Pols Highlight Brooklyn Bridge Park's Money Probs
More grim news on the Brooklyn Bridge Park front: Money shortages are likely to delay the completion of the park. In a joint statement released yesterday, all the politicians representing this stretch of the Brooklyn waterfront (Markowitz, Velazquez, Millman, De Blasio and Yassky) struck an ominous chord in anticipation of tomorrow night’s public meeting to…
More grim news on the Brooklyn Bridge Park front: Money shortages are likely to delay the completion of the park. In a joint statement released yesterday, all the politicians representing this stretch of the Brooklyn waterfront (Markowitz, Velazquez, Millman, De Blasio and Yassky) struck an ominous chord in anticipation of tomorrow night’s public meeting to disclose the financial status of the project: The private development that was to fund much of the park is on hold indefinitely and (though the first phase is expected to proceed as planned), they said, No other public source for maintenance and operations expenses is available, and in these tough economic times, we do not believe these funds will come from government sources. The current estimate for the park’s construction is $346 million, says the post, but only $231 million has ben budgeted. In addition to the development shortfall, the park is estimated to cost $16.1 million a year to maintain, a per-acre cost second only to Manhattan’s Bryant Park. In light of the new challenges facing the park, the officials called for the reconstitution of the Community Advisory Council. The public meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Dibner Auditorium, NYU-Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center. Full press release on the jump.
Is Most of BBP Being Put to Sleep for Now? [Curbed]
$16M a Year for Planned B’klyn Park [NY Post]
Photo by runtoline
JOINT STATEMENT ON BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK FROM CONGRESSWOMAN
VELÃZQUEZ, BP MARKOWITZ, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MILLMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS
DE BLASIO AND YASSKY
On Monday, January 26, the elected officials who represent the Brooklyn Waterfront met with Regina Myer, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Development Corporation, representatives from the Empire State Development Corporation and NYC Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe regarding the public release on Thursday, January 29, of the current financial status for Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman, and Council Members Bill de Blasio and David Yassky issued the following statement:
The first phase of construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a partnership between the City and State, is officially underway. The first phase includes Pier 1 and portions of Pier 6 and is expected to be open to the public by the end of the year. This will bring our long awaited dream of Brooklyn Bridge Park to fruition. Our commitment to this park is in response to longstanding public support and a desire for parkland and waterfront access at this site.
The 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between City and State established the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC) as a partnership between the City and State of New York. It created a unique framework to develop and maintain the park, and requires the park to be financially self- sustaining. There was strong public participation in the development of this framework and park design, and we know this participation will continue with the future operations and programming of the park. That is why we are calling for the reconstitution of the Community Advisory Council as soon as possible to ensure public participation.
After a long public planning process, it was determined that maintenance and operation costs would be covered by revenues generated from a limited number of development sites. After extensive analysis, BBPDC determined that residential and hotel development would be the most appropriate way to provide the necessary revenue using the least amount of the project’s land. No other public source for maintenance and operations expenses is available, and in these tough economic times, we do not believe these funds will come from government sources.
Of equal importance is the public’s ability to depend on government to protect our open space resources. But we first asked that the open space be created, and that is exactly what the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation is doing. We ask that the City created are protected in perpetuity.
Lastly, we would like to commend the BBPDC and Regina Myer for their hard work and transparency in opening the books to the public. We also encourage everyone to attend the public meeting on Thursday, January 29, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Dibner Auditorium, NYU-Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center.
CONTACTS:
Mark Zustovich, Brooklyn BP, 718-802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
Paul Nelson, Assemblymember Millman’s Office, 718-246-4889; nelsonp@assembly.state.ny.us
thanks mmhtph and smeyer418- I stand corrected and blushing 🙂
Regina Myers is not related to me, but she has only been there for a little more than a year. Under her tenure the sheds have been removed and the contracts let to actually begin doing the piers and a park actually opening. The regime that was there before can be best described as incompetent. They did waste a lot of money. The problems at the Empire Stores go back to this failed regime. They did let a contract to a developer unfortunately in that case it wasn’t Two Trees who had bid for it but lost to that developer who did absolutely nothing on the site. The roof has been replaced but there are still problems( I hear). That first developer has defaulted(?) and the rights have reverted to the park. That part of the park is still exclusively controlled by states park department(you ever wonder why there are different rules for the city part and the sate part its because they are owned and controlled by different entities)…
The Pop up park that was done brought in a lot of people. This park WILL be greatly used when it opens….which it will eventually be. The problem with the cost of the park is that it has a lot of piers that need to be maintained and maintaining piers and bulkheads are notoriously expensive.
As for the finances 1BPP is paying a lot of money…its full payment in lieu of real estate taxes(PILOTs)….because its J51 hasn’t been granted as soon as it is the amount it pays will be exactly the same as it would as real estate taxes to the city. You can find out exactly how much by going to the meeting on Thursday.
Sam – Agreed, that SOMEONE on this thread has been exposed as a patronizing prick. I’m gonna go with the guy who suggested an 85 acre parking lot so that his car can have a nice view of the statue of liberty.
The $28 per person per swim is what it cost the city and the state for every single person who swam there. It cost the swimmers absolutely nothing. The City parks department runs numerous pools and the cost per swim at those pools is much much less(some of which has to do with they are permanent installations and they didn’t have the start up costs). The Floating Pool itself was donated by a foundation but all the pier work all the land side work, the water, the lifeguards, the security etc was what cost the NY Parks Department $28 per swimmer for the time the floating pool was at Brooklyn Bridge park. I also don’t think it included the $5000 fine that the State DEC gave the Brooklyn Bridge park because of the pool(long story by the way)….
How much went into Van Valkenburg’s pocket, for his fanciful crayon drawings of kayaking areas, wave attenuators and model car track pavilions? Enough to be living at One Pierrepont. Not a bad gig.
I’d like to find out where the money went. 100 million spent thus far? I’ve been hearing about the park since I was in high school, and I’d like for it to be built before my kid is in high school. But I’d rather see playing fields and tennis and basketball courts than the pretentious bubble-era plan.
P Heights.
Thank you very much
You have exposed yourself as patronizing prick you are.
A public heaing! Oh goodie, that’s what we have been waiting for!
You can lie to the gullible, but not to me.
Ringo – From what I understand, the answer to all of those questions will be revealed at a public presentation tomorrow night, 6PM at Dibner Hall in metrotech. You should go and check it out. I will be there as well, and I imagine it will be reported about on Brownstoner on Friday morning.
Sam – you OK? Sounds like all those postings by people who prefer park to parking have got you a little bit unhinged and spouting conspiracy theories. Calm down little buddy.
The 16 million is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think the total of funds spent to date top a hundred million.
Nancy, would you care to comment on that?
What has the public received from the hundred-plus million tax dollars spent on the waterfront between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street?
And a follow-up:
How much went into the pockets of the longshoremen’s union?
Make My —
You seem to know a lot about this. Can you tell me how much money 1BBP is contributing? The numbers I’ve heard are obscenely low. I know they count the empire state park as part of BBP — is that being funded by the new construction? I hear that 4 vs 77 number a lot but I think it’s misleading. How many acres of development are supposed to support how many acres of park (not counting water)? Any idea?
I get the model car racing, cricket pitches, etc from maps and plans provided to me from the BBP Conservancy at various events (events to sell the park, which I support). It’s online:
http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/index.cfm?objectid=B2EF7B23-FF00-454A-64CFC072671C1627&navid=EE3D25A4-3048-7098-AFFFCF51D62FC0BF