Photos: arena plaza significantly truncated for renovation work, which should finish by October. Flatbush Avenue access blocked through July.

As planned, renovation work at the Barclays Center Plaza--er, SeatGeek Plaza--has begun, with limited access to the MTA transit entrance. 

The aim is to revamp the pavers and lighting, with the work finished by October, before the NBA and events season ramps up.

There will be no access, as shown in the photo at right (taken around 6 pm yesterday), until the end of July. Access remains available from Atlantic Avenue.

That makes the "We belong here/You belong here" art/advertising signage ever more ironic.

Those exiting from the transit hub face a fence that extends across a good portion of the plaza, forcing potential arenagoers to the entrance doors at the side closest to Atlantic Avenue.

As shown in the photo below, yesterday the area at/around the fence had been commandeered by the joint campaign of Jumaane Williams and Ana Maria Archila, running as Democrats in today's primary for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively.

Closer to Atlantic and Flatbush

As shown in the photos below, the fencing between the transit entrance and the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues not only blocks access to the interior benches and pavement, but also is opaque, protecting against views of the stored materials.

As shown in the photo below, even one of the benches on the sidewalk needs some work to repair a bent metal railing.

Back up the block

The first view below is from Flatbush Avenue sidewalk close to the arena entrance.

The view below looks toward the transit entrance.

Those exiting from the (often out-of-service) elevator can't turn right to exit to Flatbush Avenue, for now.