Street Seats Provide a Gathering Space in the New Normal

Written by Marlo Paventi Dilts, Senior Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs, Long Island Board of REALTORS®

COVID-19 showed us that we needed to think fast about how we can gather in a way that is safe and takes into consideration open-air concepts and physical distance – and, for us,  parklets were the answer!

In collaboration with Street Plans, the Rockaway Brewing Company, and the NYC Department of Transportation, the Long Island Board of REALTORS® created the 46th and 5th Street Seat parklet project with the help of NAR’s Placemaking grant. Adjacent to the Rockaway Brewing, the parklet, in Long Island City (Queens), NY, can host residents, visitors and patrons in this community.

Photos courtesy of the Long Island Board of REALTORS®

An up-and-coming neighborhood, Long Island City is home to hundreds of restaurants, shops, galleries and event venues. This location was chosen purposefully to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of individuals who patronize the local businesses in the area and can provide a SAFE place to stop and rest, meet up, eat, and enjoy the community.

Chairs, tables and benches frame the space and the street mural ties the project to blend with its eclectic surroundings. Keeping this project close to home, local builders and artists were commissioned to complete the project.

Understanding the shifting needs of the community, the Rockaway Brewing Company signed on as the liability partner in the project and will maintain the space overtime for the public and its patrons to enjoy.

There were many procedural pieces to this project requiring approval from the NYC Department of Transportation in order to make sure this project could be installed safely and run effectively. Doing the heavy lifting, Street Plan got it done!

This project is a testament to teamwork, and the Long Island Board of REALTORS® is proud to be a part of this project.

The 46th and 5th Street Seat is located on the corner of 46th Avenue and 5th Street in Long Island City outside of the Rockaway Brewing Company. The space is accessible to all and will be open through the winter months.