Latest BBP Brouhaha: A Supermarket in the Park
The most recent controversy over Brooklyn Bridge Park has to do with plans to put a grocery store in the base of the public-private development’s anchoring condo, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to an article in this week’s Brooklyn Paper. Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says it’s “not the most…
The most recent controversy over Brooklyn Bridge Park has to do with plans to put a grocery store in the base of the public-private development’s anchoring condo, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to an article in this week’s Brooklyn Paper. Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says it’s “not the most complimentary business for the park,” while Ken Baer, chair of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club, argues that “all the land within the park should be devoted to recreational space.” One Brooklyn Bridge Park’s developer says he wants to put a (what else?) high-end market into the building as well as two restaurants and smaller shops. The taxes collected from the condo’s retail would help cover the park’s maintenance costs. Do you like the idea of a high-end market here?
Supermarket Could Come to ‘Park’ [Brooklyn Paper] GMAP
Amidst Lingering Controversy, BBP Construction to Begin [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting: The Morning After [Brownstoner]
12:20,
Oh yes, it’s such a long walk down that incredibly lenghty Joralemon Street boulevard. Brooklyn Heights is so out of the way isn’t it?
It is true one would have to walk some distance to find a bodega, which are few and far between in the Heights. One would need to walk all the way to Fort Greene.
In order for a park to be sustainable (in these modern times) it has to have a revenue stream and a reason for people to want to go. There is little doubt that the Brooklyn Bridge Park is well located and will probably be popular BUT it will need amenities. A store like Garden of Eden or Dean and DeLuca would be a very practical addition for both the residents and users of the park. I can think of a lot worse things they could put there (like a liquor store or yet another Rite Aid).
I recently viewed an apartment at One Brooklyn Bridge Park. The sales agent (more than once) mentioned the developer’s intention to have both a grocery store and restaurants in the first floor retail spaces.
On the way down there, I noticed that it’s a long, walk- far from ANY businesses, not even a bodega, to get to the building. Since the downhill slope of Joralemon is so empty, it seems a grocery or food source of some kind is necessary for the future residents of One BBP.
For those interested, the sales office has a giant, lovely plan of the Park as it should look in about 10 years. That plan could answer a lot of questions in this thread. Perhaps its online somewhere?
This sort of setup seems to work just fine for the Fairway in Red Hook. The Fairway isn’t high end, but I think any decent grocer would get a lot of traction in this location.
I, for one, would walk a few extra blocks (and a hill) to not have to go to Key Foods on Atlantic.
no, I’m not Judy Stanton. Do you really think it’s impossible for a person to have an opinion that is not your own?
I am a member of the BHA? Are you? It’s about $40 a year. Can you swing that? Come to a meeting and express an opinion. Most members are pretty happy with the job she does (according to the survey)
Judy Stinkton is that her name?
11:13 Is that you Judy? Are you posing as someone else and self congratulating yourself? You know how the old saying goes, “Self praise stinks!”
I like Judy Stanton and agree a high-end grocery store is a bad idea. They’d never get a tenant like that anyway. They’ll get a deli like at Battery Park City… which will appeal to noone, but will be a place to grab a bottle of water
I for one would rather see the area down there fully developed for residential use (we need the housing and the taxbase). The development would include a publicly accessible waterfront walk (like the one in Batery Park City). The buildings would dampen the noise from the BQE and the walk along the river from Joralemon to Fulton Ferry would be leafy and very pleasant. And there would be no public park to fund and maintain. We are spending too mauch money on these sorts of things lately. They will bankrupt the State and the City.
Private sector solutions are always better.
Forget the stupid park. sell off the land to a good developer with an easement along the waater. Use the money for the new park on Governor’s Island (another boondoggle). Get private money involved so something can actually happen down there other than usual NY government agency bullshit.