Village to Hire Expert, Assess Streetscape Problems

Update: Richard Kavesh, Nyack's mayor, has said the village will not have to pay for the Streetscape expert's input.

Although Nyack's is ongoing—Main Street has yet to be outfitted with lights and newly-paved roads—the village is hiring an expert to assess possible pitfalls and improvements.

Richard Kavesh, Nyack's mayor, said the price for hiring the expert would be "nominal."

"We are going to hire a very moderately priced but highy experienced 'Streetscape expert' to take a look at what we've done and make recommendations," Kavesh wrote on the Village of Nyack Facebook page.

Originally, village officials were entertaining the idea of spending $13,000 to reduce the width of unwieldy planting beds created by the Streetscape. Kavesh said this area—which has also left a fire hydrant in the middle of the sidewalk—was not the work of a construction company seeking to bilk money out of the village.

"I'm quite sure... that our very honorable contractor A-Tech did not construct the incursive planting beds in the hopes of earning money from a change order," Kavesh said.

Other issues with the Streetscape project include a loss of six parking spaces, the bump-out on Main Street and Franklin, exposed streetlight bases and .

The Streetscape project, which has roots in 2004, does have supporters—.

"I think anything new is always nice," said Umberto Turiello, one of the owners of pizza place . "The only thing is parking—it took a few spots away. But something new, something fresh is always refreshing."

proprietor Patti Aagard has been a supporter from the beginning. "The Streetscape is a work in progress, so I think it's premature to judge its success," she said. "When the project is completed, it will enhance the community's quality of life, as well as revitalize the downtown economy."

James Politi, Nyack's village administrator, maintains the Streetscape is an ongoing process that will yield positive results. It is the largest project Politi has been a part of since being hired. And with regard to lost parking spots, Politi says some were actually gained.

"No parking spaces have been lost," he explained. "The 'bump-outs' for pedestrian crossings took several away, but the closure of the Main Street access to the Riverspace Parking has provided more parking spaces."