Development Instead of Proposed Columbia St. Garden

It’s been a bad week for public gardens in Brooklyn. Following the news of the demise of the Crow Hill Community Garden, the initiator of the South Brooklyn Children’s Garden (slated for construction on Columbia Street soon) shared this news:

HPD has retracted their agreement to lease us the vacant lots. Despite me being in communication with HPD about access to this lot for over 4 months now, I was told for the first time today that previously (before our proposal to lease the lot) an RFP for the lots was issued and the vacant lots were awarded to a contractor. The contractor just confirmed they have the financing for the building and is now being scheduled for the coming year.

After Columbia Street resident Shannon Mulholland presented a proposal for a children’s garden on the corner of Columbia and Sackett to Community Board 6, HPD told her there were no plans for the lot in the coming two to three years and that the agency would lease it on an annual basis. The South Brooklyn Children’s Garden is now looking for new places and will even consider leasing a rooftop. If you have any ideas for them, be in touch at info.sbcg@gmail.com.
Construction to Begin Soon on Columbia Street Garden [Brownstoner]
Columbia Street Residents Looks to Transform Lot [Brownstoner] GMAP