Brooklyn House of Detention Plans Falter
Ideas for adding new uses to the Brooklyn House of Detention seem to be going nowhere. After the Observer reported that the city was giving up on its plan to allow for retail and condos jail because of a lack of developer interest, the Brooklyn Paper followed up last week with an article saying there’s…
Ideas for adding new uses to the Brooklyn House of Detention seem to be going nowhere. After the Observer reported that the city was giving up on its plan to allow for retail and condos jail because of a lack of developer interest, the Brooklyn Paper followed up last week with an article saying there’s been talk of putting a new middle school in the jail at Atlantic and Smith. This week, though, the paper files a story saying city has officially abandoned the school-jail proposal. The condo plan was originally floated because the city wants to make the jail’s 2012 reopening and expansion (it’s supposed to go from 749 to 1,469 inmates) more palatable to the surrounding community. Last week Marty Markowitz told the Daily News that he’s still searching for “creative ideas for the site.”
Sorry Bids Shove Shiv in City’s Plans to Expand Brooklyn Jail [NY Observer] GMAP
Jail Middle School is Sentenced to Death [Brooklyn Paper]
Lock ‘Em Up [Brooklyn Paper]
No go for new Condominium Complex [NY Daily News]
I want to know which bright light in the city had the idea to combine a school and a jail. And then, who thought, for even a nanosecond that the idea would fly? Both seem unbelievably stupid.
Although, perhaps a school/jail wouldn’t be such a bad concept for some kids….
The incompentance of this process is incredible. What makes me the most angry is that the city has not evaluated the alternatives with regard to jail location, or at least has not shared its efforts with everyone. This is a great spot for a jail due almost solely to its proximity to the courts. It is a horrible spot for a ton of other reasons. The city could make a s**tload of money off of this site if they did other things with it. Probably enough to pay for a jail in some other place, that might be less convenient to the court, but is reasonably convenient for everyone involved and better for a million other reasons.
The community around this jail has made great strides and it continues to do so. To reopen the jail the city has poured so much money in is one thing, to hoist one on us TWICE the size is quite another, especially when it seems the city didn’t evaluate all the alternatives. The logic that it should be there just because it used to be there just does not cut it in my opinion.
I agree why doesnt that HACK – Gersh Kuntzman actually do some reporting for a change instead of just using his paper as a propaganda sheet for every overblown claim of DDDB.
The jail was not finished being renovated 9I think pursuant to court order) until after its shuttering in 2003. The need for the space in part is being driven by the fact that much of Rikers will have to udnergo the same process, so there will be much fewer space there too.
(Also convenience to the courts is an issue as well for DOC operating costs).
“I am sure it will come as a surprize to all, but I had the pleasure of spending the night here (some time ago)”
NOT A SURPRISE
The fact that the Newspapers/media do not investigate the millions of dollars that were spent on this (closed) facility and the millions more being proposed to expand (an unused facility) demonstrates exactly what is wrong with the 4th Estate.
I say make it artist live/work space… a neo-loft. Raw, undeveloped space, with that edgy cache of having been a bad, bad, bad place…I see the performance work already.
Ladies and gents, this is your tax dollars at work. A multi-million dollar renovation to an obsolete jail that has never re-opened.
A failed RFP that sought to shift the load on a private developer. And now an unusable eyesore that the courts are saying is way too small. This is a poster child for government screwups and inefficiency. It should be dedicated as a monument to incompetence.
Please God, let the city turn this into a bigger, “(it’s supposed to go from 749 to 1,469 inmates)” smelly-er, rat infested, rash of humanity parade to remind all the $700 stroller pushing Mom’s and Dad’s what downtown Brooklyn is all about!
I am sure it will come as a surprize to all, but I had the pleasure of spending the night here (some time ago), all the stories are true. Bad things happen in this place.