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July 24, 2012
MTA begins removing 'ugly' barricade around LIRR Atlantic Terminal
Agency bows to two years of local pressure in Brooklyn
NY Daily News
by Alex Robinson and Pete Donohue
The MTA, bowing to public outrage from Brownstone Brooklyn pols and aesthetes, has begun removing 15 massive granite tombs that have ringed the Long Island Rail Road’s new Atlantic Terminal since its opening two years ago.
Let's hope they don't disturb the remains.
The removal of the perimeter security — consisting of 15 four-foot-high sarcophagi that were far bulkier than they needed to be under NYPD anti-terrorism standards — is a “major victory,” said Councilwoman Letitia James.
“I’m glad the MTA has taken into consideration a lot of objections expressed by my constituents and my office,” she said.
As an alternative, the MTA will install smaller and sleeker metal bollards outside the $108-million rail station.
...“The MTA and LIRR listened to the concerns of community leaders and local elected officials who felt the stone bollards were intrusive and perhaps out of scale with the project overall,” MTA spokesman Sal Arena [not his real name — only joking] said.
Related coverage...
The Brooklyn Paper, Stones rolled: Atlantic Terminal bollards ripped out!
The bollards didn’t win over many fans at first — but some Brooklynites had grown accustomed to the barricades.
“Where am I going to eat my sandwich now?” asked a disappointed sandwich-toting passerby.
NoLandGrab: Unless this is your sandwich, the new bollards should be fine.
Posted by eric at July 24, 2012 9:47 PM