Fieldston closes streets to outside traffic

The Fieldston Property Owners’ Association (FPOA) plans to restrict road access in the neighborhood for a week starting on Monday, Jan. 6.

FPOA President Brendan Contant said in an e-mail that guards will restrict buses, commercial and private vehicles from entering Fieldston as the second semester of the school year begins.

Road restrictions at the start of the school year in September angered residents outside of Fieldston, but Mr. Contant said he expects the January closure to go well. 

“We had a few complaints from community members, but many more complements from residents that have been alarmed by an increase in heavy truck and bus traffic,” he said of the fall restrictions.

Mr. Contant added FPOA is coordinating the closure with the nearby Horace Mann School. The association plans to grant access to commercial vehicles traveling to Fieldston homes and buses picking up or dropping off children residing in the neighborhood.

In a letter to Fieldston residents, Mr. Contant said the fall restrictions reduced traffic by at least 70 buses per day going through Fieldston streets.

“Bus companies experience turnover with personnel at the end of every semester and it is very important for the FPOA to delineate our boundaries and set the precedent at the beginning of each semester so that the drivers become familiar with alternative routes,” Mr. Contant wrote.

The same letter contained a security alert to Fieldston residents discussing incidents including a recent series of thefts of unlocked cars.

The letter also highlighted a recent attempted break-in at a Delafield Avenue home. The owner, who was present at the time, alerted the police, but not before the suspect escaped.

Mr. Contant urged residents to maintain vigilance and make sure their homes are properly secured. He added that security alarm installation and monitoring is available from Excel Security, the company FPOA uses for tasks including the upcoming street closures.