What had been billed as an opportunity to solicit public input about the future of Brooklyn Bridge Park last night became a chance for area residents and other stakeholders to vent their frustration at the lack of progress and communication over the past couple of years. The Empire State Development Corp’s newly appointed head of the park project, longtime Brooklyn City Planning head Regina Myer (right), got an earful on her the public appearance in her new role. We have not been included. We certainly have a stake, David Walentas, the biggest property owner in the area, said. A bigger stake than anyone. And, of course, the contentious issue of allowing the construction of more than 1,200 condo units within the park to help fund its development reared its head: Judi Francis, of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund (which has sued the ESDC over the issue), charged that the skating rink and swimming pools that the public wanted had been axed from the plan to make the park more of a “lawn” for the condos. The landscape designer for the project also weighed in, emphasizing that the park would have a more water-focused orientation than most. We’re not just walking, strolling, promenading. We’re actively in the water, getting wet, said Matt Urbanski of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. We got the message from the community: This is a waterfront park. Did any readers attend? We were busy celebrating our—ouch!—38th birthday.
Angry Residents Blast BBP Planning [Metro]
Park Stalled, New Leader May Spur Building [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Gets New President [Brooklyn Eagle]
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Your Input, Please [Brownstoner]