It looks like Essex Street's lampposts may be getting an upgrade despite local protests.
The Lower East Side Business Improvement District has made a proposal to replace 28 street lights on Essex between Houston and Canal, reports The Lo-Down.
The BID's director of policy and planning, Tim Laughlin, said there's not enough lighting on the heavily-traveled street.
Community Board 3 agreed at a meeting Tuesday night. The board voted in approval to install 28 "WM light poles," replacing the several different kinds of lights that currently line the street, including the old-fashioned Bishop's Crook lampposts. As part of the initiative, 18 of the antique-looking fixtures would be transferred to side streets.
There was some opposition to the new lights from community members at several meetings because they don't want to lose the Bishop's Crook lights. On Tuesday, the Essex Street Block Association held a meeting to oppose the project, arguing the lights are part of the neighborhood's character.
Another man said he's more concerned that pigeons hell-bent on terrorizing LES residents would be more inclined to rest on the new lamppost design.
The project, which is expected to cost roughly $300,000 must now be approved by the Public Design Commission to move forward. Laughlin hopes to present it to them by next month. If it is approved, the new fixtures could be expected to light up Essex in about a year.
For more on this story, visit The Lo-Down.
Essex Street, bet. Canal and Houston Sts.
