Rally Today to Save Cobble Hill's Engine 204
We know it’s last-minute notice, but we just found out this morning that Bill de Blasio is going to be leading a rally on the steps of City Hall at 12:30 today to try to save the old Engine 204 building at 299 Degraw Street in Cobble Hill. Shuttered by the City in 2003, the…
We know it’s last-minute notice, but we just found out this morning that Bill de Blasio is going to be leading a rally on the steps of City Hall at 12:30 today to try to save the old Engine 204 building at 299 Degraw Street in Cobble Hill. Shuttered by the City in 2003, the 1855 building has been sitting unused for the past four years. At 1 p.m., a City Council subcomittee will be meeting to decide whether to follow through on the initial plan to sell the building. In addition to advocating that the building remain in city hands and be used for a public use like a preschool, the de Blasio camp is encouraging people to write to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in favor of protecting the structure from future alteration or destruction. Update: The City Council just agreed NOT to sell the building and instead will lease it for some community purpose. Entire press release on the jump.
City Hall Protest Today [Save Engine 204] GMAP
The End of an Era [SouthBrooklyn.net]
City to Sell Firehouses [Brownstoner]
Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark
COUNCILMEMBERS DE BLASIO AND YASSKY ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO STOP THE SALE OF ENGINE 204
City Hall—Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and David Yassky along with Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, announced today that they have struck an agreement with the administration that Engine 204 will not be sold. The City has agreed to a 10-year lease which includes two five year extensions. Local leaders have been urging the City for months not to sell Engine 204, one of the city’s oldest firehouses.
Community activists and leaders joined Amina Rachman, special Assistant to UFT President Randi Weingarten, in calling on the City to lease Engine 204 to the Department of Education [DOE]. If leased to DOE, Engine 204 in Carroll Gardens could be used for a pre-K or Public School Annex.
“Converting this closed firehouse into a pre-k annex is not only a wonderful use of an empty, city-owned building, but is a good thing for our future. We all recognize the importance of early childhood education and understand that, if coupled with smaller class sizes, quality teachers and best instructional practices, it will, in the long run, lead to higher student achievement and an improved graduation rate,” said UFT President Randi Weingarten.
“I am pleased that we were able to come to an agreement with the administration to stop the sale of Engine 204,” said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. “As Brooklyn becomes increasingly popular, it is crucial that we have adequate space for educational programs, which is why I think the entire community will benefit if Engine 204 is leased to the DOE.”
“I think that it is wonderful that Engine 204 will remain in city ownership, and that the community will use the space in the next few years. I am grateful for the productive discussions between the community and the administration that lead to this result,” said Councilmember David Yassky.
The Land Use Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions & Concessions will hold a hearing today about Engine 204 at City Hall. On Thursday, the Land Use Committee will send the disposition back to the City Planning Commission recommending that Engine 204 be leased.
“Bravo to Councilmembers De Blasio and Yassky for helping to sound the alarm, and bravo to the City for recognizing the enormous, ongoing civic potential of Engine 204, said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “This is a real win for the communities of Brooklyn.”
“I want to thank the Mayor for thinking about the long term safety of the residents in Cobble Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Assemblywoman Millman. “I firmly believe that a community use, especially one that benefits the many young families in the neighborhood, would be an excellent place holder while we determine the future for the firehouse. I look forward to working with the Mayor’s office and the City Council to achieve this goal.”
Engine 204 was shut down May 25th, 2003 due to budget cuts. Engine Company 204 was first organized as Engine 4 of The Brooklyn Fire Department in 1869. It was later reorganized to Engine 204 in 1913.
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So many inane comments. You people have too much time on your hands.
Everyone who reads this blog regularly knows that the real Brower Park wouldn’t tear down a 19th century outhouse, if given the chance. This one posting at 1:48, 4:04, and 6:09 obviously is not the real one.
can’t the building just be landmarked, separate from ulurp or any proposed sale? and why would the property be sold for only a dollar?
That is not the way the commissioner works. The ULURP is on a serperate clock and is unrelated.
But this POS will live to fight another day…who would have thought…
Well on thing I know for sure, Brower Park didn’t write the above comment.
For anyone who doesn’t understand how the FDNY responds to fires, it own’t mean anything. But if you do understnad the system, you will know that especially in these historic neighborhoods, every firehouse is needed. Noto nly did 204 have its first due response area, but it wa often detailed out sometimes even to Staten Island.nFire companies know their neighborhoods like the back of their hands- that means they know which house has a disabled person living in a 4th floor walk up, which house has narrow stairs and which family has a Collyer tenant. they know the streets and the fastest way to get to a fire. They provide a safe place for kids when needed. 204 wa my second due- they were a great company, sorely missed and still badly needed. Closing them down left a mile wide circular gap in the area between firehouses. With the narrow streets and one way traffic, the BQE, all the new construction the response times are considerably slower than before. And don’t get me started on the effects of closing a firehouse on the community. You can check out the battle to keep 204 open on nofirecuts.com. hasn’t been updated in some time, but the history and issues of firehouse closings are still there.
I think they should tear this POS down. It is old and has outlived its usefulness.
can’t the building just be landmarked, separate from ulurp or any proposed sale? and why would the property be sold for only a dollar?
The property would be sold for a dollar so you could not use the funds for education and there cannot be a restriction in the ULURP to have the building land marked.
With Atlantic Yards, Gowanus rezoning and the population boom in the city we do not feel it a good idea to sell the building. 204 could be used by FDNY if they need it.
What’s wrong with selling it?? We need the firehouse in CG!!! With the population in CG and CH exploding like July 4 fireworks, we need that fire company there.
it should be a lot more cost effective to use the profits from the sale to subsidize preschool costs for needy kids instead of trying to retrofit this building