Brooklyn Bridge Park: Your Input, Please
Hot on the heels of news that progress on Brooklyn Bridge Park hasn’t exactly been moving quickly comes an email from the park’s conservancy about welcoming public input for the $150 million park’s future uses and programming. The conservancy is holding a meeting next Monday aimed at soliciting recommendations for the types of facilities, infrastructure…
Hot on the heels of news that progress on Brooklyn Bridge Park hasn’t exactly been moving quickly comes an email from the park’s conservancy about welcoming public input for the $150 million park’s future uses and programming. The conservancy is holding a meeting next Monday aimed at soliciting recommendations for the types of facilities, infrastructure and events the park should have, which it says is part of a year-long effort to develop a strategic plan for the site. “Brooklyn Bridge Park will be a regional park,” says BBP conservancy prez Marianna Koval, “not simply a spectacular front yard to the adjoining neighborhoods. How do we learn lessons from other urban parks and create a welcoming, active space with broad appeal, but also allow for passive enjoyment? It will no doubt be about balance.” No doubt. Suggestions for Koval and co.? The meeting will take place at Congregation Mt. Sinai at 250 Cadman Plaza West starting at 6:30 p.m.
Has Brooklyn Bridge Park Stalled Out? [Curbed]
Public Meeting on Programming in BBP [BBP Conservancy]
This is a great building and will bring a lot to this desolate area. Why would anyone not want to have more residents in this area that can only bring more restaurants, grocery stores, and other things that make an area safe and a nice place to live?
For the record, they are planning over 1250 residential units in this “park”. 360 Furman is just one of 6 new residential buildings and the only one that existed on this land (but grew bigger to accomodate even more condos). the other buildings are all new, will be between 8 and 30 stories high – blocking the shoreline forever. It is irrational, this planning. Of course we want and need parks – duh – no one is against that goal. Parks should be built by park people and should not have private housing in them. Period. All else – culture and recreation that goes on inside of them – is gravy. Let’s not sell out public lands to the lowest/most venal bidders (private developers). Please, let’s just get a park and not another luxe condo city.
For the record, they are planning over 1250 residential units in this “park”. 360 Furman is just one of 6 new residential buildings and the only one that existed on this land (but grew bigger to accomodate even more condos). the other buildings are all new, will be between 8 and 30 stories high – blocking the shoreline forever. It is irrational, this planning. Of course we want and need parks – duh – no one is against that goal. Parks should be built by park people and should not have private housing in them. Period. All else – culture and recreation that goes on inside of them – is gravy. Let’s not sell out public lands to the lowest/most venal bidders (private developers). Please, let’s just get a park and not another luxe condo city.
Let’s get off the subject of 360 Furman. I think that discussion is intended to avoid the real subject of what to do with the PUBLIC land on the waterfront. And that is something that was discussed publicly and the only concerns taken in to account were those of the Brooklyn Heights Association at the time. I know this is true. I spoke out at other public forums when they were planning this parkland and looked at models at the Cobble HIll house tour and shockingly agreed with good ole Rev. Al for once in my life when he said that kids need outdoor ball fields in this park somewhere (not necessarily on Pier 5) at the time he was aiming for the parkland around DUMBO or Vinegar Hill I believe. So what the heck is going on now? Why are these people who didn’t listen the first time asking the public again what they want? What has changed? I just cant imagine that they actually need or want public input this far along in the process?
What is your point? They are converting an EXISTING building to condos which will in turn help finance a PUBLIC park that is taking the place of a rundown industrial area. How could you possibly complain about that? Would you rather pay additional taxes for it? I hate people who complain just to complain. This is a great thing they are trying to do. If a few developers get rich in the process then good for them, all you should be concerned with is a new waterfront park that will be accessible to anyone.
I have no idea how the One Brooklyn development will end up fairing, but the last I read they had around 125 units taken. Is that correct? That doesnt sound too bad to me at the prices they are getting. Why are you so bitter about this development and future parkland?
The proof that this is a real estate deal is 1. In 360 Furman St’s marketing (I refuse to call it by that made-up name), in which they will say anything and everything about that space in order to entice buyers — hotels with casinos, etc. (as if the BHA would EVER allow such a thing) — I know people who’ve bought there after drinking that Kool-Aid, and
2. the fact that it’s all to be paid for using a PILOT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) program, similar to Battery Park City, only it’s the 360 Furman owners who are to make the payments here.
My prediction? 360 Furman will fail (already it’s not selling nearly as well as they’d hoped) and plans for a park will be abandoned. That’s all fine with me.
oh 12:23, why are you trying to make sense?
of course, people complain when someone takes a total shit hole and makes something nice out of it.
Oh, good god, get over yourself. Its not like they are tearing down a row of townhouses to build this. They are trying to turn a virtually unused industrial play ground into a beautiful park. If 2 or 3 developments need to be included to help finance the project and keep this PUBLIC park going, then so be it. The rape of Brooklyn? That is perhaps the most retarded statement I have heard in a long time.
It’s not a park. It’s a site for real estate developers who make deals with the city and the state through the ill-named Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. And Atlantic Yards is the same gang at a different location. It’s not progress, it’s the rape of Brooklyn.