Latest BBP Brouhaha: A Supermarket in the Park
The most recent controversy over Brooklyn Bridge Park has to do with plans to put a grocery store in the base of the public-private development’s anchoring condo, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to an article in this week’s Brooklyn Paper. Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says it’s “not the most…
The most recent controversy over Brooklyn Bridge Park has to do with plans to put a grocery store in the base of the public-private development’s anchoring condo, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to an article in this week’s Brooklyn Paper. Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says it’s “not the most complimentary business for the park,” while Ken Baer, chair of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club, argues that “all the land within the park should be devoted to recreational space.” One Brooklyn Bridge Park’s developer says he wants to put a (what else?) high-end market into the building as well as two restaurants and smaller shops. The taxes collected from the condo’s retail would help cover the park’s maintenance costs. Do you like the idea of a high-end market here?
Supermarket Could Come to ‘Park’ [Brooklyn Paper] GMAP
Amidst Lingering Controversy, BBP Construction to Begin [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting: The Morning After [Brownstoner]
I think we are losing the fact that this was supposed to be a PARK, not a residential development. Do we want our public parks to include big box stores or even little ones? Would Central Park or Prospect Park be better off if it had a Costco inside it? Or perhaps an Armani outlet? Let’s get back to the fact that this was supposed to be a park, with a pool, ice rink and year round field house. And private housing inside of parks is simply a bad idea. Let’s not give our public lands away to the lowest real estate bidder. Let’s build a park with recreational features, a few restaurants, and lots of bridges into it, all along its length – so all people can come to be close to the water, appreciate our great bridge and have some fun. Let’s pay for it with philanthropy (like the Central Park Conservancy does) plus money from concessions (food and drink), parking fees, the hotel, Empire Stores and, oh, our tax dollars! Tax the residents who live nearby, too, if you don’t want the city or state to support parks any longer, but let’s get back to PARK!
Gman et al, I know that the BBP Dev Corp is not the final “determiner” of transportation issues like Joralemon St. Nonetheless, when the BBPDC head says something. it should have some credence. Experience shows that is not the case. We’ll see how Regina Meyer does. My pointwas more that Joralemon St residents (neither gaseoues nor penniless, as a general rule) did not come up with the idea in a sudden fit of xenophobia. At a CB2 Transportation mtg this fall, Chris Hrones of the DOT said they would consider closing the street when the park is complete (2012, I believe he said) or at an earlier appropriate time. The DOT can certainly be in the wrong. Area residents have an uphill battle on this downhill street.
Gman et al, I know that the BBP Dev Corp is not the final “determiner” of transportation issues like Joralemon St. Nonetheless, when the BBPDC head says something. it should have some credence. Experience shows that is not the case. We’ll see how Regina Meyer does. My pointwas more that Joralemon St residents (neither gaseoues nor penniless, as a general rule) did not come up with the idea in a sudden fit of xenophobia. At a CB2 Transportation mtg this fall, Chris Hrones of the DOT said they would consider closing the street when the park is complete (2012, I believe he said) or at an earlier appropriate time. The DOT can certainly be in the wrong. Area residents have an uphill battle on this downhill street.
Once again, if you can’t afford your rent then move to an apartment that you can. God damn, not too difficult.
bklyn20, the BBPDC and its consultants don’t make the decision about whether or not traffic will be limited on Joralemon Street; DOT does. And the last time I asked, which was before the new commissioner came on the job, the agency opposed the idea. Check the General Project Plan; all it says is that BBPDC will request that traffic be limited on the street.
In addition, bait and switch is more like it. Hear good things now until shit happens.
Truth be told, the BH Assoc and the developers like 1BBP are not concerned about the rent stabilized dwellers. For all they care, you can screw yourselves. In short, it’s about their well being and bottom $$$ line. To each his own heretofore.
12:55. Please cite your sources. Is it true that 10K out of 25K in Brooklyn Heights are Rent Stabilized / Rent Controlled? That seems exaggerated.
I don’t know that anything is being rerouted except for the possibility of a 2-way Furman and the hope of closing off Joralemon at Furman. Joralemon was to be closed just for the park’ expected traffic — the 500+ people in 1 BBP, not to mention the 700 or so people in the other 2 buildings near Atlantic Ave, are just more reason to consider the impact of the park and its residents on the surrounding neighborhoods. A great park, rather than a luxury housing development with a little green around the edges, would be worth it.. 1BBP isn’t going anywhere, but the rest of the housing? The costs in many parts of the plan are so inflated that they may not be necessary. And the marina they didn’t mention at the latest “public meeting?” It gives no revenue to the park and will be run by a private operator. Why not a permanent floating pool? Whatever we get in the end, Joralemon should be closed at Furman. Other entrances and access points are necessary.. I just pray we actually get a park when all is said and done.