Hearing re Alternatives to Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Our neighborhood is growing, there are more young families every year and there is enormous demand for recreational space for all ages and in all seasons.

The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood looks forward to the completion of the park, which will become a cherished amenity.

We appreciate the challenges in getting the park built and maintaining it going forward. However, we fear that fundamental principles are being compromised by the proposal to locate private housing in the park in order to generate income for maintenance.

We oppose the development of housing and hotels in the park. We feel that the park should contain only such uses as can be utilized by all visitors. Our communities need recreation and relaxation space - the Brooklyn Bridge Park is a unique opportunity and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to identify sources of revenue that will sustain the park's ongoing operations as an alternative to the proposed housing.

Please come to the hearing tomorrow night and express opposition to housing and support for recreation in Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street Avram Conference Center, 1st floor

Public Hearing Re Developer Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park

One of the hottest debates around concerns the dedication of land within Brooklyn Bridge Park to private development for housing and other uses in order to generate money to maintain the park.  In response to sustained opposition to such development, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. has created a Committee on Alternatives to Housing to address the matter.

There are two meetings coming up at which the public can express their opinions and offer alternatives:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street Avram Conference Center, 1st floor

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street,
Founders Hall Auditorium, 1st floor

We encourage everyone in the Columbia Waterfront to weigh in on this crucial issue. The eventual outcome of this effort will influence the future of our waterfront for decades.  Let's make sure the BBPC does what is best for the city and the community of park users, and not what is expedient for financial reasons and to satisfy narrow interests.

For background, see some of the information here.

BQE Enhancement Study Final Presentation

Please have a look at the final presentation for the BQE Enhancement Study at the EDC's website here.

Workshop 3 (the final presentation) is available as a downloadable PDF file - it includes a brief background of the project, conclusions, proposals which build one upon the other, and cost estimates.  The presentation is thorough and clear, and the cost estimates are presented in a very graphic manner which makes them very easy to absorb.

After reviewing the material, take the survey.  The more feedback, the better.  Next steps will be to find a way of making one of these plans a reality.