Pols Highlight Brooklyn Bridge Park's Money Probs
More grim news on the Brooklyn Bridge Park front: Money shortages are likely to delay the completion of the park. In a joint statement released yesterday, all the politicians representing this stretch of the Brooklyn waterfront (Markowitz, Velazquez, Millman, De Blasio and Yassky) struck an ominous chord in anticipation of tomorrow night’s public meeting to…
More grim news on the Brooklyn Bridge Park front: Money shortages are likely to delay the completion of the park. In a joint statement released yesterday, all the politicians representing this stretch of the Brooklyn waterfront (Markowitz, Velazquez, Millman, De Blasio and Yassky) struck an ominous chord in anticipation of tomorrow night’s public meeting to disclose the financial status of the project: The private development that was to fund much of the park is on hold indefinitely and (though the first phase is expected to proceed as planned), they said, No other public source for maintenance and operations expenses is available, and in these tough economic times, we do not believe these funds will come from government sources. The current estimate for the park’s construction is $346 million, says the post, but only $231 million has ben budgeted. In addition to the development shortfall, the park is estimated to cost $16.1 million a year to maintain, a per-acre cost second only to Manhattan’s Bryant Park. In light of the new challenges facing the park, the officials called for the reconstitution of the Community Advisory Council. The public meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Dibner Auditorium, NYU-Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center. Full press release on the jump.
Is Most of BBP Being Put to Sleep for Now? [Curbed]
$16M a Year for Planned B’klyn Park [NY Post]
Photo by runtoline
JOINT STATEMENT ON BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK FROM CONGRESSWOMAN
VELÃZQUEZ, BP MARKOWITZ, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MILLMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS
DE BLASIO AND YASSKY
On Monday, January 26, the elected officials who represent the Brooklyn Waterfront met with Regina Myer, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Development Corporation, representatives from the Empire State Development Corporation and NYC Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe regarding the public release on Thursday, January 29, of the current financial status for Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman, and Council Members Bill de Blasio and David Yassky issued the following statement:
The first phase of construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a partnership between the City and State, is officially underway. The first phase includes Pier 1 and portions of Pier 6 and is expected to be open to the public by the end of the year. This will bring our long awaited dream of Brooklyn Bridge Park to fruition. Our commitment to this park is in response to longstanding public support and a desire for parkland and waterfront access at this site.
The 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between City and State established the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC) as a partnership between the City and State of New York. It created a unique framework to develop and maintain the park, and requires the park to be financially self- sustaining. There was strong public participation in the development of this framework and park design, and we know this participation will continue with the future operations and programming of the park. That is why we are calling for the reconstitution of the Community Advisory Council as soon as possible to ensure public participation.
After a long public planning process, it was determined that maintenance and operation costs would be covered by revenues generated from a limited number of development sites. After extensive analysis, BBPDC determined that residential and hotel development would be the most appropriate way to provide the necessary revenue using the least amount of the project’s land. No other public source for maintenance and operations expenses is available, and in these tough economic times, we do not believe these funds will come from government sources.
Of equal importance is the public’s ability to depend on government to protect our open space resources. But we first asked that the open space be created, and that is exactly what the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation is doing. We ask that the City created are protected in perpetuity.
Lastly, we would like to commend the BBPDC and Regina Myer for their hard work and transparency in opening the books to the public. We also encourage everyone to attend the public meeting on Thursday, January 29, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Dibner Auditorium, NYU-Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center.
CONTACTS:
Mark Zustovich, Brooklyn BP, 718-802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
Paul Nelson, Assemblymember Millman’s Office, 718-246-4889; nelsonp@assembly.state.ny.us
Dave’s comment at the start should not be overlooked…does anyone know if the detailed $16 million budget is available somewhere for public review? A lot of staff at that price, for one thing, I’d guess.
This is all such fantasy. conversion of the Empire Stores?
When? How? Aren’t they already too far gone to save?
What is surprising to me is that there have not been any indictments served yet on any of the folks involved (for over twenty years!) in the planning of the Park boondoggle.
I hope Andrew Cuomo has this in his sights. Where has all the money gone? How many millions have been spent on salaries and consultants and designs and redesigns and thirty-foot-long models and endless public hearings?
Obviously I have a longer memory than most who post here, and who really believe that this is a legitimate project and is about to happen “any time now”. Everyone thought that Bernie Maddoff was brilliant until the house of cards collapsed. This is the Empire Development Corporation’s version of the Maddoff scheme. Money goes in, disappears, and all we get are assurance that things have “really turned the corner now” and are “really about to happen” and “we have a great Pop-up park” and it’s all really happening now for sure. Yesiree. Meanwhile, where’s the park? After twenty years what are they promissing us now? a tiny corner on the northern edge to be ready sometime in 2010? There is something very wrong. Something very fishy.
Ringo –
I don’t think there’s model car racing or a cricket pitch in the plan. Also the handball courts, hockey rink and tetherball are in Phase II which is currently not funded.
12 acres of the the open space is water. None of the new construction is water (obviously). It’s not all new construction. Two of the development sites (One Brooklyn Bridge Park and Empire Stores) are conversions of existing buildings.
bxgirl – you misunderstand. Thye didn’t charge people at all – it was free. But what smeyer is saying is that if you take the amount of money it took to bring the pool to brooklyn and divide by the number of people who actually used it, it comes out to $28 a swim. I had actually never heard that number before so can’t comment on it. Just wanted to clear up the intention.
BHO – with the low water temps that I would expect in East River next January, I would recommend you wear a DRY suit, not a wet suit. A wet suit would give you hypothermia.
Why is this an all or nothing proposition? Cant they eliminate the marina, the cricket pitch, the 10 handball courts, the model car racing, etc., and maybe come up with something that doesn’t cost 16mm a year to maintain?
I dont know why we can’t have a more European (or Asian) idea of a park down there. Why must it be a “recreational asset” with street hockey and “paved event space” and tetherball? Why not a place with grass where people can gather, have a picnic, enjoy the only-in-brooklyn view, and throw a ball?
I appreciate Nancy’s thoughtful response.
>>Once the real estate market recovers, seventy six acres of open space will be sustained by less than 4 acres of new construction for housing, a great deal for the people of the City of New York.<<
How much of the 77 acres of open space is water? How much of the 4 acres of new construction is water? (and isn’t it ALL new construction?) Let’s make sure that it’s an apples to apples comparison.
$28.00 a swim? How do families afford that? that’s just outrageous. Can you give a little more detail?
Sam;
Really, are you serious? This site has the potential to be one of Brooklyn’s most valuable recreational asset, and you want to put a parking lot there?
I am not knowledgeable enough to make any comment on the manner in which this project has been executed. Having said that, I believe we can certainly aspire to more than a parking lot for prime waterfront property.
“It is hardly grim news that Brooklyn Bridge Park has nearly $100 million in contracts signed, construction has begun on Pier 1 and parts of Pier 6, and 9.5 acres of new parkland will open by the end of this year.”
You have to MAKE IT to the end of the year, Sweetie. A contract is just a piece of paper.
***Bid half off peak comps***
Park on hold. Make My Suit The Wet Suit [Splash!].
***Bid half off peak comps***