Park Service: St. Ann's OK for Tobacco Warehouse
Yesterday Gothamist reported that the National Park Service has given the nod to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation to transfer Dumbo’s Tobacco Warehouse to arts group St. Ann’s Warehouse. (The organization’s preliminary plans are shown above.) The Brooklyn Heights Association, along with other civic orgs, filed two lawsuits over the transfer last month, essentially saying…
Yesterday Gothamist reported that the National Park Service has given the nod to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation to transfer Dumbo’s Tobacco Warehouse to arts group St. Ann’s Warehouse. (The organization’s preliminary plans are shown above.) The Brooklyn Heights Association, along with other civic orgs, filed two lawsuits over the transfer last month, essentially saying the handover of the public park space was unfair; Gothamist notes that the Brooklyn Heights Association says it will continue its legal battle, while the Eagle reports that “the courts will eventually have to render a decision regarding dismissal of the suits.” Meanwhile, The Post fleshes out the story with information on St. Ann’s vision for the site, which it hopes to occupy by 2013: “St. Ann’s proposal includes two performance spaces, including a 10,000-square-foot theater to accommodate 300-700 people and a 2,100-square-foot flexible space that could accommodate an audience of 125. The 7,600-square-foot triangular section of the warehouse will be left open-air and is envisioned as a walled public garden with café tables and chairs. The remainder of the site will include a lobby, public restrooms and performance-support space.” The organization is in need of a new home because it will be displaced by Two Trees’ Dock Street development, according to the paper.
St. Ann’s Warehouse Gets Green Light on Tobacco Warehouse [Gothamist]
Feds: Plans for Tobacco Warehouse Can Proceed [Eagle]
Feds Greenlight Dumbo Arts Group’s Plan [NY Post]
DOJ Weighs in on Tobacco Warehouse Feud [Brownstoner]
Two Lawsuits Over the Tobacco Warehouse [Brownstoner]
St. Ann’s Gets the Go Ahead for Warehouse [Brownstoner]
Tobacco Warehouse Renderings Revealed [Brownstoner]
Wish someone would get the one indisputable fact right– the Tobacco Warehouse, the Empire Stores and the adjoining park land are all part of the Fulton Ferry Historic District and NOT DUMBO.
I actually agree with fsrq. But even more to the point Minard, Look at the plan. about 1/3 of the footprint will be left open to the sky and used as an outdoor walled triangle garden that is open to the public and with a small concession in it. Even if you are not buying a ticket and going to a show, you will still be able to enjoy this part of the Tobacco Warehouse, sit down and have a cup of coffee, read a book and enjoy the view. All of this talk about “carving it out of the park and giving it to a private developer” is a misstatement of the facts by the Brooklyn Heights Association and does not represent what this will feel like when it is built. And you are falling for their spin.
Wow Minard very persuasive and educational response. Can I assume it reflects on how well thought out and grounded your position is?
fsrq, I agree with you, you don’t know anything about this issue.
I dont know anything about this controversy but let me say that just because you (Minard Lafever) are “unlikely” to go to an event there or that you have to pay for a ticket; doesnt make its use non-public or somehow inappropriate. I am unlikely to go to Jazz at Lincoln Center but NYC and NYS provide plenty of funding for it and Lincoln Center (and thats ok) – I am unlikely to ride the Prospect Park Carousel but the City (and ticket sales) fund that. I dont visit alot of public venues (that charge admission) but it doesnt mean they are not public.
chris I agree that the judge will decids whether due process was followed when the Park Service decided to carve the warehouse out of the park and give it to a private developer. As far as I know, and I do not have all the facts, that decision was made in private, behind closed doors, with NO PROCESS. Not even the BBPC knew about it until after the fact. I think that stinks to high heaven.
Minard, ancient history and way more complicated story in Heights than you might think. They have been sharing the Warehouse for years and part of the deal for new space is sharing. Judge already dismissed a number of items and the rest will be too. Judge doesn’t decide on St. Anns, just on process.
I think it would be nice if it were left the way it is, with maybe greenery inside it with benches, kind of like a tranquil zen feel to it, maybe a fountain…..
maybe a stone pathway…. I too, like the arches framing the view….
“The space will NOT be converted to a private theater. St. Anns has shared their space with many other uses and will continue to do so. That is one reason why they got this space.”
-really?
I thought they are somewhat known to be not good at sharing. Even the Episcopal bishop got fed up and ended up throwing them out of their namesake church space.
Anyway, as I said, this will be decided by a judge. I see no other settlement.