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November 17, 2008

HOD Re-Opens for Business

Yesterday, the Brooklyn House of Detention in Boerum Hill was once again processing perps, after a five-year hiatus courtesy of the Bloomberg administration, since they no longer needed extra beds for Rikers prisoners. True, crime is up in some areas, so maybe that's why the administration has shifted, now lobbying for the construction a $450 million tower on top of building, on the corner of Atlantic and Smith (the NY Daily News says the reason is the renovation of the Brooklyn courthouse, slated to start in January). This will allow them to double its capacity, to 1,500 prisoners (some cells will be reduced at Rikers Island). Local politicians didn't hesitate to condemn the move. Councilman David Yassky and state Senator-elect Daniel Squadron were among those calling it a "first step in a backdoor attempt to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a large new jail and radically shift city corrections policy to favor incarceration over rehabilitation for prisoners."
Critics Howl as Jail Reopens Cells [NY Daily News] GMAP

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I truly cannot believe the city is doing this. Just what the neighborhood needs as the real estate market plummets. Great job! Jeez.

Posted by: lowintheheights at November 17, 2008 10:17 AM

the juxtaposition of the jail with the brooklyn industries sign is apropos.

Posted by: z at November 17, 2008 10:24 AM

If you actually read the article, it says that the old decrepit jail is being used to acommodate 50 or so prisoners that would otherwise be in the 120-cell courthouse holding facility, which is being renovated. I guess these are the folks with ongoing trials that need to be in the courthouse at a couple of moments notice. That's fair. What I don't understand is why the City would want to keep thousands of inmates here. The parking here for the staff and visitors is murder(no pun intended)the area is crowded, expensive, chi-chi almost, it doesn't really make a lot of sense to keep a large population of inmates here. Do you think the visiting families will enjoy the yuppie restaurants on Smith Street? or Trader Joe's? The idea of housing 3000 inmates here just seems wildly expensive. Why not just buy the Marriot and be done with it?

Posted by: sam at November 17, 2008 10:34 AM

Boerum Hill has been getting the short end of the stick from the city for years. What a waste.

Posted by: eastriver at November 17, 2008 10:41 AM

the city wants to keep thousands of inmates there because a) it was designed and built as a jail and is still in good shape b) its very close to the courts and c) Rikers is overcrowded. I happen to think its pretty funny myself......

Posted by: slopenick at November 17, 2008 10:48 AM

"True, crime is up, so maybe that's why the administration has shifted, now lobbying for the construction a $450 million tower on top of building"
- Um, do want to back up that assertion with some real evidence (that crime is up)?- which would be stats not anecdotal conjecture from headlines. And not just some types of crime in some precincts but overall.
Also - administration was behind this from 1st announcement . I don't see any 'shifting'.

Posted by: Petebklyn at November 17, 2008 10:48 AM

So much city money has been wasted on this site. I think their last renovation ran into the tens of millions. It has been off the property tax rolls for years, and unused. Now, the City has wasted a chance to sell it at a massive profit.

Posted by: bklynite at November 17, 2008 10:49 AM

Why do prisoners have to be the near the courthouse unless their trials or appeals are ongoing? If you are serving five years for whatever, you do not have to be near the courthouse. The article makes sense, there are a number of inmates, say 50 to 120, that need to be in the immediate vicinity of the courhouse on any given day. There is no reason on earth for the vast majority, whose cases will not be heard for weeks or months or who have already been found guilty, to be near the courthouse. This is faulty logic on the part of the HOD boosters. You need a holding facility near the courts, you do not need a 3000-inmate HOD near the courts.

Posted by: sam at November 17, 2008 11:11 AM

you're right, pete--some reports say crime is down. others say crime was up in south brooklyn. http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/10/north_brooklyn_1.php. several articles described the administration's attitude/actions as a reversal. hope that helps.

Posted by: lisa at November 17, 2008 11:23 AM

How is crime up ?
Mr.B do you just make up your own stats?
murders are up 5% wow.
Rapes are up 1.1% wow
Robbery up 1% wow
Felony assault down -8%
Burglary down -6.8%
Gr.Larceny down -2.3%
G.L.A down -4.5%

Total crime down -3.46%

Posted by: sebb at November 17, 2008 11:30 AM

Sam -- Where's the 3000 number coming from? I think the article says they are looking to expand from 759 to about 1,500 inmates, and that's what I've always heard for the last five years (when I first heard about the expandsion proposal).

Anyway, you do need somewhere for people awaiting trial to stay, to meet with attorneys and especially to keep in contact with their families. Logic is that it's ebst oto do that seomwhere that is convenient for all conecerned. The Tombs in Manhattan are not a problem (with about 800 or 900 beds, I think) despite being located next to both Chinatown and Tribeca, and it's not faulty logic to have it there, or for the Brooklyn House of Detention to be right next to criminal court in BH. Rather, it makes a lot of sense to avoid constant pre-trial detention transfers that can be easily screwed up for lack of the right form being filled out, causing additional delays.

Posted by: Boerumresident at November 17, 2008 11:41 AM

You lot would move to Greenpoint and then start complaining that the city should close the sewage works becuase it smells.

Posted by: dittoburg at November 17, 2008 12:23 PM

Right, double capacity to 1500 not 3000. That's a relief at least.
Still it would be a mighty big facility right in the middle of a crowded, residential and shopping area. I could see a small facility here, say 400 or so inmates as part of a larger complex with residential and retail facing Atlantic Avenue. Smart people need to balance out the needs of the courts, the inmates, and the residents. You should not just steam-roller through something that is neither welcome not really rational from a land-use point of view. Above all, the existig building should be demolished. It is a hideous and outdated facility.

Posted by: sam at November 17, 2008 12:25 PM

Maybe they can put an elementary or high school on every other floor of the prison tower to kill two birds with one stone...could cut down on construction costs as well!

Posted by: Remsen at November 17, 2008 1:11 PM

There are approx 10,000 inmates being held by the NYCDOC on any given day on Rikers Island. The jails on Rikers Island are not overcrowded but in need of repair. More than 1500 inmates are transported to and from court everyday because the vast majority are pre-trial detainees. The vast majority of the inmate population comes from Brooklyn since Brooklyn is the most populus borough. It is makes sense that this jail should be reopened. Although many of the inmates housed in the Brookln House will still have to be transported by bus to the new court building on Jay Street it is obviously more cost efficient to get them there from Atlantic Avenue than Rikers Island. Besides many of them still have court appearances in the Criminal Court building where they are walked over there via an underground tunnel to the Criminal Court building. This is better for everyone from the inmate's families, lawyers, judges, etc...
Maybe not for the people who purchased million dollar condo's accross the street from a viable jail though.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 17, 2008 2:30 PM

Just Wondering -

WOW you solved everything. Its so simple. JACKASS...

This place should be torn down. Why not put it in Red Hook or the Navy Yard???? The area has changed so much it should not be there anymore.

Posted by: THAL at November 17, 2008 4:09 PM

Just Wondering should change his name to Just Mean-spirited because he seems to be taking pleasure in the fact that nearby resident may get screwed if the HOD upsizes.
My point is that everyone's interests should and can be balanced. First, tear down the hideous monstrosity. Then partner with a developer to build a small HOD/Holding Facility facing Downtown and a residential/retail building facing Atlantic. It could work. There is a similar complex in Manhattan. Why not try to achieve an execellent solution here? I don't live in the area but I am sympathetic to those who do.

Posted by: sam at November 17, 2008 4:47 PM

Think of how much they will be reducing their carbon footprint by not transporting these people back and forth in busses all the time!! Geez, I thought you people were Brooklynites who cared about the environment!

Posted by: Heather at November 17, 2008 8:05 PM

Heather:
Sorry you're an idiot.

Posted by: sam at November 17, 2008 10:14 PM

They should put this prison in Brownsville or Bed Stuy where these people come from anyway. They can reduce carbon footprint by putting it in their hoods of criminals so the multiple baby mamas don't have to drive here. Oy Vey!

Posted by: PropJoe at November 18, 2008 11:34 AM

Sam, you're slow. I'm just funny.

Posted by: Heather at November 18, 2008 3:41 PM

Heather hon:
you have to say what you mean in blogs, subtle irony does not usually telegraph meaning properly. Just say it. don't beat around the bush.

Posted by: sam at November 18, 2008 7:38 PM

Sam and THAL,

What I said in my post oviously made sense and you had no other way to counter than to resort to name calling.

I am far from "Just mean spirited" nor did I express any such sentiments in my post. The jail should now remain closed because the neighborhood has changed? Are You kidding? Why tear down a perfectly good building just to construct a new one elsewhere. Get a grip. Most of the older residents of this area do not mind the jail being here as they know that it didn't really affect them. If you bought property near the jail recently hoping that it would never reopen and you get "screwed," then you gambled wrong. Your getting screwed would have less to do with the jail than with speculating in a turbulent market. The politicians of course will speak out against the jail reopening because they want your vote but sorry to say that they are just paying you lip service.

When you make a logical argument not having to do with property values for this jail not to remain open maybe then someone will listen.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 18, 2008 10:06 PM

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November 17, 2008

HOD Re-Opens for Business

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