Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting: The Morning After
What had been billed as an opportunity to solicit public input about the future of Brooklyn Bridge Park last night became a chance for area residents and other stakeholders to vent their frustration at the lack of progress and communication over the past couple of years. The Empire State Development Corp’s newly appointed head of…
What had been billed as an opportunity to solicit public input about the future of Brooklyn Bridge Park last night became a chance for area residents and other stakeholders to vent their frustration at the lack of progress and communication over the past couple of years. The Empire State Development Corp’s newly appointed head of the park project, longtime Brooklyn City Planning head Regina Myer (right), got an earful on her the public appearance in her new role. We have not been included. We certainly have a stake, David Walentas, the biggest property owner in the area, said. A bigger stake than anyone. And, of course, the contentious issue of allowing the construction of more than 1,200 condo units within the park to help fund its development reared its head: Judi Francis, of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund (which has sued the ESDC over the issue), charged that the skating rink and swimming pools that the public wanted had been axed from the plan to make the park more of a “lawn” for the condos. The landscape designer for the project also weighed in, emphasizing that the park would have a more water-focused orientation than most. We’re not just walking, strolling, promenading. We’re actively in the water, getting wet, said Matt Urbanski of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. We got the message from the community: This is a waterfront park. Did any readers attend? We were busy celebrating our—ouch!—38th birthday.
Angry Residents Blast BBP Planning [Metro]
Park Stalled, New Leader May Spur Building [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Gets New President [Brooklyn Eagle]
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Your Input, Please [Brownstoner]
It seems to me that it is the opponents of the park who are using the new condo buildings -which will take up a very small amount of former manufaturing land- to kill the project because they want to keep outsiders, who may want to visit the park, off Joralemon Street and Willow Place. Period. Of course they will deny that there is any hidden agenda or motive, but why are they so passionately, and illogically, opposed to turning decrepit old piers into park and using a tiny portion of the property to build new condos that will pay for the upkeep of the brand new park? what drives their hate?
I say they’re nuts and the heck w/them!
Seems like the former co-executive director of the Conservancy is raising his ugly head (guest #12). A Manhattanite who shared the thrown with Koval used to stir up the racist card all the time – trying to justify luxury housing. Now that is hutzpah! The simple fact is that private housing inside of parks is a terrible idea. People living inside of parks will dictate what does/doesn’t go on in them. And that has happened with this park. Gone are all the recreational elements Brooklynites wanted – ice skating, swimming, an amphitheater – why? because it brings too many noisy people. Remember, you can’t get into this park from the places most New Yorkers will come. Why you ask? And consider that there is a 180 berth yachting marina next to a bird watching sanctuary. Who is fooling who? Let’s just get rid of the condos and build a real park incrementally – just like what is in DUMBO section today – and see who comes. Very little expense, no fuss, but an honest to goodness park. OK?
Every time I look at the master plan for the park on the BBP Conservancy Web site, I get very excited about the project. Then when I think how long it has taken to get to this point, and how much further we have to go, I get depressed. But, at least we have the beatiful Empire Fulton Landing Park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges to go to in the meantime.
“this is a prime opportunity tu biuld affordable housing and get them outof manhattan…we dont need more parks!!! we need more affordable housing!!!”
#1 you’re insane
#2 learn to spell
I think the design is terrible and the condos are terrible and they are being forced to build so many condos bcs they have inflated costs for everything from the marina to lawn sprinklers.
BUT — just build it already
Owning beats renting, renters are at the bottom of the heap in a society like ours.
Wallentas owns an awful lot, therefore he is a powerful guy. But actually he has really been instrumental in paying for the playgrounds and other amenities in the River Park in DUMBO, only problem is that everybody hates him. Its just one of those things. I think his offer of a restored carousel for the new park is terrific. And yet I am sure that the loyal opposition will howl that the ponies are inconsistent with something or other.
I say just get the stupid park built and be sure to build the new condos down there too so the tax payer will not get stuck with the upkeep of this very expensive new waterfront park.
11:39
their interests are meaningless
if you dont own a condo, you’re not living brooklyn
josephine
-jcondo resident
11:13 That is completely illogical. Are you suggesting stakeholders interests be measured by the amount of real estate they own? Are you aware that over 60% of the residents in Brooklyn rent their housing? Where do their interests rank?
this is a prime opportunity tu biuld affordable housing and get them outof manhattan…we dont need more parks!!! we need more affordable housing!!!