Sparks Avenue Residents Fear Crossing the Street Near Construction Site

Come April, Pelham’s Department of Public Works is slated to move into its revitalized building, equipped with 42 parking spots, thanks to a $2 million dollar renovation initiative. But, some Sparks Avenue residents say that recent construction has heightened accident risks.

“I’ve almost been hit by two people,” remarked Rosemary Brooke at Tuesday night’s Village Hall meeting. “The fact is, we’re here, you’re here, everything happens here. No one slows down.”

In addition to tearing down a nearly 100-year-old structure, the nine DPW workers, and those who park in the lot behind Sparks Avenue, now access the street via a widened driveway. But with the improved roadway conditions, come concerns from residents. Those who live on this block want to see speed bumps, more visible stop signs and a pedestrian walkway.

“When the driveway was small, you had to slow down,” remarked Brooke, who’s lived in Pelham for 38 years. Brooke said that fellow residents are concerned with the increased traffic on the block and that crossing where the driveway meets the sidewalk is now more dangerous than it once was.

To ease her concerns, Brooke said that she met with Village Administrator, Robert Yamuder about two months ago. When her suggestions went unheeded, she decided to bring her complaints to Village Hall on Tuesday.

Yamuder assured Brooke that a number of safety measures—street lighting on both sides of the street, yellow signs and striping on the road—are in the works.

But what Yamuder didn’t address, was how residents are to cope with the increased number of vehicles that now line what was once a quieter block.

“We didn’t get any notification,” Brooke remarked. “Suddenly, one day, everyone is parking here. They’re parking on both sides, right on driveways.”