaza in downtown Stamford
For the last five years or so, the small parking lot there had been turned into a makeshift outdoor dining area, but now, the city is planning on making it permanent, with a 9,500-square foot plaza, including 19 trees.
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The City of Stamford recently started construction on a public plaza downtown at the corner of Bedford Street and Forest Street.
For the last five years or so, the small parking lot at the corner had been turned into a makeshift outdoor dining area in the warmer months. Now, the city is planning on making it permanent with a 9,500-square foot plaza, including 19 trees.
"We're going to have a mix of general public seating, as well as outdoor dining, that we can use year-round," said Luke Buttenwieser, the city’s transportation planner.
The plaza is just one part of the project. City data says the intersection of Forest Street and Prospect Street, which is on the same corner, has one of the highest rates of pedestrian crashes in Stamford.
"There's a lot of horn honking near here," said John Veronis, who is in the area often to see his mother.
To try to address that, the city is putting in a new traffic signal to replace the old one, while new elevated cross walks are being built, raised above the ground like speed humps.
"[It's about] reducing vehicle speeds, reducing inertia in the event of a crash," explained Buttenwieser.
While the businesses next to the construction are still open, they are lamenting the loss of parking spots.
"Our regular customers, they cannot come anymore. They cannot find the parking," said Narinder Kumar, the owner of Stamford Photo and News.
Buttenwieser told News 12 that the hope is to have everything done by May or June so it can be ready for peak outdoor dining season.
“We've been meeting with the businesses and property owners since the beginning of the project,” he said. “It's really a community-based project. They're excited. They know they're going to get a benefit. We thank them for their patience during construction."
Kumar says there is not much he can do but ride it out.
"I hope after they're done, maybe [business will] pick up, but 27 years I've been here, never been like this."
The city is also planning to have extra police officers around to help with some street and sidewalk closures that might pop up.
