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brooklyn bridge park

Real Estate, Sports

Another Meeting on BBP Fieldhouse in Willowtown Wednesday

June 25, 2012

For those who can’t make the meeting tomorrow (Monday, June 25) evening at St. Francis College on the proposed Fieldhouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park, there will be another meeting on the same topic this Wednesday evening, June 27, starting at 7:30, at the Alfred T. White Center, 26 Willow Place. More details, supplied by Ben Bankson of the Willowtown Association, follow the jump.

The proposed construction of a public multi-purpose athletic and recreation center along Furman Street just north of Joralemon in Brooklyn Bridge Park to be called The Fieldhouse will be the subject of a special community meeting sponsored by the Willowtown Association on Wednesday evening, June 27, at 7:30 at the Alfred T. White Center on Willow Place.

Construction of the center will realize a feature of the park that to date was not possible because of financial restraints. Its estimated cost, $40 million, will be underwritten by Joshua P. Rechnitz, a Manhattan philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of the nonprofit corporation, The New York City Fieldhouse, dedicated to “promoting healthy and sustainable living in our communities through recreational and competitive sports with an emphasis on competitive track cycling.” The donation is one of the largest ever made to a New York City park. Mr. Rechnitz will also underwrite any shortfalls in operating revenue incurred by the center for the first 10 years.

Speakers at the June 27 presentation will include Greg Brooks, newly named executive director of The New York City Fieldhouse Inc., and representatives of the donor and the architectural firm retained to design the center, Thomas Phifer and Partners.

The outmoded one-story warehouse building on the site of the proposed center was to remain as a storage and maintenance facility for the park. The Fieldhouse is to include space for these purposes along with a public boathouse and restrooms.

Photo: Jan VanderPutten for Playbill.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42970

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Brooklyn Heights

As Brooklyn Bridge Park Eases Forward, Parks In Greenpoint & Bushwick Stall

June 21, 2012

As progress on Brooklyn Bridge Park continues to ease forward—however controversial—other areas of Brooklyn are apparently not as fortunate. City officials admit that two stalled North Brooklyn parks will likely see little to no progress before Mayor Bloomberg’s term runs out in November 2012, because funding was allocated to other projects.

A long-promised waterfront recreation area in Williamsburg’s Greenpoint and a planned open space at Bushwick Inlet Park are both at risk of simply never materializing. The Brooklyn Paper reports that two top Bloomberg aides deflected a barrage of questions from Brooklyn council members over the projects, refusing to estimate when or if they might be completed, citing budget constraints. Parks Assistant Commissioner Joshua Laird: “We don’t have a bottomless pit of money. It’s just not possible to acquire property. The city has an obligation to its taxpayers.”

Open space advocates counter that the city also has an obligation to North Brooklyn after approving a controversial rezoning of 200 industrial blocks in Williamsburg and Greenpoint seven years ago in exchange for a commitment to build hundreds of affordable housing units, a mile-long esplanade abutting the East River and several new parks. Instead, a number of luxury residential towers have risen along the river’s edge.

For Bushwick Inlet Park, the city has only acquired half of the required lots to begins its buildout, while city budget planners reallocated $13 million of the $14 million intended for that park’s development for other projects. Bloomberg aides claim the city could raise funds by selling air rights to developers around adjacent commercial properties to fund the park.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42746

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Brooklyn Heights

‘Water On The Go’ Drinking Fountains Keep Brooklyn Bridge Park Green

June 21, 2012

New York’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) intends to utilize Brooklyn Bridge Park as a showcase for New York City’s pristine water supply in the battle against bottled water’s waste of plastic. Both Pier 1 and Pier 6 will offer its “Water On The Go” program, which will bring portable drinking fountains to the locale throughout the summer. The porta-sips will also pop up along the Borough Hall Plaza.

According to a story in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Water on the Go units pretty much resemble portable sinks with six nozzles, hooked up to a fire hydrant by a tube. There are also bowls for pets. A station was set up outside during the Brooklyn Historical Society Brooklyn Brewery Beer Gardens event May 30 in Brooklyn Heights, pictured here.

BBP President Regina Myer told the Eagle, “As a waterfront park, we pride ourselves on being a destination that offers something for everyone, and we’re happy to add the… park’s Water-on-the-Go station.” Brooklyn Bridge Park participated in Water-on-the-Go last year as well.

Read the full story at Brooklyn Daily Eagle here.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42730

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News

Starwood & Toll Brothers Chosen to Develop Hotel & Residential Near Pier One

June 19, 2012

As anticipated, Mayor Bloomberg’s office announced today that the proposal for a hotel and residential complex on the space between Furman Street and Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park submitted by Starwood Capital Group and Toll Brothers has been selected. The image (thanks to Curbed) shows how the buildings will look from the Promenade. As you can see, they will partially obstruct the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and largely obscure the view of Pier 1.

According to the Curbed article linked above, the hotel will have 200 rooms and the residential portion will have 159 units. The article also quotes from the Mayor’s press release:

The proposed building plan will feature nearly 16,000 square feet of restaurant space, 16,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, 2,000 square feet of retail space, a 6,000-square-foot spa and fitness center and 300 parking spaces. It also includes park restrooms as well as maintenance space for park operations.

The hotel will be named Hotel 1.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42634

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News

BBP Pool To Open Soon; Benepe Leaving Parks Department

June 19, 2012

The “temporary” swimming pool (we understand it will be around for five years) located just inland of Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park (see photo, taken from Promenade) is, according to Brownstoner, likely to open even sooner than a projected June 28 date. Stay tuned.

In other parks related news, the Wall Street Journal reports that City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, seen here riding the lead horse on the first official spin of Jane’s Carousel, and here with Brooklyn Heights Association President Jane McGroarty at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s “Sunset Bhangra” party, is resigning to become head of the San Francisco based Trust for Public Land. Mr. Benepe served as Commissioner for ten years. Mayor Bloomberg has announced that Veronica M. White, now head of the City’s Center for Economic Opportunity, will be his successor.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42628

From the Web

Public Meeting On BBP Field House: Monday June 25

June 19, 2012

There will be a public meeting at which you may state your views or concerns about the proposed multi-use recreation facility to be sited on the uplands near Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park (location shown in photo), supported by a $40 million gift from philanthropist Joshua Rechnitz.

This proposal has aroused some controversy, especially concerning possible increases in vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. on Monday, June 25 at the Callahan Center, St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street (between Clinton and Court streets).


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42620

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Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO

First Look At Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Hotel/Rez Complex

June 15, 2012

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. is expected to vote Tuesday June 19 on which developer will be awarded the contract to build the controversial BBP hotel and residential complex next to Pier 1 near DUMBO, as mandated by NYC Mayor Bloomberg to fund the future of the park.

Curbed refers to reports in The New York Times and Crain’s that favor Toll Brothers and Starwood Capital Group. Those companies have combined forces to offer a hotel comprising 200 rooms, with a 160-unit condo complex. There will also be 32,000 square feet of restaurant & banquet space, a 6,000-square-foot spa and 300 parking spaces. Under the development guidelines for the park, the hotel and connecting residences cannot exceed 100 feet in height, while a separate residential building can’t be more than 55 feet tall.

In addition, three more apartment buildings—one at John Street and two next to Pier 6—are planned for the park. The project, which would begin construction in 2013 and open in 2015, claims that it will generate $119.7 million in rent and other payments. It is conceivable that the multi-use residential and commercial complex will be complete long before the park itself.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42452

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Arts and Entertainment, Events, Food, Music

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s ‘Sunset Bhangra’

June 10, 2012

On Thursday evening your correspondent donned rain-ready togs before heading down to Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Sunset Bhangra party, but the weather proved benign, as the rain that threatened stayed just to our north. People kept coming in droves; fortunately, food and drink were plentiful, and good. Video, more text and photos after the jump.

Looking down from the entry at 6:15 p.m., I could see a good sized crowd beginning to assemble.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation President Regina Myer.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Brooklyn Heights Association President Jane McGroarty.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Executive director Nancy Webster.

In the video above, party guests cut loose learning to dance the bhangra way. It was a Bollywood climax to a delightful party.

Love the Park? Consider becoming a charter member of the Conservancy. Details are here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42026

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Arts and Entertainment, Brooklyn Heights

ISSUE Project Room Welcomes Heights Rez, Former BHA Prez Tom van den Bout As New Board Chair

June 8, 2012

The ISSUE Project Room brings in architect and community leader Tom van den Bout as its new Board Chair. The nonprofit member of the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance, established in 2003 by artist Suzanne Fiol, is an outpost for cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary arts in the borough.

Brooklyn Heights resident Van den Bout is an architect and founding partner with NV/design.architecture in New York. Before launching his own firm in 1995, he worked for Steven Holl Architects, Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Associates, Kohn Pedersen Fox and Michael Gabellini. He also served as President of the Board of Governors for the Brooklyn Heights Association for three years, and a Board Member for 12+ years.

He has lived in the Heights since 1991, and brings to ISSUE a strong background in community service. His BHA work focused on development of Brooklyn Bridge Park, preservation and the BHA’s centennial. Van den Bout also served on the boards of the Dodge YMCA, Prospect Park’s Audubon Center and as Chair of the Landmark Committee of Brooklyn Community Board 2.

Van den Bout succeeds the four-year term of Steve Wax, a partner at Campfire media and founder of Cine Manifest and Chelsea Pictures. In addition to van den Bout’s appointment, the Board elected consultant Jeanne Lutfy, former President of the BAM Local Development Corp., as Vice Chair; and David Sims of Lever and Beam, LLC, as Treasurer. Marcus Brauer, of Russell Reynolds Associates also joins the Board.

Van den Bout comments, “It’s an honor to serve as chair for such a wonderful board and such a vital and important performing arts organization. This is an exciting time at ISSUE. Our move to the historic theater at 22 Boerum Place, the impending renovation of the space, the growth of our audience and connection to a new neighborhood will create new opportunities for our organization and the artists we support.”

ISSUE supports emerging and established experimental artists through 100+ programs each year, including music concerts, literary readings, films, videos, dance, visual and sound art, new media, critical theory lectures and discussions, site-specific work, commissions, educational workshops, master classes and genre-defying interdisciplinary performances that challenge and expand conventional practices in art.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41821

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Brooklyn Heights

ISSUE Project Room Welcomes Heights Rez, Former BHA Prez Tom van den Bout As New Chair

June 8, 2012

The ISSUE Project Room brings in architect and community leader Tom van den Bout as its new Board Chair. The nonprofit member of the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance, established in 2003 by artist Suzanne Fiol, is an outpost for cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary arts in the borough.

Brooklyn Heights resident Van den Bout is an architect and founding partner with NV/design.architecture in New York. Before launching the company in 1995, he worked for several other prominent architectural firms. He also served as President of the Board of Governors for the Brooklyn Heights Association for three years, and a Board Member for 12+ years.

He has lived in the Heights since 1991, and brings to ISSUE a strong background in community service. His BHA work focused on development of Brooklyn Bridge Park, preservation and the BHA’s centennial. Van den Bout also served on the boards of the Dodge YMCA, Prospect Park’s Audubon Center and as Chair of the Landmark Committee of Brooklyn Community Board 2.

Van den Bout succeeds the four-year term of Steve Wax, a partner at Campfire media and founder of Cine Manifest and Chelsea Pictures. In addition to van den Bout’s appointment, the Board elected consultant Jeanne Lutfy, former President of the BAM Local Development Corp., as Vice Chair; and David Sims of Lever and Beam, LLC, as Treasurer. Marcus Brauer, of Russell Reynolds Associates also joins the Board.

Van den Bout comments, “It’s an honor to serve as chair for such a wonderful board and such a vital and important performing arts organization. This is an exciting time at ISSUE. Our move to the historic theater at 22 Boerum Place, the impending renovation of the space, the growth of our audience and connection to a new neighborhood will create new opportunities for our organization and the artists we support.”

ISSUE supports emerging and established experimental artists through 100+ programs each year, including music concerts, literary readings, films, videos, dance, visual and sound art, new media, critical theory lectures and discussions, site-specific work, commissions, educational workshops, master classes and genre-defying interdisciplinary performances that challenge and expand conventional practices in art.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41821

From the Web