By Meredith Hoffman
DNAInfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — Under pressure from the community, a controversial new homeless shelter shelter on West 25th Street is set to get additional lighting.
The Bowery Residence Committee, which will run the shelter, requested that the Department of Transportation install one new lamppost at the corner of West 25th Street and Sixth Avenue. The DOT responded last week via letter confirming they would install the lamppost by the end of 2011.
"We met with members of the local advisory and talked about what we could do to make the block more lively," said Muzzy Rosenblatt, Executive Director of the BRC. "They suggested it might be nice to increase lighting to mitigate people's concerns."
Rosenblatt said that though the shelter has come under fire from protestors and was the subject of an opposition letter from Council Speaker Christine Quinn, he believes most community members are open to the development.
"We're trying to be a good neighbor and I think we're doing a great job of that," he said.
He said the BRC, at neighbors' promptings, has also written the Parks Department to request more tree plantings on the block.
The BRC shelter is planned to open in July.
