Comptroller Blocks House of Detention Expansion

Comptroller and Mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson, who's opposed the House of Detention expansion plan from the beginning, found cause to stop it in its tracks yesterday when he rejected an architectural contract that had ballooned from $16 million to $31 million. "It is extremely troubling...that an agency...could so severely underestimate the cost of construction of such a high-profile project," he wrote in a letter to city Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney. Council Member Yassky, who along with Thompson, Senator Eric Adams, and Council Member Letitia James filed a lawsuit in November to stop the project, praised the move and said it was the writing on the wall for the unpopular project: "I don't think when push comes to shove that the city will spend $440 million on a jail expansion when we're cutting back on school construction and parks and roads and bridges," he said. Meanwhile, champagne corks could be heard popping in the townhouses on nearby State Street.
Controller Puts Cuffs on Brooklyn House of Detention [NYDN]
Previous House of Detention Coverage [Brownstoner]
Photo by RubyMae

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Comments

quizzote:

"I don't think when push comes to shove that the city will spend $440 million on a jail expansion when we're cutting back on school construction and parks and roads and bridges,"

actually, im pretty sure it will.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at February 6, 2009 9:19 AM

So now what?? It just sits there while it could be housing hedge fund managers?

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at February 6, 2009 9:26 AM

where is the open thread? grrrrrrrrrr

chanelling Jerri Blank

I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY!!!!!11!!

*R*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at February 6, 2009 9:28 AM

I wouldn't think this prevents reopening just expansion.
The lawsuit is trying to prevent that. Stopping the boondoggle that expansion would probably end up being is worthwhile - zillions in cost overruns and years of construction.
Reopening on other hand is probably prudent. Because, yes, we need room for the hedge fund folks. And save a few cells for whiney NIMBYs while we're at it.

Posted by: Petebklyn at February 6, 2009 9:52 AM

Bill Thompsom for mayor!!

Posted by: sam at February 6, 2009 10:07 AM

petebklyn- :-) !! But the State St. NIMBY's egos will never fit in a cell.

Posted by: bxgrl at February 6, 2009 10:34 AM

"It just sits there while it could be housing hedge fund managers?"

Are you turning on your "people" Dave?

Posted by: East New York at February 6, 2009 11:36 AM

Maybe he will do the same thing for the other boondoggle down at the end of Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn Bridge Park.
But in that case, a couple of people should go to jail.

Posted by: sam at February 6, 2009 11:45 AM

"It is extremely troubling...that an agency...could so severely underestimate the cost of construction of such a high-profile project."

Where has he been for the last 50 years? That's standard operating procedure for New York agencies. In fact, find me one agency that doesn't severely underestimate costs.

Posted by: RaginCajun at February 6, 2009 2:42 PM

I estimate that when you add up the tax dollars already spent trying to fix-up this unfixable jail, and the tax dollars squandered on studies, consultants and staff for the Brooklyn Bridge Park, you will end up with a figure around 300 million dollars. 300 million dollars for nothing. No public benefit at all.
Does anyone think that is funny? Or that it should be shrugged off as business as usual in Brooklyn?

Posted by: sam at February 6, 2009 3:09 PM

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February 6, 2009

Comptroller Blocks House of Detention Expansion

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