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Cobble Hillers – New Park Plan Stinks!

By Homer Fink on August 3, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park

The new plan announced yesterday to fund Brooklyn Bridge Park is not sitting well with some Cobble Hillers according to a report in today’s Wall Street Journal:

WSJ: ”It’s a bad deal for the park,” said Judi Francis of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund. “The community leaders are up in arms.”

Ms. Francis said her group is considering taking legal action.

Roy Sloane of the Cobble Hill Association said he has worked to for 20 years to help open the park. “I can’t tell you how upset I am to see it turned into a housing development.”

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Update on Park Deal

By Claude Scales on August 2, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Government, News

More information is now available on the deal on Brooklyn Bridge Park funding announced yesterday. Under the agreement, the city will proceed with funding park construction and development of recreational facilities which, according to a press release from State Senator Daniel Squadron, will include “a temporary pool for at least the next five summers, a Pier 5 recreational ‘bubble’ that will make the park usable in the winter, an ice skating rink, two tennis courts, and 2,200 feet of community space.” Also, we note that because no request for proposals may be issued for housing at Pier 6 before January 1, 2014, no such request can be issued by the Bloomberg administration, as he will be out of office by that date. Whoever succeeds him as Mayor may not have the same commitment to the idea of funding park operations and maintenance with housing.

Along with Senator Squadron, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and City Council Members Stephen Levin and Brad Lander have agreed to the deal.

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City Announces Plan That May Reduce Scale of Park Housing

By Claude Scales on August 1, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, Government, News

Mayor Bloomberg announced this evening that city and state officials plan to sign an agreement tomorrow concerning the funding of Brooklyn Bridge Park that may result in smaller scale housing being built on park land, and may even eliminate the need for the two planned new buildings near the foot of Pier 6.

The New York Times: After months of uncertainty over the fate of the popular Brooklyn Bridge Park, city and state officials plan to sign an agreement on Tuesday that would allow limited private housing to be built there, to help pay an expected annual operating cost of $16 million.

The agreement ensures that the park, which now measures 20 acres, will be completed, eventually expanding to 85 acres on five disused piers along the East River. Continue Reading →

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Learn Volleyball for Free at Pier 6

By Claude Scales on July 26, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Admit it. Part of you has always wanted to be one of those sun-bronzed, bleached-haired California (What’s the difference between Californians and Swedes? Swedes speak better English.) beach bums or bumettes. So, put on your Hollister tee, baggies, and flip-flops (you’ll be kicking them off when you get to the court) and head for the Pier 6 (foot of Atlantic Avenue) volleyball courts for some free instruction in beach volleyball. Continue Reading →

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Tug and Barge Week Starts at Pier 6

By Claude Scales on July 16, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Events, Maritime, Photos

The historic tug Pegasus and Lehigh Valley Barge 79 are berthed at Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park (foot of Atlantic Avenue), ready for the activities scheduled for this weekend and the following week. Information about “Tug and Barge Week” is here. More photos and text follow the jump. Continue Reading →

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Park Corporation Board Meeting Monday, July 18

By Claude Scales on July 11, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park

The board of directors of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation will meet on Monday, July 18, starting at approximately 1:30 p.m., at the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Heights branch, 280 Cadman Plaza West (at Tillary Street). The public is invited.

There is no agenda yet available for the meeting; we will publish it as soon as it is finalized. It may include action on the recommendations of the board’s Committee on Alternatives to Housing.

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CB6 Transportation Committee Endorses DOT Proposals for Pier 6 Access, but Urges Further Action

By Claude Scales on July 8, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Government, News, Transportation

Following a lengthy presentation by City Department of Transportation personnel of DOT’s proposals for improving access to Pier 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and an even lengthier question and answer session from an audience that filled Conference Room A at Long Island College Hospital, the Transportation Committee of Community Board 6 unanimously agreed to a resolution expressing support for DOT’s proposed changes, but added (by way of “friendly amendments”) recommendations that (1) as initially suggested by Brooklyn Heights Association Executive Director Judy Stanton, a light be installed to govern left turns off Atlantic Avenue onto the BQE access ramp; and (2) as suggested by Cobble Hill community activist Roy Sloane, that a light also be installed at Columbia and Congress streets and that truck traffic from Phoenix Beverage, the tenant at Pier 7, be redirected there instead of to the foot of Atlantic Avenue near the park entrance. The resolution also urged that DOT begin study and planning for a more comprehensive solution to the park access and safety issue, which could include a pedestrian “flyover” or tunnel. Continue Reading →

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DOT Proposes Safety Changes for Pier 6 Access; Meeting at LICH Thursday Evening

By Claude Scales on July 5, 2011 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Government, Transportation

City Council Member Brad Lander has released details of the City Department of Transportation’s proposals to improve safety and ease of access to Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park, from Atlantic Avenue and from Columbia Street. DOT’s proposals include: Continue Reading →

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