By Alex Davidson
Michael Simanowitz, Mayersohn's chief of staff, said in a phone interview Monday that he was assured by the city Department of Transportation that signs allowing cars to park along both sides of Babbage Street near the Long Island Rail Road tracks will be erected as soon as this week. He said existing parking underneath the railroad tracks will not be affected by the additional spaces.
“This is something we have been discussing for a long time,” Simanowitz said. “This was supposed to be done by year's end.”
Simanowitz, along with Mayersohn, was one of many people who toured downtown Richmond Hill last year after the assemblywoman incorporated the area into her legislative district. She listened as community residents said there were few parking spaces that made it easy for people in cars to shop or mull around the downtown area.
One of those people on the tour, Richmond Hill Historical Society President Nancy Cataldi, said the demolition a few years ago of two one-family homes on 118th Street made the parking problem worse by introducing 21 families into a new housing development at the site capable only of accommodating two families.
“So much parking was taken away because of the curb cuts,” Cataldi said. “I think it (the additional spaces) are great because it is always so difficult here.”
Downtown Richmond Hill has commercial locations such as the RKO Keith's Theater, which regularly holds bingo games for borough residents, Jahn's ice cream parlor and Sommese Funeral Home. The area is near the busy Jamaica Avenue and close to Kew Gardens' commercial center.
Simanowitz could not specify the times cars will be allowed to park on Babbage Street but said the signs will clearly alert residents of the appropriate periods for leaving their vehicles on the street. He was unsure that fixing the area's parking problem would be the final solution for alleviating congestion in downtown Richmond Hill, Simanowitz said.
“I don't know that it (the additional parking) will do everything to eliminate the problem.”
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
