The Greenport Village Board of Trustees has proposed bonding $800,000 to make major improvements to village roads, curbs and sidewalks. The most noticeable change will be the widening of the portion of Main Street between Bay Avenue and Central Avenue, alleviating the danger of today’s larger passenger vehicles maneuvering along the narrow street.
Additional work includes improvement of the concrete aprons in front of the firehouses, curbs and sidewalks on South Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, repaving of Broad Street, curbs and sidewalks near Sixth Street and Wiggins, and ultimately the repaving of Main Street from Steamboat Corner to Claudio’s.
In order to proceed with the street widening, six trees will be removed on the east side of the road. Once this is done, the street will gain 22 inches in width. Work on widening Main Street will most likely begin some time after the Maritime Festival, Hubbard said. “We’re not going to be tearing up Main Street during the summer.”
Hubbard also addressed concerns about the tree removals and the effect this will have on the character of Main Street.
“I understand people’s concerns about the trees,” said Hubbard, who is a member of Greenport’s Tree Committee. “Truthfully, the trees have become a hazard; they have grown so tall that they are tangled with the overhead wires and many of the roots are breaking up the sidewalks.”
Two new trees will be planted on the corners of both Central and Bay and road buffers will be added. All trees on the west side of the street will remain.
When asked why the plan is to widen the street as opposed to limiting parking to one side, Hubbard said that since parking is at such a premium in the village, it is unreasonable to eliminate 15 spots by having one-side-only parking. He pointed out the cost of the street widening is only one part of the total amount for all improvements.
The village can obtain reimbursement of $125,000 of the cost of the roadwork through a state grant.
Other highlights of the work session include:
- Combining the Christmas tree lighting with the Christmas parade
- Dances in the Park to return for another summer
- Greenport Fire Department’s annual chicken barbecue scheduled for August 19
- Hiring of lifeguards and camp counselors
- Auction of carousel rounding board paintings
- One Greenport Cultural Festival
- Greenport Improvement Committee to possibly open Red Schoolhouse on the weekends
