August 10, 2005

Dear Members,

It’s been in all the papers, including the New York Times: plans for the Brooklyn Bridge Park are progressing. We want to update all of our members on what is happening now.

Last month, the Empire State Development Corporation moved the park one step closer to reality, adopting the general project plan. In addition, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) examining the likely impact of the park as now proposed on such critical issues as traffic, air and water quality, noise, and infrastructure. Members of the BHA’s Brooklyn Bridge Park Committee are analyzing the draft EIS in detail, and will be submitting comments for the public hearing, to be held on Monday, September 19th from 5-9 PM in Polytechnic University’s Dibner Auditorium at 5 Metrotech Center.

The Brooklyn Heights Association continues to support the development of a park on the Brooklyn piers and waterfront adjacent to the two bridges, and we believe that the plan is strong and inventive. We are particularly excited by the design team’s ideas for integrating a variety of water related features in the park. We recognize that the park must be self-sustaining, and believe that housing offers the most revenue for the least amount of developed space in the park. People living on the fringes of the park will bring year-round “eyes on the park” and will generate stewardship of and activity in the park.

That having been said, we will continue to advocate around these important concerns:

• We applaud the park plan’s statement that Joralemon Street be closed to through traffic at the intersection with Furman Street to minimize park-bound traffic through the neighborhood, and we will fight to bring this plan to fruition.
• The tall building proposed for Pier 6 is too high as presently proposed. While we understand the park revenue requirement, development must be kept to the minimum necessary to obtain those revenues.
• The Purchase Building is a contributing building in the Fulton Ferry Landing Historic District, and its demolition would create a dangerous precedent for historic preservation efforts. This building is well situated for park-related uses.
• The Atlantic Avenue entrance must be splendid and welcoming. Like all the development parcels in the park, it must be subject to superb design standards that will enhance the park experience.
• We are concerned that the new buildings may cause park and highway noise to increase the sound level in Brooklyn Heights. Noise and sound attenuation for areas in, around, and above the park must be planned and designed now, as part of the effort to build the park.
• More recreational programming, such as a swimming pool/ice rink, can be incorporated into the park in later phases. We will work to create “placeholders” to make this happen sooner than later.

These issues all relate to the project plan and the draft environmental impact statement, which together provide the broad, general outline of the park. After EIS approval, another, more detailed design phase will take place, covering both the buildings to be built and the park itself. There is much work ahead, with continued opportunities for participation.

We urge members with a taste for technical reading to review the EIS documents. The master plan is relatively reader-friendly as are portions of the draft EIS. These documents are available at www.brooklynbridgepark.org/ or www.empire.state.ny.us/bbbpdc/. In addition, the BHA has published a position paper and a set of Frequently Asked Questions about the park on its website, www.brooklynheightsassociation.org/. We urge all members to educate themselves and follow the progress of Brooklyn Bridge Park and plan to attend the public hearing on Monday September 19, 2005. And, please, share your thoughts with us, both what you like and what you don’t. Our special park-related email address is BHAParkView@aol.com. You can also drop us a note at: Brooklyn Bridge Park comments, c/o BHA, 55 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Sincerely,

Mary Pat Thornton,
President