S. Elliott Place in Fort Greene may only be four blocks long, but the city has managed to misspell its name on four separate street signs. Starting at the edge of Fort Greene Park on DeKalb Ave. and ending at S. Portland St.,
S. Elliott Place has 10 street signs: Six are spelled correctly, while four signs omit the final ‘T’ in Elliott.
“It’s adorable,” said Anika Larsen, 35, a neighborhood performance artist. “I’m sure they mean well, but it makes the city look so bumbling.””I walk past here every day, and I never even noticed,” said Stephanie Aung, 27, on her way to class at St. George’s University at Brooklyn Hospital Center. “There’s a lot of T’s and a lot of L’s in there. It sounds the same no matter which way you spell it. That’s funny.”
While area residents can laugh at the city’s mistakes, local business owners on S. Elliott Place don’t see the humor.
“It causes problems,” said Ben Grossman, 38, owner of The Smoke Joint barbecue restaurant. “It’s pretty crazy what I have to go through every year to renew my licenses.”
The city departments of Health and Consumer Affairs use two different spellings for S. Elliott Place, according to Grossman. Since opening his restaurant three years ago, Grossman has struggled to prove to Community Affairs he’s paid his cafe licenses, when the agency is unable to locate his address in its computer system.
“They always say I haven’t paid, even though I paid in full,” said Grossman. “It usually takes about three or four phone calls to convince them South Elliott is spelled with two T’s. They must be going off an old map or something.”
It appears relief is in sight for disgruntled business owners and confused residents.
After a call from Brooklyn News, the city Transportation Department said the misspelled signs would be replaced.
“Those four signs will be replaced and the new ones will be up soon,” said spokesman Scott Gasetel. “These things take a little while.” Each new sign will cost about $50.
The DOT isn’t the only city agency in need of spelling lessons.
Last month, the Daily News found spelling gaffes on the G train line, including a mosaic tile sign in Williamsburg that reads “Brodaway,” instead of “Broadway,” and an exit sign at the Greenpoint Ave. station directing commuters to Indian St., instead of India St.
{NY Daily News/Matzav.com Newscenter}
There is nothingg to maked fun off. Many peoples do not knows how to spelle or right engliz. The peoples from the union make lotts of muney and they are not edjucated. Higher bettar peoples and make lezz mistakes.