Doyers Street ‘Asphalt Art’ Ahead of Chinatown Seasonal Streets Closure

Photo: Karlin Chan
The third annual “Chinatown Seasonal Streets” initiative is upon us. As part of the program, select streets are closed to traffic to create public pedestrian space.
The temporary plazas are also decorated with so-called Asphalt Art. Doyers Street had been the pilot, but this year sees the inclusionof a 5,370 square-foot area of Mott Street between Pell and Bayard.
To that end, painting began on Doyers earlier this week. Artist chosen is the Bronx-born, Los Angeles-based Moncho1929, who will impart a “simple geometric design.”
Meanwhile, the city is quick to trumpet the benefits of Seasonal Streets, which runs through October (traffic resumes 9pm daily). Department of Transportation states a 111% increase in the number of pedestrians on the corridor during these street closures.