Suit Tries to Block Brooklyn Bridge Park
May 16, 2006 — A community group filed a lawsuit yesterday in State Supreme Court to block plans for a new park along the waterfront. The group, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, opposes a plan approved by state officials earlier this year to rehabilitate the 1.3-mile-long stretch because the plan calls for luxury housing…
May 16, 2006 — A community group filed a lawsuit yesterday in State Supreme Court to block plans for a new park along the waterfront. The group, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, opposes a plan approved by state officials earlier this year to rehabilitate the 1.3-mile-long stretch because the plan calls for luxury housing in the park to help subsidize its cost. The lawsuit seeks to reinstate an earlier park plan that does not include the housing, as well as require state officials to analyze the impacts, like traffic congestion and parking shortages, that other development in the area might have on the park.
Group Sues to Block New Park [NY Times]
also: Brooklyn Bridge Park Building Boo’d [NY Daily News]
I’m obviously not the only one who can’t read. The only thing I am advocating is not making it a waterfront theme park for the well-to-do and with the marina, etc. it’s not a stretch to think that’s what will happen.As far as making it a class war- that’s you, not me. Your statement made it pretty clear what you think. My say9ing that kayaking is an expensive sport, and a marina is also expensive, is not making a class evaluation of anything. Those are pure and simple facts. And ultimately, there’s this from their press relaease:
“The design and construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park is made possible by funding committed by Governor George E. Pataki and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2002. The state will contribute $85 million and the city will contribute $65 million. The state and city will also contribute the valuable waterfront land and piers that will become the park, conserving the land for recreational use. ” So guess whose tax money is paying for the construction of luxury housing?
Hey genius – no one is compromising – take the housing or have NO park – thats the deal take it or leave it (not by my choosing btw – believe it or not, its not up to me)
Would I prefer no housing -sure – except thats not an option, and all the lawsuits, whinning and protests in the world wont achieve that – all it can possibly achieve is NO park.
I might not know how to type or spell but your reading comprehension is real bad; obviously my ‘alternative’ sports commentary was SARCASM. Unlike you (and many posters) I dont turn everything into a class war…
Its a waterfront park, I think it is appropriate to have waterfront activities. Renting a Kyack is not akin to renting a yacht – there are very few people in this city who couldnt (if they so desired) afford (on some occassion) to rent one. Just like people of all classes rent rowboats at central park, play golf and tennis in NYC parks and go to city owned or sponsored museums, concerts and shows. The park isnt going to be 1.5 miles of kyacking – its one amenity, among many. And so to make it clear for you my commentary on stickball, wireball, etc… was pointing out (through exaggeration) the type of park you were advocating through your ridiculous notion of sports by ‘class’. Hope its clear for you now.
“They should just eliminate all water related activites/sports (cause there expensive) and just put in dozens of stoops (for stoop ball); overhead wire (for wire ball); brick walls and gabage cans (for stick ball) and lay down some tar for a beach – this way the ‘poor’ people will have activites they feel comfortable with- and the park will be so cheap to maintain we wont need luxury housing.”
wont/won’t David. And thanks for finally showing us the real you. It ain’t a pretty sight, I can tell you.
What you really want is for luxury housing and expensive sports to take over the public parkland/waterfront to the extent that anyone not in your idea of a decent income bracket is forced out or excluded. Otherwise you are willing to throw it all away- just so you won’t have to compromise. Tsk tsk- didn’t your mommy teach you how to play nice?
How you can take anyone seriously who doesn’t know your/you’re and there/their?
Your right I dont do kyacking – could it cost significantly more to rent one than a rowboat at central park? wouldnt the fact that people are simply utilizing the East River (even if it isnt the poorest Brooklyn residents) add to the ambiance (for everyone) of this waterfront park?
But your probably right – They should just eliminate all water related activites/sports (cause there expensive) and just put in dozens of stoops (for stoop ball); overhead wire (for wire ball); brick walls and gabage cans (for stick ball) and lay down some tar for a beach – this way the ‘poor’ people will have activites they feel comfortable with- and the park will be so cheap to maintain we wont need luxury housing.
Hey your on to something here – maybe we could plow over all the city golf courses and tennis course (elitist sports) and have free land for basketball – oh and think of all the $ we could get for those snobby museums;
David- Obviously you don’t do sports. Kayaking is expensive. I thought an elitist like you would know that. When a park is filled with expensive activities, guess who will use them most? Think hard on this, I know you can figure it out. Maybe a better alternative is to simply ban people from the luxury housing from the park…Yay!
Oh I didnt realize only rich people were allowed to kyack – silly me, in that case your right scrap the whole park – probably should do the same thing in Prospect Park and Central Park where they have those elitist rowboats
instead of fighting against the housing units they should just counteract it with things people like such as a man selling balloons.
there’s a “kayak club” on the map.