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Brooklyn Heights

Tale of the Tweets: Brooklyn Heights Library Hearing

January 29, 2013

The Friends of the Brooklyn Heights Branch Library held a Trustees Meeting on Tuesday night addressing the impending sale of the building. As previously reported, it was  announced on January 15 several BPL branches would be impacted as the system shifts to digital media and services. The current Brooklyn Heights’ Cadman Plaza branch will be closing and be “temporarily relocated.”  

The Brooklyn Eagle was on at the hearing and live tweeted highlights. (The “star” of the evening was apparently Josh Nachowitz—pictured here—the library’s VP for Government and Community Relations.)

Brooklyn Heights Library Hearing 1/29/13

Storified by Brooklyn Bugle· Tue, Jan 29 2013 17:59:52

Hearing on closing ["temporary relocation"] of Brooklyn Heights library and permanent biz library move is on.http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/library-block-plans-sell-brooklyn-heights-branch-building-gets-hearing-tuesday-night …Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Corrected link to Eagle’s library story: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/library-block-plans-sell-brooklyn-heights-branch-building-gets-hearing-tuesday-night ••• Live tweet of Friends of BH Library trustees meeting will begin shortly.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
While BH library remains open, weekly booksale (which benefits the library) will continues, Noon-2 pm on Fridays.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Josh Nachowitz, VP Govt and Community Relations, begins: "The BPL has no intention of going anywhere … of abandoning Brooklyn Heights."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: Brooklyn Public Library’s ability to serve Brooklyn Heights is handicapped by limitations of current building. #BPLBrooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: Brooklyn Public Library’s ability to serve Brooklyn Heights is handicapped by limitations of current building. #BPLBrooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: "We hv been faced w/very severe infrastructure issues with this building" A/C cannot be repaired; wld cost 3-1/2mil to replace.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: #BPL is "looking at ways to partner w/pvt sector developer who can bld a brand new state of the art branch library on this site."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: It’s a lengthy process that wld begin fairly "soon."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz downplay biz library, says biz libr not designed for dtown biz cmty and #BPL has been thinking of movg it for long time.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
First question to Nachowitz: "On whose authority" does library seek to impose giant new bldg on BHeights cmmty?Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Confirmed by Friends’ secy: A/C was renovated in 1993 and it broke first summer. [It’s malfunctioned ever since.]Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: Bldg needs 3-1/2mil for a/c, 9+mil for infrastructure fix. Planned library replacement isan "opportunity for this community."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Q: "How long will we go w/o library serv while they’re doing all this stuff?" Nachowitz promises temp loc but "can’t tell you" how long.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz: Other option: bldg will close. "If we don’t do something w/ this building we will not be able to provide library services."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
During 20 yrs when a/c’s been broken, why hasn’t it been fixed? Nachowitz says, essentially, tht Bklyn Heights was low #BPL priority.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz denies #BPL has made it a priority to craft real estate deals — except for Brooklyn Heights branch.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz asked if #BPL would rule out doing biz w/ Forest City Ratner. A: "Absolutely not."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Audience member calls plan to transfer ownership of library site "from public to private" "sad and tragic." #BPLBrooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz said temporary space "ideally" would be a physical space. Doesn’t discount a Bookmobile.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Retired #BPL librarian points out that biz library’s dtown locaiton is much more accessible than Grand Army Plz branch.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz asked what other fundraising options #BPL looked at to avoid developer "bait and switch." Says raising pvt $ is "very difficult."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Councilman Levin rises to defend the process and calm nerves. "The comty does hv a very substantive role in whatever happens."Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Levin urges #BPL to "come up w/ solutions that provide a continuity of service" in coming summer.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Levin says process would be different than at Atlantic Yards and BBridge Park.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nachowitz says zoning allows for 10 FAR (roughly 10x lot size), about a 170,000 sq ft bldg (incl 15,000 sq ft for library).Brooklyn Daily Eagle
BHA Exec Dir Judy Stanton asks Nachowitz to promise to consult w/ "very small" group from community.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
BHA Exec Dir Judy Stanton asks Nachowitz to promise to consult w/ "very small" group from community.Brooklyn Daily Eagle
From library hearing, that’s a wrap. More from reporter Mary Frost @BklynEagle website in the morning: http://www.BrooklynEagle.comBrooklyn Daily Eagle
@BklynEagle All yr followers now craving nachos. "Thus began The Great Brooklyn Nacho Stampede of 2013."Carrie

Photo via Brooklyn Daily


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/54669

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Events, Sports

Want Olympic Squash? Join Flash Mob on Promenade Monday

September 30, 2012

Brooklyn Heights is a hotbed of squash–not the kind you eat, but the kind you play. As this Eagle article notes, the Heights Casino “might well be called the squash center of the universe.” Despite the sport’s international popularity, it is as yet not recognized for the Olympics. To boost its chances of being added to the 2020 Games, a “flash mob” will assemble on the Promenade at the Montague Street entrance Monday at 5:30 p.m. More details after the jump.

This week 17 of the top 20 professional women’s squash players in the world are in Brooklyn Heights for a major tournament on their tour calendar. They hail from 14 countries and have traveled from as far away as Malaysia and Australia. In addition to their amazing on court performances they have organized an event on the Promenade in support of the sport’s bid to join the Olympics in 2012. Please come out and join them by showing off Brooklyn’s hospitality and global spirit. They will be hosting similar events in iconic locations across the globe.

As the official “Back the Bid” colors are red and white, participants are asked to please wear red or white shirts.

Image: Heartless Doll.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/48474

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, History

The First Notion Of Brooklyn Bridge Park… In 1988

August 22, 2012

Ever wondered how the notion of building a park along the Brooklyn Heights waterfront came to pass? Henrik Korgius, Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and BHB hero, offers details of its will to launch, beginning in 1988.

He writes, “Brooklyn Bridge Park is a very different place since the first ‘American Landscape’ plan in the form of a Harbor Park, sponsored by the Brooklyn Heights Association and designed by Terry Schnadelbach, was presented in 1988. Protracted struggle with the Port Authority, which wanted to replace the piers that closed in 1983 with housing along the stretch below the Promenade, lasted beyond 1992, (when) then Borough President Howard Golden pushed a separate Brooklyn Harbor plan calling for food stalls and other concessions on a mainly paved area.”

Read the full piece here. Interesting goodies.

(Photo: Brooklyn Daily Eagle)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46190

From the Web

History

Times Remembers Eagle’s Dennis Holt, Civil Rights Hero

July 9, 2012

In the Sunday New York Times Metropolitan section, Kevin Baker remembers his friend of many years, Dennis Holt, who died last month. Baker paints a colorful portrait of Holt as “a classic New York eccentric” who once chased an intruder from his Boerum Hill townhouse while brandishing a Civil War era dress sword.

Baker also discloses that, as a student government leader at the University of Alabama in 1956, Holt faced down thugs who rioted when an African American woman, Autherine Lucy, attempted to enroll there. He later sponsored a resolution “that mob violence be denounced at the University of Alabama and that means be found to protect the future personal safety of the students, white or Negro — and the faculty and the reputation of the university.” He was also a national collegiate debating champion. Who knew?


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43894

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, News

‘Brooklyn Eagle’ Sign Taken Down Tuesday

June 20, 2012

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle sign, a fixture at the newspaper’s former HQ at 30 Henry Street was taken down this morning by workers.  A six story residential building is slated to be built at that location. Instagram photo via bmacmedia


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42656

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Real Estate

Heights Deal Of The Day: 204 Columbia Heights, $7 A Week! (In 1902, That Is)

June 12, 2012

With summer just around the corner, this is the ideal time to reserve your summer space here in Brooklyn Heights. And have I got a deal for you: 204 Columbia Heights, The Berkshire. Overlooking the Harbor. “Why put up with country inconveniences when you can find all the comforts and coolest of sea breezes at home? Unobstructed view of entire bay, elevator, electric light, telephone, one minute from Wall St. Ferry, 5 minutes from Bridge or Fulton Ferry, second & fourth floor suites, single & double rooms, including superior board & attendance.” The price: $7 and up: per week.

Of course, you would have to transport yourself back 110 years, as per an advert in today’s Brooklyn Eagle… from June 13, 1903. In addition, the Berkshire of the early 20th Century unfortunately no longer exists. The current six-story 204 Columbia Heights (pictured above & below) was built in 1925, which today, as a coop, maintains 16 units. Looks like it’s too late, after all. Sigh…


(Advert: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 13, 1902/Photos: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42256

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, News

‘Dean Of Brooklyn Reporters’ Dennis Holt Dies At 77

June 8, 2012

Dennis Holt, a longtime columnist and staff writer for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and sister publication Brooklyn Heights Press, died at age 83 77 Thursday after complications from a fall in his home on May 14. He had suffered broken ribs and a blow to the head, made worse by a blood thinner he had been prescribed.

After serving many years as press advisor to a number of elected officials, including former Rep. Stephen Solarz, Holt was one of the founding editors of the Brooklyn Phoenix newspaper in 1972. In the mid-1990s, when the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was revived and merged with the existing Brooklyn Daily Bulletin, he became a senior editor and columnist. He was an active contributor to the Eagle family until his fall, writing the “Brooklyn Broadside” column and other features.

Born in Kansas, Holt moved to Boerum Hill with his wife 40 years ago and raised his family there. Holt has been called a Brooklyn treasure—like Junior’s cheesecake—and the Dean of Brooklyn reporters.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz released the following statement this morning:

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of longtime Boerum Hill resident Dennis Holt, a veteran columnist and writer who really set the gold standard for journalism among Brooklyn reporters. In addition to his informative reporting for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and other publications during his storied career, Dennis had a keen political insight that he developed as a press advisor to elected officials such as Brooklyn Congressman Stephen Solarz, also of blessed memory. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dennis’ work and he always gave me and this office a fair shake—he was the antithesis of today’s ‘gotcha’ style of ‘journalism.’ On behalf of Dennis’ loyal readers and all Brooklynites, I extend my condolences and prayers to his wife, Susan, and children, Debbie and Matthew, as we mourn the passing of a true Brooklyn legend.

Read more in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41902

From the Web