How Many Trees Is Union Square Losing?

Curbed has a big article outlining and analyzing all the current, upcoming, and potential efforts to make 14th St. better in all sorts of ways.

The East 12th and 13th Street Block Association is fighting against the arrival of Caliente Cab Co. at University and 12th on the grounds that they expect it to be a noisy all-night boozefest. The owners had petitioned for 4AM closing 7 nights a week, open windows, and sidewalk cafe. They’ve backed off, but that’s still not good enough for those who are against it.

You can speak your mind at the licensing meeting on April 12th at 6PM at 268 Mulberry St.

The complete Community Board meeting is APril 21st at 6PM at 116 West 11th St.

L’Annam, the Vietnamese restaurant on the corner of University and 13th that closed a few months ago, will become a larger version of the Basics Hardware store that is already on that block next door.

Next week, 03/04/2013 – 03/08/2013 Material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors inside the building. Roof work, work on the new sidewalks around the building, and the dismantling of the construction hoist on the building exterior will also continue.

The following week, 03/11/2013 – 03/15/2013 Material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors and roofs. Sidewalk work and dismantling of the construction hoist on the building exterior will also continue.

We anticipate the take down of the 14th Street sidewalk shed to begin within the next 2 weeks.

Here’s an update on Union Square reconstruction:

Work is progressing quickly to repave the 16th Street transverse. Crews are laying a new concrete base to better support the asphalt pavers for this heavily-trafficked portion of the park. Special care is being taken to preserve the root systems of the elm trees that bisect the pathway, and access to the center lawn for the disabled will be part of the final design. Repaving is expected to be completed by Labor Day.
The center and east play areas are also moving along, with equipment installation nearly complete for both sections. The enormous Big Mountain play feature, fabricated by a silo manufacturer on Long Island, was welded together on site last week. The bulk of the remaining work will encompass retaining wall, decorative fence and bench installation, and final landscaping. In other construction news, Pavilion roof waterproofing, flashing and cornice work continues, as does new plaster work on the interior ceiling. Concrete and paver installation on the east plaza was recently finished, and excavation will soon begin on the east sidewalk south of the 16th Street transverse.