New Canaan’s local traffic authority last week approved a request to close a main drag in the heart of the downtown for a Saturday in July for the one of the community’s most popular annual events.
The Police Commission vote unanimously to close the one-way stretch of Elm Street, part of Forest Street and the “Pop-Up Park” area at Elm and South for the Sidewalk Sale, to be held July 17.
“We are not going to close Main Street this year, which we would have had to ask the state for permission for that,” New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura Budd told members of the Commission at their regular meeting, held May 19 via videoconference.
“It will be bigger than last year, where we asked for two days to close the street. This year, we’re just going to ask for one. We feel we can do it all in one day. Friday they would like to be out on the sidewalk but then Saturday we would like to close Elm Street and then the little Pop-Up Park area at the end of South Avenue where it abuts Elm.”
Commission Chair Paul Foley, Secretary Jim McLaughlin and member Shekaiba Bennett voted 3-0 in favor of the road closures.
Last summer, a modified version of the Sidewalk Sale was held in August as a socially distanced and scaled-down version of the bustling midsummer event, with booths spaced apart and attendees wearing masks.
Foley asked Budd whether the Sidewalk Sale organizers were allowing motor vehicle traffic to come and go from Heritage Square, the condos on Forest Street up near East Avenue. Budd said yes, as in year’s past, the Chamber will pay for a police officer to oversee two-way traffic from about halfway down Forest to East Avenue to accommodate the condos there.
What a shame upper Main Street is not included, especially since this is a street that needs focus given unsightly vacancies at this time! Choice to skip it seems mistaken since it is usually included, many booths have been sold this year, and extra expenses for other areas does not seem a concern? .. We all love the sidewalk sale and support it! Including Main Street merchants!
Terry Spring