On Monday, August 24, PHNDC hosted a virtual town hall meeting with representatives from the New York City Department of Transportation to discuss Open Streets initiatives on Carlton Avenue, Underhill Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue.

Owners of restaurants participating in Open Streets: Restaurants on Vanderbilt Avenue expressed great appreciation for the program, which has been effective in replacing some of the revenue lost from the prohibition on indoor dining. Residents were also supportive of the program as a way to provide necessary income to local businesses while at the same time bringing the community together in a safe, socially-distant way.

Many residents also expressed strong support for Open Streets on Carlton Avenue and Underhill Avenue, although some voiced complaints about the impact of traffic displaced onto Park Place due to the opening of Carlton Avenue. To alleviate this situation, PHNDC proposed moving the southern extent of the Carlton Avenue Open Street to St. Mark's Avenue. Residents also stressed the need for clear communications on the extents and hours of the Open Streets programs on Carlton and Underhill Avenues.

A video recording of the meeting is available on YouTube, and a transcript of the chat session is available here.