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May 27, 2006
More bad press for the Bklyn Bridge Pk Development Corp.
‘Park’ to stay closed
Despite promise and city funding, state won’t open piers
The state has reneged on a promise to open up waterfront piers for recreation this summer — and, in the process, cost the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy $500,000.
“The money was allocated for recreation on the piers, but now it’s just too late to do anything,” said Marianna Koval, co-executive director of the Conservancy.
Three months ago, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, the state agency in charge of developing the waterfront, solicited ideas for summertime recreational uses for the fenced-off piers between Atlantic Avenue and the Manhattan Bridge.
The Conservancy proposed a moveable greenway for biking and a sandy beach, complete with a temporary hot-dog shack.
“We were so excited to finally get people out there,” said Koval.
Koval’s organization had $500,000 from the City Council to make it happen — but then the state development corporation changed its mind.
The state’s change of mind was particularly frustrating for park advocates, especially Conservancy members, who have backed the plan in the face of objections that it will include luxury condos within its footprint (see sidebar).
Posted by klowy at 12:34 AM | Comments (0)
More park, less pork (editorial in Brooklyn Papers)
More park, less pork (read the full editorial here)
Editorial
One would have to be a hopeless curmudgeon not to support the idea of a ribbon of parkland along the Brooklyn waterfront.
But the devil lurks in the details of how a site goes from green sketches in a landscape architect’s notebook to hosting soccer games and kayak races.
In the case of Brooklyn Bridge Park, the devil’s in the form of a decision made by state planners to include luxury housing within the “park” — private housing that is supposed to pay for regular maintenance of public green space.
As a result, community members who want a genuine park are suspicious when state planners claim just a few new residential buildings will pay for maintaining it. In the past, authorities have suggested that if there is a shortfall in revenues — as there inevitably will be — the solution will be to build more housing within the park.
Unless the state changes its approach, Brooklyn Bridge Park will end up little different than Battery Park City — a string of green surrounded by tall buildings that is used primarily by the people who live there, not a park for the entire community.
Posted by klowy at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)
“These buildings will give the park its identity”
‘Park’ will be known for its buildings, not space
By Ariella Cohen
The Brooklyn Papers
Buildings — not open space — will give the Brooklyn Bridge Park its identity, a member of the project’s design team said last week.
Condo towers within the footprint of the 1.3-mile commercial and recreational development are the most controversial element of the design — and, in fact, are now the subject of a lawsuit to prevent their construction.
That didn’t prevent a member of the design team from championing those buildings at a community meeting last week.
“These buildings will give the park its identity,” Paul Whalen, a representative of newly hired architect Robert A.M. Stern, said last Thursday.
“One building could be like a lantern” on the waterfront, said Whalen. Others could be glass-walled “icons in the sky” or feature curved, Frank Gehry-style architecture.
Posted by klowy at 12:27 AM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2006
Fundraiser for Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn
Dan Zanes and Brooklyn Friends
Tickets on sale in a mom-n-pop shop near you
Tickets on sale at these locations:
Acorn: 323 Atlantic Ave., 718-522-3760
Boing Boing: 204 6th Ave., 718-398-0251
Green Onion: 274 Smith St., 718-246-2804
LuLu's Cuts and Toys: 48 Fifth Ave. (between Bergen & Dean), 718-832-3732
Mini Jake: 242 Wythe Ave., 718-782-2005
Heights Kids: 85 Pineapple Walk, 718-222-4271
Posted by klowy at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
Rhapsody in Green at Sunset on Pier 9 (Fundraiser)
From the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund:
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THE CONDOS FROM THEIR PRECEDENT-SETTING TAKEOVER
OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK!
Please come to our fundraising party
Rhapsody in Green at Sunset on Pier 9
Wednesday, May 31st - 6 to 9 PM
On Pier 9 in Brooklyn (free shuttle bus at the end of Atlantic Ave will take you out to the Pier, or drive into the Red Hook Terminal entrance at the end of Hamilton Avenue.)
Organic Wine Tasting, Wonderful Edibles, Auction, Music, Dancing at Sunset
RSVP 718.797.9830
$50 donation per person
If you can not come but would like to make a much needed donation to stop the housing in the park, please send a check to:
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Defense Fund
12 Willow Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Posted by klowy at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2006
Perry Pulls Out in Brooklyn
That's the actual headline on the NY Times blog site
Perry Pulls Out in Brooklyn
The field of candidates to succeed Representative Major Owens of Brooklyn narrowed today: Assemblyman N. Nick Perry told The Empire Zone that he was withdrawing from that race and running instead for re-election...
Maybe it's just me and my head is in the gutter, but great headline. I guess they're now competing with the NY Post.
Posted by klowy at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2006
Brooklyn Bridge Park - Daily News Coverage
Brooklyn Bridge Park building booed
Private use of public land
BY ELIZABETH HAYS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
(this is an edited version of the article)
Nearly 18 months after luxury condo towers were added to the upcoming Brooklyn Bridge Park, outraged advocates sued in a bid to stop the private development in a public park.
Charging that housing in the park would set a dangerous precedent, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Legal Defense Fund filed the lawsuit against state planners yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
"This is a scheme to help condo developers and give them public land for development," she charged.
The suit was endorsed by nine nearby community groups, including the Cobble Hill Association, the DUMBO Neighborhood Association and the Fort Greene Association.
The suit is the latest salvo in the ongoing struggle over the park, which community leaders began pushing for two decades ago.
One building at 360 Furman St. - now dubbed "One Brooklyn Bridge Park" - has already started marketing its luxury lofts.
"I deeply believe we have been railroaded into something that we shouldn't be railroaded into, and I hope we can stop it or change it," said Bronson Binger, a former City Parks Department assistant commissioner who has joined the opposition group.
Marianna Koval, co-executive director of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, which supports the current plan, called the plaintiffs "a few irresponsible people who are attempting to manipulate our legal system to prevent or delay this park."
Opponents said the nine groups combined represent 40,000 people.
Originally published on May 17, 2006
read the complete article here
Posted by klowy at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)