Downtown Intersection Critically Flawed
We just got a chance to read the Project for Public Spaces paper on “re-Imagining Brooklyn’s Inner Core” and thought that they make an excellent point that tends to get lost in all the arguing about Atlantic Yards: The Forest City Ratner proposal for the Atlantic Yards has many weaknesses. But the truth is that…
We just got a chance to read the Project for Public Spaces paper on “re-Imagining Brooklyn’s Inner Core” and thought that they make an excellent point that tends to get lost in all the arguing about Atlantic Yards:
The Forest City Ratner proposal for the Atlantic Yards has many weaknesses. But the truth is that no development–even one much stronger than what’s on the table now–can truly succeed on that site unless we also address the area around the intersection of Atlantic, Flatbush, and Fourth Avenue. This intersection should be an iconic space–a source of pride for Brooklyn as a whole…Right now it is dominated by vehicles — it’s just a place to drive through. The pedestrian experience is a nightmare, and there is no plan to deal with this major obstacle. Any development on any portion of this intersection will be a failure if surface transportation issues are not dealt with.
Re-Imagining Brooklyn’s Inner Core [PPS.org]
Anon 2:51,
I would gladly explain my navigation advice to the families that you mention, assuming that I knew who they were. I haven’t heard of any pedestrian deaths at that intersection this year. I stand by my point that this intersection, while busy, is perfectly capable of being navigated. Citing emotional anecdotes does not disprove that.
Let your local politicians know that you are concerned:
Assemblyman Sheldon Silver
64th Assembly District Albany Office
Legislative Office Building, Room 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791 or 212-212-1420
also
Joan Millman millmaj@mail3.assembly.state.ny.us
David Yassky yassky@council.nyc.ny.us
Let your local politicians know that you are concerned:
Assemblyman Sheldon Silver
64th Assembly District Albany Office
Legislative Office Building, Room 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791 or 212-212-1420
also
Joan Millman millmaj@mail3.assembly.state.ny.us
David Yassky yassky@council.nyc.ny.us
You really know how to shut me up, Anonymous. Thanks!
I see many critical comments. Debating is good, action is better. If you have any concerns about the project, exercise your democratic right to have your voice heard. If you write to the below before 28 October 2005, by law your concerns have to be included in the Environmental Impact Study. The main problem is that Ratner is only proposing to study very few intersections. (Hmn. is he trying to limit the scope of the study?) please do ask everyone else to send their concerns about the environmental impact study: what are their specific concerns and what needs to be studied, impact assessed?
Write to:
Atlantic Yard c/o Planning and Review
Empire State Development Corp.
633 Thrid Ave
Ny NY 10017
or email atalanticyards@empire.state.ny.us
also please have everyone send copies to CBN
cbrooklynneighborhoods@hotmail.com
or CBN 201 DeKalb , Bklyn, NY 11205.
Stop debating! Take action! Make the project better by having you voice heard.
Killed in that intesection this year alone?
How many is that?
Eastern Parkway I think is called the most dangerous in Brooklyn. Lets get the library and museum moved – bringing in all that traffic and pedestrians to dangerous area.
David,
Being critical doesn’t mean that there should be no development in that area. Critical evaluation and public input can make any proposal better. Too bad that everything possible is being done to remove public input from the development, and too bad you have so little to offer in the way of improving what’s being proposed.
To the one who wrote: “A little navigation goes a long way…”. I suggest you explain that to the relatives of the individuals of the pedestrians who got killed in that intersection this year alone. Does someone you know have to get injured by reckless heavy traffic before you wake up?
and then what happens when you get to the bridges? what happens on the BQE? it’s not just 4th avenue and it’s not just flatbush.