This week NYC transportation officials told members of Community Board 3 the controversial revamp of Chatham Square is on hold for about two years. During the summer, the Department of Transportation acknowledged the delay, due to "timing and coordination issues." Some neighborhood activists feared the project would resume soon after the upcoming mayoral election. But Wednesday night, DOT Commissioner Luis Sanchez told CB3's transportation committee that the Chatham Square reconstruction will have to wait on the rehab of the Brooklyn Bridge, scheduled to begin December 1.
Sanchez said the Park Row Pedestrian Bridge project would be accelerated. But he said it would be too disruptive to work on both the Chatham Square traffic reconfiguration and the Brooklyn Bridge ramp redesign simultaneously.
Sanchez said the Chatham Square project was initially delayed due to "technical reasons."
Community groups fought a long battle with the city to change the Chatham Square plan.
