Speak Now: Public Comment on Plans for Pier 6 Ends Today at 5 p.m.

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    Have an opinion on the controversial Pier 6 plan? Your voice could still make a difference in the debate, but you need to act fast. Whether you’re pro-towers or anti-development, the period for public comments on the proposal — to develop two ODA-designed towers at the park’s south entrance — ends this evening at 5p.m.

    Haven’t yet made up your mind? Here’s what you need to know.

    The plan is to build 2 apartment towers at Pier 6 near Atlantic Avenue. The land would be developed by RAL Development Services and Oliver’s Realty Group. They’d build two apartment buildings: a luxury tower with 224 units and an affordable housing tower with 115 units.

    Some of the money made off of the buildings would go to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation to pay for maintenance of the 85-acre park. BBP President Regina Myer recently wrote, “The Pier 6 development is essential to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s longterm financial stability.” A July report stated that money from the towers was necessary to the park’s survival.

    But local community groups — like the Brooklyn Heights Associationsay that financial reports show a $400,000,000 surplus of income over the next 50 years — without income generated by the proposed towers.

    Another issue? Mayor Bill de Blasio says that the towers would add much-needed affordable housing, but the park’s General Project Plan says that development of park land should only happen if it’s financially necessary. Most folks agree that more affordable housing in Brooklyn is a good thing, but it’s clear that the affordable units planned for Pier 6 aren’t going to add to the park’s bottom line.

    Should the park’s General Project Plan be changed to accommodate the affordable apartments? Should Pier 6 get any towers at all?

    Email your comments to brooklynbridgepark@esd.ny.gov by 5p.m. this evening to weigh-in.

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