During the public discussion about the 360 Smith Street project in Carroll Gardens, aka Oliver House, there was much discussion of the plaza in front of the Carroll Street Station and of the need to close one of the station’s entrances during part of the construction. There were concerns among some residents that the closing would result in overcrowding at the remaining entrances. (Both Carroll Street and Bergen Street are known to be particularly slow to empty when trains let out a lot of passengers.) Well, the day has arrived. The entrance will be closed on Monday, July 21UPDATE: The MTA has advised, via the office of City Council Member Bill de Blasio, that the actual closing is July 28, not July 21 as had been reported on the website and on signs. Signs are being changed and the information updated on the website.

The Oliver House website, which was created to keep the neighborhood informed about goings on at the development notes:

As the installation of the piles nears completion, the site will be prepared for the next phases of construction, beginning with the pouring of concrete. Sidewalk bridging will be erected at the walkways along both Smith Street and Second Place. This bridging will be similar to the sidewalk bridging you have experienced at other construction sites around the city. As a part of this process, the subway plaza and stairway will be closed, commencing July 21st. The concrete work and replacement of the subway plaza finishes will start right away, so that this area can be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so. During the closure, the stairs across Smith Street will be used to enter and exit the subway.

Meanwhile, an email from the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association says, “We are working with Bill DeBlasio’s office to insure that the details of signage, access and safety issues are addressed. Suggestions have been made to temporarily move the bike racks, protect the trees, and to find a solution for access to the newsstand. Bill has been talking to the MTA and will make an announcement once the schedule has been confirmed.”