Manhattan Community Board 3 May 2026 Report
Kimlau Square redesign debate, Canal Street proposal delays, city budget season, and a new push for protected lanes on the Lower East Side
As always, the below summary of the Full Board Meeting is not complete but represents my best attempt to highlight key takeaways from the meeting. If you attended the meeting and believe I missed or misstated any important points, please comment below or reach out!
Any opinions expressed below are solely my own and do not represent the views of Manhattan Community Board 3.
Find your community district and key information about it here.
Manhattan Community Board 3 May 2026 Full Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 - 6:30pm
PS 20 - 166 Essex Street
Meeting Highlights:
Kimlau Square arch: MCB3 passed a resolution supporting the relocation of the Kimlau Square Memorial Arch as part of the square’s redesign, with some debate over whether there had been adequate public engagement
Canal Street redesign delayed: DOT extended the timeline on the Canal Street redesign and will not take the scheduled vote in June. No new target date was announced.
Delivery worker e-bike storage: One app company has expressed interest in funding indoor bike storage for delivery workers on E 11th Street
St. Mark’s bike lane: MCB3 passed a resolution supporting a new protected bike lane on St. Mark’s Place between 3rd Avenue and Avenue A
Notes from board meeting:
Public Session
Middlechurch shared their plans for the empty lot at 112 2nd Avenue
creating a new community space with an event stage, green space, historic facade elements retained
On 6/3 6 PM there will be a candidates’ forum for the upcoming primary elections
will feature a discussion between all State-level candidates running in the Community District 3 area
Another candidate forum this Friday focused on candidates running to represent the area between Montgomery St and the Battery, from Congress to State Assembly
[source] Spring Awakening Festival is happening this Saturday 12-4 PM, on Avenue B open street
there will be a parade, dancing, music, children’s pony rides, and more!
On Wednesday, 6/10 there will be the annual Village Awards, which honors longstanding community leaders/institutions
Opposition from community members to the redesign of Kimlau Square and moving the arch
Voting for the People’s Money, citywide participatory budgeting, is currently underway
anyone 11+ years old and living in NYC is eligible to vote
beginning with studying one board in every borough, the start of a year-long study process
expecting the first report to come out in July based on surveys of community board members
Elected Officials Reports
Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s Liaison
opening a welcome center in the northern Manhattan office
offering discretionary grants of up to $20k to nonprofits operating in Manhattan
Manhattan community board applications are done, list of appointments has been finalized, will be announced by the end of the week
Congressmember Dan Goldman’s Liaison
Assemblymember Grace Lee’s Liaison
Many bills progressing through the Assembly
Assemblymember Keith Powers’ Liaison
State Senator Brian Kavanagh’s Liaison
hosting two mobile office hours next month — on 6/10 6 PM and on 6/24 9 AM-12 PM
providing assistance with getting in touch with City or State agencies
Councilmember Harvey Epstein - attended
Mayor released the City Executive Budget last week, Council budget hearings will occur over the next three weeks
deadline for an enacted budget is June 30th
public testimony for the budget is on June 10th - attend and speak about what you want to see more or less funding for in the budget!
Juneteenth event on 6/18, 4th Street between Broadway and Lafayette
Speaker came out in support of year-round outdoor dining, Councilmembers are working to add language to a curbs bill pushing this
Board Reports
District Manager’s Report
Executive budget includes responses to MCB3 capital and expense requests
DOT has extended timeline on the Canal Street redesign, will not take scheduled vote for June
Update on delivery worker bikes on E 11th St: one app company has expressed interest in providing money to find indoor storage
jurisdiction has been moved to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice, MCB3 is awaiting a response from this office
New members who will be appointed to MCB3 are requested to attend all the committee meetings in June, and then determine what are their top choices to apply to sit on in July
Committee Reports
See Committee Meeting recordings here!
Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment
Resolution in support of a bike lane being added on St. Mark’s between 3rd Ave and Avenue A
Resolution in support of co-naming the corner of Rivington St between Stanton and Eldridge as Dolores “Brownie” Morales
MCB3 members had debate over whether there was truly enough public engagement about the plan to move the arch, and whether there was even still time for MCB3 to hold more meetings about it prior to the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing
motion to send the resolution back to committee did not pass
CORRECTION 6/2/26: CB3’s resolution supported the necessity of the project team's application to LPC to move the memorial arch as part of the redesign, NOT in support of moving the memorial arch. The Board has not yet taken a position on the redesign itself, but this resolution supports allowing the project to proceed in receiving feedback from LPC in their review.
