As part of its effort to turn Fowler Square (triangle at Fulton Street, Lafayette Avenue and South Elliott Place) into a streetscape plaza, the Fulton Area Businesses Alliance (FAB) has proposed the closing of the small South Elliott Place block between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street in Fort Greene. The closing will eliminate two parking spaces on the east side of South Elliott Place, and a parking lane on the south side of Lafayette Avenue between Fulton and South Elliott. FAB said they have reached out to many of the businesses bordering the area, including The Smoke Joint, and they all support the closing.

An application was submitted to the Department of Transportation, who will study the area to see if the closing is feasible. There are still concerns about the effect on traffic congestion in the area, especially when there are citywide test at Brooklyn Technical High School. The fear is that southbound vehicles will be required to drive further east into the neighborhood before they are able to make the necessary turn(s) to travel west. There is also the question of what will happen to the fire hydrant on the north side of the street.