It was a long, hard winter for East 86th Street, but there is reason for optimism. Just when our long awaited Streetscape makeover was about to start last fall, it was announced last summer that a 100 year old water main (that runs from 84th Street to 85th Street along Madison and along 86th Street from Park Avenue to Second Avenue) was in urgent need of replacement. So, for the past 9 months the East 86th Street corridor has been dug up, traffic has been awful, parking impossible, where does it all end? September seems to be the answer. 

The silver lining to this year of chaos is the end result. It is not just water mains and gas lines being replaced, but it all makes way for an improved streetscape that the East 86th Street Association fought for years ago. The fight resulted in the allocation of over $1.25 Million to expand tree guards, add benches, planters, new garbage bins, and bike racks. The city is also adding new curbs, bus bulbs and reinstalling Bishop's Crook lampposts that the Assn also secured years ago.

There is light at the end of the tunnel! With any luck we will see that light in the fall of this year.