Faster buses, slower business: Park Slope store owners blame Flatbush Avenue redesign for struggles
The redesign puts bus lanes in the center of the street between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza, moving the flow of other vehicle traffic to the curb.
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Some store owners along Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope say the city’s new redesign to speed up buses is slowing down business.
“How are we supposed to survive?” asked Max Laucella, owner of Antonio’s Pizza.
The space outside of Laucella’s place is now “no parking” and “no standing” anytime.
The redesign puts bus lanes in the center of the street between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza, moving the flow of other vehicle traffic to the curb.
“Where are people supposed to park to pick up the pizza?” Laucella asked.
Businesses in the area said they’re down 30%.
“It’s pretty much decimated everyone around here,” said Ray Tejada, general manager of El Gran Castillo.
Tejada told News 12 on Wednesday that they’re struggling to receive shipments.
“We pay a fuel surcharge now and a service fee because [delivery drivers] can’t park anywhere in front of the business,” said Tejada. “They have to park around the block.”
Customers are parking around the block, too.
“People will call in,” said Tejada. “They can’t park in front, so then we have to walk up the block and deliver the food to them in their car.”
Over at Antonio’s, some customers stopped coming.
“They call me, ‘Oh, you know what? Cancel the pizza. There’s no parking. I can’t pick it up,’” said Laucella, who told News 12 that cancellations happen at least three times a day.
A DOT spokesperson sent the following statement: "The redesign of Flatbush Avenue is on track for completion this fall and will deliver faster buses for more than 130,000 New Yorkers and safer streets for all of Downtown Brooklyn. Work is progressing quickly to deliver comprehensive pedestrian, safety, and accessibility enhancements from curb to curb for all road users. We appreciate New Yorkers’ patience as we complete this critical upgrade.”
But the DOT did not respond to News 12’s request to address the local businesses.
