A battle over traffic safety measures in North Side has ended in at least a partial win for supporters of on-street vehicle parking in business districts.

Alfred B. “Al” Muhammad is among those celebrating City Hall’s decision to remove six of the 14 large concrete plant- ers that the city’s Department of Public Works installed a year ago on a three-block stretch of Brookland Park Boulevard in the heart of Barton Heights’ reviving retail district.

The planters were part of an effort to beautify the street between Fendall and North avenues while slowing traffic to enhance pedestrian safety. The project also had the backing of former City Councilman Chris A. Hilbert, who then represented that district.

Mr. Muhammad, a staff member in his family’s Your Sandwich Shop and Sweet Spot in that area, helped lead the fight to eliminate the planters that he said reduced the number of street parking spaces for the businesses. At least 10 parking spaces were recovered with the planters’ removal.

City Hall reported spending a $300,000 state grant more than a year ago to install the concrete “bump-outs” or sidewalk ex- tensions that were filled with flowers.

But Mr. Muhammad said that many people in the community who did not participate in public meetings when the planters were proposed have found them

to be a threat to commerce, particularly the planters located in the middle of blocks. He said people complained the planters made it harder for potential patrons to find a place to stop, park and shop and made it harder for shop owners to receive supplies, given that remaining parking spaces often were full.

Mr. Muhammad said after the planters went in, he heard so many complaints that he responded by launching the North Side Senate to rally opposition.

He said the group collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for the planters’ removal and presented the results in the spring to the area’s new elected representative, Councilwoman Ann-Frances Lambert, 3rd District, who succeeded Mr. Hilbert.

Ms. Lambert later held a Zoom meeting to listen to concerns and then joined North Side Senate representatives on a walking tour of the area during the summer.

Convinced the planters were a prob- lem, she then went to Bobby Vincent Jr., the city director of Public Works, whose department had installed the planters, to advocate for removal.

At a Sept. 30 community meeting Ms. Lambert set up, Mr. Vincent said he made the decision to spend $18,000 to remove the six planters located mid-block after determining they were creating a traffic hazard. Eight still remain on the four corners of Garland and Hanes avenues.

The removal work began Sept. 27, three days before the meeting, leading to complaints from the planter supporters that there had been no announcement or consultation.

Among other things, Mr. Vincent said people were double-parking and blocking traffic to conduct business.

Mr. Vincent also has heard objections from residents who believe the planters made the area more pedestrian-friendly.

“The reason why I made that decision,” Mr. Vincent told the audience, is that “we were having an influx of issues occurring within multiple blocks of Brookland Park Boulevard, particularly the three blocks between North Avenue and Fendall Avenue.

“We’re leaving the bump-outs in place that are on the corners to help with traffic-calming and beautification and narrow the vision of people driving,” he said.

In addition, he said he also has put a hold on creating a parklet, or outdoor patio, in street parking spaces in front of Ms. Bee’s Juice Bar, which the store had requested and Mr. Muhammad’s group, the North Side Senate, also opposed.

“I’m not saying the ultimate answer for the parklet is ‘no,’ ” Mr. Vincent said. “What I’m saying is there was a need for me to put a pause on the parklet until we get the parklet situation straight.”

He said Ms. Bee’s might want the parklet to be exclusive for its shop, but he said the parklets are open to everyone. The parklet has yet to be installed.