The future Brooklyn Bridge Park will be a major step forward for Brooklyn and New York City. It will be the first major new park development in Brooklyn since Prospect Park was built 135 years ago. The proposed 85-acre park will stretch 1.3 miles along the East River from Atlantic Avenue to just north of the Manhattan Bridge. The 85 acre park includes the huge Piers 1 - 6 on the Brooklyn Heights waterfronts, where the present warehouses will be dismantled. This is an ugly eyesore and a totally underused and inaccessible area. It is planned to establish a recreational space with lawns, beaches, coves, playgrounds and some restored wetlands. There will be floating pathways, fishing piers and canals.
In 2007 the General Project Plan and Environmental Impact Statement were approved and the land title transferred from the Port Authority to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation. It is currently anticipated that construction will commence in 2008, with completion in 2012. The total public construction cost is estimated at $130 million, this excludes additional private investment in the commercial properties. Funding of the public project will be provided by New York State, New York City and the Port Authority.
While the majority of Heights and Dumbo residents view the Brooklyn Bridge Park positively, there are concerns about increased traffic and lack of public transportation close to the park. A lawsuit challenging commercial and residential development was struck down just recently.
According to the project plan, the cost of operation, maintenance and upkeep must be paid out of the revenues received from commercial activities and residential projects located within the park. For Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo residents the commercial development remains a major concern. Here is a summary from the project plan:
- Pier 6: located close to Atlantic Avenue:
Option 1: Construction of two residential buildings, on 315ft high with 290 units and the other 155ft high with 140 units with ground floor retail use, or
Option 2: Construction of two residential buildings. Each building would be approx. 215ft in height and have up to 190 units, the building closer to Furman Street could include a ground floor retail space. In addition an existing building, known as Building 50, located at the northwest corner of Joralemon and Furman Streets would be converted to residential use (50 units), height to be increased from 43 ft to approx. 54 ft.
Under either option, 72 parking spaces could be provided for residents and the public, or might be eliminated. - Upland Between Pier 5 and 6: The existing 360 Furman Street building will be converted from manufacturing use to residential use (500 units) with ground floor retail and a restaurant. Two stories would be added to the building, increasing its height from 146 to 169 ft., and 650 parking spaces would be provided.
- Upland of Pier 1: The exisiting Cold Storage Warehouse near Fulton Ferry Landing would be replaced by two buildings of 55 ft and 100 ft height to house a mixed use hotel (170 - 225 rooms plus restaurant and meeting rooms) and residential development (150 - 180 units). Present building height is 110 ft.. Parking spaces: 300. A 650 seat restaurant would be located closer to the pier.
- Interbridge Area (Dumbo): The Empire Stores warehouses, vacant for over 50 years, will be rehabilitated. Space of 398,760 sq ft will be created for a mix of commercial, retail, and office uses.
- North of the Manhattan Bridge (Dumbo): At 1-11 John Street a new residential building (130 units, ground floor retail space, 110 parking spaces) will be developed. Building height: 170ft.
The Brooklyn Heights Association is supportive of the park plan, but has some caveats; read their position here. I think overall it is a wonderful project, but I am also concerned about the extensive commercial development, increased traffic flow and lack of public transportation close to the future park. Another point is the noise from the Brooklyn-Queens-Expressway (BQE) above. Having jogged for more than 20 years on Furman Street below the BQE I cannot help but wonder why the issue of traffic noise has not been addressed. There are obvious solutions to this.
Blogs &Web Sites relevant to the project:
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation
Brooklyn Heights Association
post your comments herelast updated: October 15, 2008