Community board rails against Ceruzzi Properties’ plans for subway entrance near new condo tower

Ceruzzi Properties’ [TRDataCustom] plans to create new subway entrances on 86th Street will pose a danger to pedestrians, according to Community Board 8 members.

The developer plans to move the subway entrances to the sidewalk instead of keeping them inside the 18-story condominium that Ceruzzi is building at 147 East 86th Street, DNAinfo reported. The entrances were originally within the existing building on the site and are being removed to make way for retail on the ground floor of the new project.

During construction of the 63-unit building, which is expected to last through 2019, subway riders will need to use a temporary entrance in the middle of 86th Street. Last year, Ceruzzi cut a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, agreeing to pay $7 million to replace the subway stairs and another $1.5 million to maintain an elevator that the developer is also adding to the new entrance.

The plans for the new entrances were presented to the community board for the first time last week, and several members weren’t happy with what the developer presented.

“You’ve created an obstacle course for pedestrians on one of the busiest streets on the Upper East Side,” said new CB8 member Valerie Mason. “If you put [the stairs] back in the building, it will be a much better usage of sidewalk space for pedestrians who really need it on 86th Street.” [DNAinfo] — Kathryn Brenzel

(To view more of Ceruzzi Properties’ new construction projects, click here)