{"id":278,"date":"2011-07-22T21:04:59","date_gmt":"2011-07-22T21:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simpletwig.wordpress.com\/?p=278"},"modified":"2015-03-17T16:24:11","modified_gmt":"2015-03-17T16:24:11","slug":"new-trees-grow-on-smith-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/new-trees-grow-on-smith-street\/","title":{"rendered":"New trees grow on Smith Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smith Street in Brooklyn is a bit of a unique street for New York City. \u00a0This is because it is narrow and there is a 4 lane subway system below it. \u00a0For ‘ever’ residents have assumed that you weren’t allowed to plant trees along the sidewalks because of potential interference with the subway tunnel. \u00a0With a bit of inquiry on my part, and a bit of persistence, I kept asking Betty Stoltz of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation why there weren’t any trees along Smith Street, and how if there were trees how much better the neighborhood would be perceived. \u00a0Every summer I was also reminded of just how hot Smith Street became without any shade that trees offer us.<\/p>\n

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Just planted tree on Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fundamentally Smith Street is architecturally brutal, concrete sidewalks, asphalt paving and brick facades are only interrupted on the south end by Carroll Park and the trees that are able to peek beyond the building line. \u00a0About 14 years ago, around 1996-97 Smith Street was rebuilt, meaning new sidewalks were put in, new curbs and new light poles. \u00a0The lights themselves played an important role in Smith’s revitalization but without the clean curbs and sidewalks it’s rejuvenation would of been in doubt. \u00a0Still, the one element missing was greenery. \u00a0Now we have the beginnings of life. \u00a0With some trees being added, the message is clear to land owners that trees are not only allowed but they are welcome. \u00a0My hope is that more will request that the city place a tree in front of their building. \u00a0Considering the trees are free, including the planting of them, it’s an easy request to make.<\/p>\n

So my little role? \u00a0The persistence in convincing Betty that it should be done, that it will improve business, that it will be cooler in summer, that it will make the whole area more pleasant and inviting to visitors… and Betty did the rest.<\/p>\n

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New trees as of July 2011.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The future will still \u00a0hold all the architectural charm of Smith Street, but will also have a new warm vista about it as one looks down Smith. \u00a0With the new trees it will be easier to walk slower and take in all there is to see. \u00a0It is for me very rewarding to see the birth of hope along what was once considered by some to be an area that one shouldn’t venture around. \u00a0Smith Street has seen it all, and now it looks like it’s future is brighter than ever before.<\/p>\n

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What Smith Street should look like by 2025 or 2030<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve always hoped that everyone of us can make a difference by simply making suggestions and helping. \u00a0With experience of life under my belt I know this to be true as I have several stories were my suggestions have made a difference. \u00a0What I believe in is if you have a suggestion of something that makes life better, then it should be done. \u00a0The rest is up to finding the right people to make it happen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Smith Street in Brooklyn is a bit of a unique street for New York City. \u00a0This is because it is narrow and there is a 4 lane subway system below it. \u00a0For ‘ever’ residents have assumed that you weren’t allowed to plant trees along the sidewalks because of potential interference with the subway tunnel. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[34,80,104,153,174,175,181,190,199,206,208,226,233,234,251,252],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.simpletwig.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}