Montague Street could look more like Paris than Brooklyn Heights, thanks to a plan to close the street on Sundays in July, put out café tables and even install a lawn.
The Montague Street Business Improvement District has proposed turning three blocks between Clinton Street and the Promenade into a grassy, table-lined “Summer Space.”
And business owners are already getting excited.
“[Summer] is slower for both business and donations,” said Jen Jinks, manager of Housing Works Thrift Shop. “It will bring a lot of business to the area, and it’s a nice idea for the community.”
The grassy plazas would not cut off traffic on the busy side streets. As such, the bike advocacy group Transportation Alternatives said that the plan would not wreck havoc on car traffic. In fact, it would bring more people to the street, mostly by subway, foot or bike.
“It will also encourage Sunday sales for our merchants,” said BID Executive Director Chelsea Mauldin. “People can come out, pick up a coffee, read the paper, and enjoy the sunshine.”