OPEN STREETS ON TOMPKINS AVENUE

6/8/2022

TOMPKINS AVENUE OPEN STREETS REVISIONS

Having listened to community feedback and concerns, Bridge Street Development Corporation (BSDC) and the Tompkins Avenue Merchants Association (TAMA) plan to implement new measures that will ensure the safety and life-quality of the particpants, owners, and residents that share this Open Streets.

UPDATED SCHEDULE

  • Recognizing that the largest concentration of crowds have gathered at Bed Vyne Brew and its surrounding area on the corners of Tompkins Avenue and Putnam, the owners of Brew have graciously agreed to close on June 12th to allow us to implement the changes listed in this document. Going forward, Brew will not have music or live DJ’s outside on Sundays.
  • The June 5th Open Streets was voluntarily cancelled for BSDC to focus on the success of Lewis Avenue Open Streets. As originally planned, Open Streets will not occur on holiday weekends. We will resume Tompkins Avenue Open Streets this Sunday, June 12th, and return on Sunday June 26th. Future dates will be determined accordingly.

SANITATION

  • With large crowds come increased sanitation needs, so BSDC has hired additional Foot Soldiers and cleanup crews for litter removal.
  • Foot Soldiers will begin cleaning the corridor at 3:00 – two hours earlier than originally contracted
  • In partnership with Councilmember Chi Osse’s office, we have provided three new metal garbage
    containers on the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Putnam Avenue. Foot Soldiers will provide 20
    additional collapsible garbage containers to dispurse along the corridor for each Open Street.
  • 1-2 Port-a-potties will now be provided at each Open Street

MUSIC AND EVENT PROGRAMMING

  • BSDC and TAMA have cancelled all major DJ sets slated for Open Streets this summer, opting for more
    moderate musical programming and live performances.
  • Visible family-friendly programming will occupy the street from the intersections of Putnam to Madison,
    curbing crowds.
  • We are encourageing the Tompkins Avenue church community to resume street outreach and worship services on Tompkins during Open Streets as they did last year. Partnerships with
    community based organizations and first responder community liaisons will provide tabling at strategic
    corners.
  • We have suspended all Open Streets promotional marketing, opting instead to focus on individual merchant programming (i.e. yoga, Zumba, face painting, grand openings, etc.).


AUTHORIZED VENDORS

  • Street vendors authorized by official TAMA merchants will begin breakdown by 6:00 at the latest,
    allowing an additional hour for staff, volunteers, and Foot Soldiers to clear the streets.
  • Wrist bands will be provided to clearly distinguish authorized vendors.
  • New signage will be posted to discourage the illegal sale of alcohol and cannabis products.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

This initiative is a collaboration with our neighborhood and its many stakeholders to support our fantastic merchants while also providing families free access to open space and great programming along Tompkins Avenue. We can’t do this alone. We’re working closely with leadership at the 79th Police Precinct to crack down on the illegal sale of alcohol and cannabis and the proliferation of double-parking. We need the community’s help just as much as we need the Precinct’s in order to ensure that Tompkins Avenue Open Streets is a safe and successful initiative for all parties involved. With everyone’s continued support, we can make this work.

For answers to more questions or input, please email info@bsdcorp.org