Brooklyn Bridge Park - by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

[Merry]

Squadron Details Plans For B’klyn Bridge Park

Still Opposes Condo Towers

By Harold Egeln
And Raanan Geberer

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – Sitting down at the Eagle’s office within blocks of the growing Brooklyn Bridge Park, state Sen. Daniel Squadron stated in detail his vision of the park and, in doing so, hoped to dispel any misconceptions about his support.

“I think the park has incredible potential for the city and Brooklyn. My role is to push as hard as I can for the park,” the Democratic freshman legislator said in an interview with this newspaper’s editor and a reporter.

“We have an opportunity to do for the 21st century what was done in the 19th century in creating parks. In order to do that, we got to build this park in the best way with the absolutely most ambitious plan for the park,” said Squadron.

The young senator was elected on a reform platform one year ago in the district that covers Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Navy Yard, parts of Williamsburg, Governors Island and much of lower Manhattan up to East 14th Street.

In envisioning the full potential of the park in its current framework, in order to make it a year-round recreation venue he proposed a “winter bubble” structure. He would also like to see a floating or permanent pool similar to the “Floating Pool Lady” of two seasons ago; the promised water-taxi service; an ice-skating rink (which he said has been “in and out of the park plan”); and a recreational, community and arts center.

Also essential to the park, he said, are a sufficient amount of parkland and a “transparent governing structure.”

“I envision this as part of group of waterfront parks [along with Governors Island, Hudson River Park and several others] that could become a Central Park for the center of the city,” he said.

Squadron ran on a platform of opposition to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation’s plans for two condo towers near Atlantic Avenue and a third at the park’s DUMBO end, and he still feels that way.

Instead, he visualizes a scenario in which “the city dedicates a portion of the increased property tax revenue it realizes –due to rising property values from certain rezonings and the park – to fund the park’s operations.”

“We should redirect increased property tax revenues in properties within half-a-mile of the park. To be clear, this would not be an increased property tax,” he elaborated.
Aside from the park increment recapture plan (PIRC) he mentioned that concessions are also planned to provide a revenue stream.

Reminded that the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has said that engineering studies found that alternate structures on the piers to fund the park were not structurally feasible, Squadron said, “I don’t believe in a plan where there’s only one alternative [for funding].”

At any rate, he said that it would be “insane” to build the condo towers under today’s real-estate market conditions.

The park has to be “built quickly” and governed by “harbor park and maritime infrastructure task forces” along with community and state legislative input, he said.

Albany Reform and Governor’s Race

Voted into office at age 28 riding a wave crest of voter demand for Albany reform and a new face after Martin Connor’s long tenure, Squadron reiterated his reform program plans. This comes after a tumultuous year driven by an engineered revolt by Republicans and two Democrats who later backtracked.

“When democracy breaks down, people, whether Democrat or Republican, really get involved,” he said of those upset by the scenes that made national news and disrupted the legislative process during the worst recession since the 1930s.

“With Republicans in charge for so long before Democrats won senate control last year, there were no relationships across the aisle. This created a poisoned culture,” said Squadron, adding that a dysfunctional Albany set the stage for the government crisis.

Squadron sees “a better and more transparent Senate” as Albany moves to effective reform rather than disorder. “We passed an historic rules reform.

As of this January, the state Senate leader will no longer have the final say on what bills to bring to the floor, as done for many years.”

The change is a significant reform landmark, he explained. “Now a majority of members will be able to call on which bills can be brought to the floor, allowing the majority of members to make the choice. We have it. Now we’re working on ethics reform.”

An ethics reform bill passed the Assembly but it lost in the Senate by one vote in September, with one senator unable to make it due to a family illness, Squadron noted. The legislation comes up again in 2010. “This is the key to real reform. Passing it will create a culture shift for Albany,” he said.

When asked about the 2010 governor’s race and support for either the election bid by Gov. David Paterson, at a low point in polls, or a campaign by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Squadron deftly stood on careful political footing.

“The governor just went on television with campaign commercials. He’s the only guy running now,” Squadron said of Paterson.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categor..._id=4&id=31818

[Merry]

Brooklyn Bridge Park Watch: A Great Lawn Gets Laid!

November 13, 2009, by Joey






Some fresh photos of Brooklyn Bridge Park just landed in our inbox like a fat kid's cannonball after a running start. Grass! Lots of it! Trees in proper places! Views of Frank Gehry towers rising in the distance! It's going to be an exciting winter 2010 on the banks of the East River, which is still when Pier 1 is expected to open (map!). Its six acres will include a playground, among other fun things. Pier 6 is slated for a spring debut. And then, finally, that old fart Prospect Park can retire to Boca.

Brooklyn Bridge Park coverage [Curbed]

http://curbed.com/archives/2009/11/1..._gets_laid.php

[DarrylStrawberry]

Park Progress: Thirty-third Report–It’s beginning to look a lot like a park!

BHB photos by C. Scales

http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/14395

[BrooklynRider]

I started at Pier 6...

1. This is the rendering of the swing area



2. The metal arches will be for tire swings



3. Another view of the arches




4. Classic swing sets are on the rise behind the arches



5. wasn't sure what this was for. It was foam of some sort. I hope it isn't te actual ground cover for the swing areas, because it is hideous.

[BrooklynRider]

More of Pier 6...

The end third of the pier is not part of this phase of the project.

1. This pier is getting a hill like Pier 1, although it is much smaller.



2. The park will have two gatehouses. One will be at Pier 1. The other one will be here at Pier 6.



3. This is the main entry to the park at this end. Straight downthe path, beyond the hill, a cafe is also being built.




4. ooooh...aaaah... a curved path



5. Straight down the path, beyond the hill, a cafe is also being built.

[BrooklynRider]

1. View of Manhattan from the park



2. Old cut stone from the bulkhead and piers as opposed to...



3. Rocks



4. Demolition of the warehouses



5. From above you can see the beams that ar being carefully removed - I guess to be used as a covering for the gatehouses.



6. From afar (yes, I said "afar")

[BrooklynRider]

1. Lights being afixed to the poles



2. Every bit as ugly as I imagines and certainly not designed to minimize light pollution




3. A parking lot. Does Hudson River Park have a parking lot? Does Riverside Park have a parking lot? In addition, they will have more slot parking along the street.



4. At street level, it does look much nice than I'd imagined (except for the ugly ass stadium light poles).



5. Along the parking perimeter

[BrooklynRider]

1. Main entry path at Pier 1 with gatehouse.



2. Main entry path



3. The park from the Main Entry



4. Vista looking south from Street



5. They've progressed very nicely

[BrooklynRider]

1. Looking south from Fulton Landing



2. The pilings design just south of Pier 1 look fantastic.



3.



4.



5.

[BrooklynRider]

1.



2.



3. This tidal pool is right in front of Pier 2. The bottom has been laid with cast cement blocks that I imagine will minimize erosion in addition to collecting sediment for plant rooting and growth.



4. This area south of Pier 3 will be an actual beach in the future where we'll be able to wade into the East River. Everybody get your toxic wetsuits readied!

[DarrylStrawberry]

Great job BR. thanks for the pics. I love how you can see where the A and C tunnels are in the void in the piling field.

[BrooklynRider]

Is that what it is? I didn't know that.

[lofter1]

Excellent tour. Even from afar

[DarrylStrawberry]

boo.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...il_spring.html

Plan to open Pier 6 area at Brooklyn Bridge Park put on ice until spring
BY MIKE MCLAUGHLIN
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Monday, November 23rd 2009, 4:00 AM

ait till next year.

A large section of Brooklyn Bridge Park - with a playground, beach volleyball courts and a dog run - that was scheduled to open by the end of the year won't be ready until spring, the Daily News has learned.

"That's outrageous," said Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association President Sandy Balboza. "The winters are mild. I would go there with my dog. People are always visiting the waterfront."

Merchants on Atlantic Ave. want Pier 6 opened, because it would attract more shoppers to the area, Balboza said.

Officials from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp., a state agency, said they delayed the opening of Pier 6, near the foot of Atlantic Ave., because a harsh winter could wreak havoc on the sandy playground and volleyball courts, and few people are expected to use them when the temperature drops.

But the park's boosters remained upbeat, because another section of the park will soon open.

"The real news, what's really important, is that Pier 1 is actually opening this coming winter," said Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy Acting Executive Director Nancy Webster.

Pier 1, a rolling meadow near the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, was also slated to open by the new year, but that's been rescheduled for mid-January to avoid conflicts during the holidays, Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp. officials said.

Unlike Pier 6, where much construction needs to be done, Pier 1 has already been largely covered with greenery.

When fully complete, Brooklyn Bridge Park will stretch for 85 acres along the waterfront in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO.

Total construction costs are estimated at $350 million.

The park, which will also feature luxury condos, a hotel and shopping inside its boundaries, has slowly progressed over the past two decades, which is why the latest setback didn't surprise the project's critics.

"It's obvious that it was off track just from looking at what they've been doing," said Murray Adams, a board member of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, a group that lost a lawsuit trying to keep housing out of the park.

Elected officials insisted that the park must be ready when the warm weather returns.

"It's critical that Piers 1 and 6 are open by next spring and summer," said state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Cobble Hill).

[Merry]

No ‘park’ing! Critics say Brooklyn Bridge Park entrance isn’t so grand

By Will Yakowicz


The area near the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park as it appears now…


… and as officials say it will look in the middle of next year.



Grand entryway or condo driveway — you decide.

State development officials have released a rendering of what they call a “strong” design element for the entrance to the soon-to-open northern portion of Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The plaza, which will be finished by mid-2010, will lead visitors to Pier 1 at the foot of Old Fulton Street. Most of the work there — including two big lawns and a massive granite front stoop looking out at Manhattan — is slated to be done by the end of this year.

“The design is intended to create a continuous park experience,” said Regina Myer, president of Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, referring to existing greenspaces to the north that are cut off from Pier 1 by the River Cafe.

But critics say the entryway defies state officials’ promise of a “world class public park” in that it lacks a monumental element that would honor the harbor or the bridge that gives the park its name. The rendering merely shows new asphalt, wider sidewalks, and some trees.

“It’s the slap in the face to the great bridge,” said Judi Francis, referring to the Michael Van Valkenburgh design. Francis, a Cobble Hill resident, is a longtime opponent of the current park plan because it relies on the development of condos and other commercial elements to generate revenue for park maintenance.

“Where is any of the special-ness for this location in this entrance?” she added. “At this spot, at the end of Old Fulton Street, is where George Washington saved our army and fled from the British on boats to Manhattan. But this design looks like a driveway to any old corporate park in any old suburb in any old city in the United States.”

Another portion of parkland, at the foot of Atlantic Avenue at the southern edge of the 1.3-mile waterfront park, was also slated to be completed by the end of this year. But this section of the park, atop the former Pier 6, which will include a “destination playground”; a dog run; a promenade onto Pier 6; a 1,000-square-foot restaurant and roof deck; and three sand volleyball courts, won’t be done until the spring, the Daily News reported.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories..._entrance.html

http://curbed.com/archives/2009/11/3..._park.php#more