The city has ordered 10 planters to be removed from Union Street — part of a crackdown on thousands of micro cement parks citywide, The Brooklyn Paper has learned.
“We are reviewing all (permits) for planters to ensure they comply with city regulations and the terms of the (permit),” transportation spokesman Ted Timbers told The Brooklyn Paper.
The citywide review hits home with Nick Kotsonis, who found out that his planters between Sixth and Seventh avenues would get the boot last month.
“We’ve owned and maintained those planters since the Koch Administration, and every year, the city has renewed our permit,” Kotsonis said. “Now they say we have to get rid of them.”
That had Peg Patterson scratching her head, too.
“It seems like a waste of everyone’s time and money to remove them,” said Patterson, who has lived in Park Slope for 15 years.
The city is taking a closer look at all planter permits, but the cement cylinders on Union Street attracted inspectors’ attention because of their proximity to two B71 bus stops near the corner of Seventh Avenue.
“In this case, the planters were blocking passengers at a bus stop,” said Timbers said.
But locals aren’t buying that.
“They’re not the most beautiful things in the world, but I also don’t think that they’re obstructing anything,” said Fiona Boneham, who has lived in Park Slope for more than 20 years.
And who’s a better expert than Scott Dahlie, who takes the B71 all the time?
“I’ve never really noticed them before, let alone been obstructed by them, while I’m waiting for the bus,” he said.
