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To the Editor:
I was on my bicycle this afternoon chatting with residents of Edgemont, Hartsdale and Ardsley.
The owner of Gennaro's Pizza, 759 Central Ave., in Scarsdale asked me to stop by to chat with some of their customers — all Edgemont residents.
Gennaro's Pizza is one of the oldest businesses on Central Avenue, established in 1969.
The Austin Avenue and Ridge Hill developments have hurt businesses located on Central Avenue and the soon-to-open Rivertowns Square shopping plaza off the Saw Mill River Parkway will hurt local businesses even more.
We all have been depressed seeing vacant storefronts stay vacant.
Landlords haven't given their merchants breaks either.
We need to figure out a way to attract more shoppers to Central Avenue.
The suggestion: Hold an event in the fall or spring in the early evening, after rush hour.
Shut down one side of the avenue.
Only allow pedestrians to walk up and down the side of the avenue.
Hastings on Hudson and Tarrytown have successful street fairs and turn their downtown areas into giant parties.
Dobbs Ferry and Ardsley have also held annual street fairs that are fantastic.
The entire Dobbs Ferry downtown area is wall to wall pedestrians with music, food, and other fun things to do.
New York City turned Times Square into a pedestrian friendly outdoor area. We could do the same.
The benefit: Right now most people drive to specific destination locations on Central Avenue.
If the avenue was opened up to pedestrians only, many people would be introduced to businesses that they are not familiar with.
Local businesses would be helped.
New customers could encourage the creation of a Central Avenue Chamber of Commerce.
It would be another fun thing to do for the entire family.
If the concept works, we could schedule future events on the avenue once a month during the spring, summer and fall.
What do you think?
I will also reach out to the Yonkers and White Plains leadership and business and government officials promoting the concept.
Let's make Central Avenue a fun place to go.
Email me your thoughts at pfeiner@greenburghny.com
Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor
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