u/Die-Nacht

Link to details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aAP3o1v8WdNcUO1UK58WdMLUMcRcVHjkYB9\_cYxR4-U/edit?usp=drivesdk

Hey all! The Austin Street Open Street is back this Sunday! More and more local organizations want to participate, so much so that we may run out of space! May need to expand the Open Street next year 😲!

See the attached flyers for more info.

Also, check out this video a 6th grader made about the last Open Street event on Sunday! https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc9t6jDxnOX/?stkn=MWxrM2h2dHgza2ZwZA==

See you Sunday!

Neighbors for A Safer Austin Street is a grassroots, 100% volunteer run group. If you'd like to help run the Open Street, please sign up for some shifts! https://forms.gle/e22pvxN7omwMWF81A

On Sunday, August 30, Austin Street between 71st Avenue and 71st Road closed to traffic for the first Austin Street Open Street event of the season, hosted by Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street. The block had public seating, a kids' corner, and tables from local community groups.

If you didn't make it, you can watch some coverage from the day: PIX11 segment: https://youtu.be/E4zdC3cUO80 Streetfilms: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dct6UGrxqN6/

The Open Street continues this Sunday, September 6, 11am–5pm! We are starting a little later due to logistical issues.

See you all there! And make sure to follow us on Instagram for more updates! https://www.instagram.com/asaferaustinstqns/

With the Austin Street Open Street almost here, it seems many are still confused by what exactly an Open Street is. While our neighborhood gets a lot of fairs, we haven't had an Open Street in the area since the Ascan Ave Open Street, which was short-lived and at the height of COVID (when most of us were still sheltering in place).

Fairs and Open Streets close down streets to cars and open them to people, but they serve very different purposes. Here are some ways Open Streets and Fairs differ:

1. Fairs are commercial by design. The idea is that you are going to buy something. An Open Street is more like a plaza: you are welcome to buy from the local merchants but it's not necessary

2. Following on the previous point, a fair isn't a place where you can "hang out". There's usually no space to linger. Open Streets are designed around enhancing the space. This means providing open space for people to hang out, linger, and make their own fun. While not all open street provide seating, most do, with the goal of enhancing the existing space

3. Fairs are fun, but they are one time events. Open Streets are recurring over a period of time. While the Austin Street Open Street runs only on Sundays, it runs for 4 consecutive Sundays. Other Open Streets run for longer or are even 7 days a week (see 34th Ave in Jackson Heights).

4. Following on that last point, fairs don't try to affect the space they take. Once the fair is done, the street goes back to normal. Open Streets' recurring nature allows the city and community to see what that space can look like with fewer cars (or without cars at all). This can help the community make plans to permanently improve the space long term, even when the Open Street isn't active.

To help visualize this, watch this video by StreetFilms on Austin Day, an Open Street trial Neighbors for A Safer Austin Street held last year.

Hope to see you all Sunday!

Schedule for the first Austin Street Open Street! See you all there!

Hey all. There's been many discussions in this sub about Austin Street and many calls for pedestrianization, car free weekends, conversions, etc.

This August 30th will be the first day of 4 Sundays (ends Sept 20) where a segment of Austin Street, 71st Ave to 71st Rd, will be turned into a temporary pedestrian plaza with tables, chairs and canopies for the public to enjoy!

You can learn more about the Open Street and Neighbors for A Safer Austin Street on their website: http://aSaferAustinStreet.com/

Two votes happening tomorrow: a rezoning of a lot on 108th and a vote for an Austin Street Open Street this summer. See first image for details.

The rezoning item will have a dedicated public hearing today (May 12th) at 6:30pm. See second image for more information.

A while back I posted about how Neighbors for A Safer Austin Street had reapplied for an Open Street on Austin Street this year.

The Austin Street Open Street application has passed its first hurdle, but it can still be blocked by elected officials!

So we need all your help! Please use this link (https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-the-austin-street-open-street-application?source=direct\_link&) to email all our elected officials asking them to support the application!