Looking for a Return on $275 Million in DoBro
Downtown Brooklyn ranks third on Mayor Bloomberg’s list of economic development priorities, after Downtown Manhattan and the Lower East Side. To back it up, the administration committed $275 million and hired Joe Chan to head the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP). The DBP is supposed to be an umbrella for the Downtown Brooklyn Council, the BAM…
Downtown Brooklyn ranks third on Mayor Bloomberg’s list of economic development priorities, after Downtown Manhattan and the Lower East Side. To back it up, the administration committed $275 million and hired Joe Chan to head the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP). The DBP is supposed to be an umbrella for the Downtown Brooklyn Council, the BAM Development Corporation, the Metrotech BID, and the Fulton Street Mall Improvement Association. And despite the fact that DBP is a non-profit, its aim is to “advance development, get things built, and encourage investment.” In a speech to the Fort Greene Association last week, Chan hit on some of the group’s main initiatives, including the beautification and development of Flatbush Avenue leading up to the Manhattan Bridge. Other possible projects include Willoughby Square Park, the Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza at Adams Street and the extension of the green median on Boerum Place down to Atlantic Avenue. One down note was the fact that the demand for commercial space in Downtown Brooklyn has been weaker than expected. Another interesting thing to come out of the FGA meeting was Hakeem Jeffries apparently growing caution, if not outright opposition, to the Atlantic Yards project. Did any readers attend the meeting? We’d love to hear your impressions of both Chan and Jeffries.
What’s in Store for Fort Greene? [Greenpoint Star]
Photo by Wiebke
Joe Chan is great — no doubt that he will show great leadership and oversight.
I lived on Bridge between Fulton and Willoughby for almost 7 years (moved to CH a year and a half ago). The best thing about it was access to all the subway lines–I was literally steps from the 2/3, 4/5, N/R and A/C. Almost all the residential buildings around there are owned by the five mysterious La Boz brothers, who are also leaders of the Fulton BID. One of the best things about our new neighborhood is no chicken wing bones all over the sidewalks–I would have to fish these out of my dog’s mouth constantly!
Rumor has it they really think that what this city needs is more density of residents in downtown brooklyn. This is insanity. Yes, it does have a lot of subway lines, but hello! the subway platforms and the subways themselves will not hold multiple tens of thousands of riders during peak periods. What are they thinking. Not to mention problems with lack of school seats, parklands, police and fire officers. And let’s talk about everybody’s favorite topic: sewage. Hey, did you know that nyc is so old that we only have 1 sewage system. Most newer cities have 2: one for waste and the other for water runoff. So guess what happens when there is excessive rain water…well, let’s just say we all contribute to the gowanus canal’s pollution collectively. Ahhh, but what about the projected new ritzy development in the planning stages on the banks of said polluted canal. and the very glamorous location of the very expensive whole foods? oh, those pesky details. i’m sure the smart people at dcp will sort it all out. or not and we will all be left to rot together!
12:21, the picture is of the Flatbush Avenue Extension between Tillary Street and Concord Street. not exactly an appropriate shot, since the streetscape improvements are only between Tillary and Hanson Palce
which stretch of DoBro is this? It sure as hell looks blighted. Even the grass/weeds look like they’re struggling (:].
Don’t recognize it.
atleast brooklyn is finally getting some attention from manhattan centric city! even though we are the most populous city of all the boroughs.