Flatbush Streetlamp Project Draws Criticism
A $4.7 million project to replace 500 working streetlamps in Flatbush with antique bishop’s crook lamps has met with local resistance, reports the Daily News. Some residents do not understand the utility of spending $10,000 per lamp (standard streetlamps cost $4,000 each) when the current fixtures work just fine and when the neighborhood could spend…
A $4.7 million project to replace 500 working streetlamps in Flatbush with antique bishop’s crook lamps has met with local resistance, reports the Daily News. Some residents do not understand the utility of spending $10,000 per lamp (standard streetlamps cost $4,000 each) when the current fixtures work just fine and when the neighborhood could spend the money elsewhere, such as streets and sidewalks in disrepair. “It’s ridiculous,” Kent Thomas, 24, told the News. “The lights we have work fine. There are hungry people in this neighborhood who need help; we need shelters and soup kitchens.” The project, which is half complete, received funding from the borough president’s 2007 capital budget. In contrast, Brooklyn Heights has launched a similar, $2.7 million campaign to install bishop’s crook streetlamps, with support from the Brooklyn Heights Association. Whereas opponents of both projects decry the waste of funds, the BHA defended the new street lights, saying they are beautiful, they enhance the neighborhood, and they are historically significant.
Flatbush Street Lamp Replacement a Dud [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Heights’ Lights [Brownstoner]
quote:
The street lamps in Hershey PA look like giant Hershey kisses. Brooklyn has lots of catching up to do.
a giant
:-/
*rob*
I don’t see anything wrong with spending some money to beautify the city’s streets. If the funds are withdrawn for this project what will it be used for? To rent a huge tent and buy liquor for the next satmar all-guy party by the waterfront? To buy a new fleet of limos for the council staff? Or will it just evaporate in the morass of city spending? This is a tangible project that will compliment the millions of dollars in private money that have gone into the restoring the boro’s building stock. It wasn’t an issue when they were installed in Victorian Flatbush, or in Stuyvesant Heights, or along Smith Street. But now that they are proposed for Brooklyn Heights they are morally objectionable. Such baloney. Just put in the lights and get on with it.
wouldnt parallelogramatic rotisserie style lighting on street corners make 1000 x more sense? both in function and cost?
*rob*
At this point, I’m just happy when government dollars are spent and goods/services are received. Seems to me the usual is for dollars to disappear into the fog.
This design is too Disney for my taste, but I missed the conversation about which design should be adopted. I like the iron post with large globe on top — like in some cities’ historic districts. I also think these lamps are way too tall.
I say spend the money, landmark more areas to bring in more toursit that will support local business. The street lamps in Hershey PA look like giant Hershey kisses. Brooklyn has lots of catching up to do.
Pete, would you tear off a posting for a lost kitten???
sometimes i wonder if excess spending in gov’t is actually worse than corporate.
They did it on my street in Bed Stuy and I was very pleased. It really adds to the charm. How do you measure economic sense? Maybe it helps to increase property values, maybe it helps keep crime at bay, maybe it would help you sell your house by making the block more appealing. And it puts people to work.
Fair enough.
Then I’d say the cast iron, curliques, and black paint have priced them out of the government-paid-for-market and the local businesses and residents should pool funds if they want to pay for those lights in their neighborhood.