Barclays Center neighborhood parking concerns - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Barclays Center neighborhood parking concerns

Produced by JAISON MANNS

MYFOXNY.COM -- The new Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn is bringing a lot of buzz to the borough but not all of it has been good. Many residents in this area are mad because of parking.

"It will be very difficult to drive around here before a game begins or when a game ends, said Gib Veconi of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. "But especially in the evening rush hour when people will be coming in to get to a game. These streets will likely be extremely congested with arena patrons looking for parking."

The multibillion-dollar Atlantic Yards project, which includes the Barclays Center, is expected to bring over 2,500 vehicles to this area. Besides the 550 vehicles that may find parking in Barclays Center's lot the majority of the arena's patrons who travel by car will be hitting the streets trying to find a spot.

The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council tried to curb what they believe will be a traffic nightmare by requesting what's called residential parking permits from the city.

The city said no to the council's request after conducting a study of parking conditions at Yankee Stadium and the new Barclays Center. The report says that 24 percent of the almost 9,400 spaces within a half-mile of the stadium are usually available. That doesn't sit well with Veconi or the people of this neighborhood.

"I think the main concern about traffic here is noise and safety," he said. "Safety for motorists and safety for pedestrians and congestion. This is a residential neighborhood. People expect to be able to come home and have some peace and quiet.  They don't expect to have cars lining up and honking down the streets. And people going out with their children don't expect to be confronted by masses of cars as they try to cross the street here."

New York currently doesn't offer residential parking permit programs anywhere in the city.

"We recognize that there is congestion in the area and as such we are encouraging all guests to use mass transit," said Forest City Ratner. "We've worked with the city and state and our own traffic engineers to develop a transportation management system that encourages mass transit and directs those guests who do drive to parking facilities in different areas."

A residential parking permit program must be approved by both state and city governments. 

Forest City Ratner said it would support a residential parking permit system if the city and state deemed it appropriate.