Brooklyn Bridge Park Honchos Hire Consultants to Examine Condo Alternatives
Bay Area Economics will earn up to $100,000 to brainstorm on other ways to cover the projected $16.1 million in annual operating expenses for the waterfront park, according to the New York Post.
Bay Area Economics will earn up to $100,000 to brainstorm on other ways to cover the projected $16.1 million in annual operating expenses for the waterfront park, according to the New York Post.
Hmm. Wish I could see it. I remember a lengthy presentation released around that time that had all the environmental stuff and included another short budget (1-2 page operating budget summary and a 1-2 page capital budget summary) that included a 50-yr schedule of payments into a reserve fund, but I have followed this pretty closely and haven’t seen a budget.
I’d love to be wrong about this. If anyone can send me a link, I’d be really grateful.
Ringo- you seemed to be someone who’s been following this process pretty closely. If so, then you should know that a month or two after than January 09 presentation Brooklyn Bridge Park released an 800-page document that went line by line giving their full budget projections for the next 50 years or something like that. There was more information in there than I’ve ever seen from any public or non-profit entity EVER. What more could you possible want? It was available for download on their website for about a year, although I don’t see it up there right now.
There are probably tons of things you could criticize the BB Park folks about, but I’m sorry, hiding their budget projections is just not one of them.
So nobody thinks this budget should be public? I’m baffled.
It doesn’t matter really bcs as a not-for-profit corp they’ll be compelled to prepare and make available an annual report and an audit report. Just seems like a overly secretive way to go about this. Whats’ the opposite of “inclusive”? And they have the RFP for the tobacco warehouse out now, right? Due soon. But they’re hiring these consultants now? I don’t know.
The budget for Brooklyn Bridge Park was developed by a licensed landscape architect, semi-independent of the landscape architectural firm that designed the park, based on budgets for similar (waterfront, horticulture-intensive, etc.) parks like Battery Park City and Bryant Park.
To the extent that I can be without having seen the scope of work, I am sure the consultants were given a detailed budget, and under the oversight of State Senator Squadron and Assemblywoman Millman, will look at ways in which the currently proposed operating budget may be reduced as part of developing alternative funding schemes.
I was at the January 09 presentation. That presentation can be found here:
http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/about-us/project-approvals-presentations
I don’t think they have provided a complete budget to the public ever. Just general figures in categories with bullet points ($1.6mm for admin, $1.9mm for reserve, $3.4mm for security and recreation STAFF) .
“Changing light bulbs” is in both this presentation and the earlier one and a budget item important enough for them to highlight. I didn’t make it up.
And while I don’t know much about maintaining a park like this, nearly $5mm annually is budgeted for “changing light bulbs and planting”. Quite literally.
for Landscape Maintenance and Operations:
• Horticulture: Mowing, pruning, planting, weeding, raking, fertilizing,
seeding, etc.
• Sanitation: Trash removal, bathroom cleaning, graffiti removal, snow
removal, power washing, pest control, etc.
• Minor Repair: Bench repair, replacing swings and basketball hoops,
pothole repair, touch up painting, changing light bulbs, etc.
• Irrigation/ Setting/monitoring irrigation system, cleaning catch basins,
Storm Water: repairing irrigation heads, etc.
I wonder how they figure that — a staff of 80 full-time gardeners and crew @ 50k a pop and 1mm worth of goods? Not vehicles. Not marine infrastructure. Not utilities or insurance. Those are different budget items.
I’d just like to see an honest budget. There are smart people in Brooklyn. Let’s open up the discussion. We all want to make it work.
That wasn’t the last presentation on money. There was a presentation in January 2009.
ANd if you think that the only costs to maintaining this park are changing lightbulbs and planting, then you clearly don’t know anything about how to maintain a huge park like this and probably should be withholding comment.
I suggest they tell us what the budget looks like and open it up to public comments. For free.
(I really don’t mind the 100k but I do object to the bullshit that result)
This was the last I saw them present details on money:
http://tinyurl.com/2888hlp
I could do the operating expenditures like lawn mowing, “changing of lightbulbs”. and annual replacement of plants for south of $9.6mm a year. I promise.