Legal Battle Over Tobacco Warehouse Continues

On Tuesday the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Brooklyn Heights Association, and the Fulton Ferry Landing Association filed an amended complaint in the Eastern District Court over the National Park Service’s decision to allow the “private use” of Dumbo’s Tobacco Warehouse and Empire Stores. (The Park Service gave the go-ahead for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation to transfer the warehouse to arts group St. Ann’s Warehouse a couple weeks ago.) The filing says the Park Service “ignored its own rules and procedures, buckled under improper political pressure, and misused this court proceeding to shield itself while conducting a sham review process that ultimately resulted in a clearly unlawful determination.” The amended complaint adds Kenneth Salazar, the Secretary for the Interior, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, as defendants. It also seeks to make the case, according to a press release, that “National Parks was on the verge of restoring the Tobacco Warehouse, located in the park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, to federal protection until City and State officials convinced them to reverse. Awkwardly, National Parks had already released a draft decision restoring the Tobacco Warehouse. Comparing the two conflicting decisions gives a unique view into the corrosive effect of political pressure placed on a federal agency that is supposed to protect parkland.” Click through to read the full complaint as well as attachments submitted with it. The Eagle has an article on the lawsuit here.
Park Service: St. Ann’s OK for Tobacco Warehouse [Brownstoner]
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]

2011 03 01 Amended Complaint

Attachments to the Amended Complaint