The New York City Department of Design and Construction unveiled a redesign plan for the Astor Place and Cooper Square areas of the East Village, according to DNAinfo. The plan, aimed at enhancing pedestrian accessibility by closing off some traffic thruways, would also create outdoor plazas with sitting areas. But David Crane, chair of Community Board 3’s transportation committee, said he was concerned the new plan could have an unintended negative effect. “What we’re afraid of by having public seating outside of a park that can be locked after 11 p.m. or something is that it will become a hangout spot for noisy, drunk hoolgans who go out to the surrounding bars,” Crane said. [DNAinfo]