Closing Bell: Park Slope Doesn't Like Methodist's Building Plans

Last night the Brooklyn Paper attended the public meeting where Methodist Hospital presented its plans to demolish 16 Slope buildings (including five brownstones) and replace them with an outpatient facility. An overhead view of the u-shaped building proposed is rendered at right. Not surprisingly, Park Slope residents aren’t thrilled with the plans. According to Brooklyn Paper, “Neighbors said that the giant structure will dramatically change the makeup of the area by bringing traffic, idling cars and trucks, and construction noise, with some suggesting that the hospital scrap its plans.” Reps from Methodist promised the building would blend in well with the surrounding neighborhood. They expect to present a final design by September, and are accepting comments and questions via email at build@nym.org. Construction’s expected to begin late 2014 or early 2015 with the work lasting three years. The complex, which will hold a surgery center, a green roof, and parking, is designed as if it were made of separate buildings, and it will range in different heights. They hospital will likely seek a variance from the city to build a broad facility, rather than a taller, thinner one. Under current zoning, they can build up to 300,000 square feet at the site. Some residents suggested that the hospital build while maintaining the exterior of current buildings (building consultants deemed it unpractical), others pushed for the hospital to build as-of-right, where the bulk of the building would go on 6th Street. We’ll see what Methodist decides come fall…
It Don’t Fit: Residents blast Methodist building plan [Brooklyn Paper]
Photo by Elizabeth Graham via BK Paper