Browsing Tag

Brooklyn Heights Association

NYC Increases Budget For Citywide Tree Maintenance

July 7, 2012

New York City may be offering its neighborhoods an olive branch—or at least snippers to prune it—with a substantial budget increase for care of street and park trees. Over the past decade, NYC’s declining bottom line has given responsibility for beautification and maintenance in the Heights to the Brooklyn Heights Association, which has overseen a cyclical block pruning program. Since 2001, it has dedicated more than $75,000 to pruning, planting and tree care from member donations. A major BHA effort took place in February and March.

For the fiscal year that begins this week, NY’s City Council added $2 million for tree pruning to the $1.45 million in Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed budget. The extra money is part of $30 million in restorations to the Parks Department’s budget, including money for public pools.

Of course, the move equates to more than a green thumb from the city. According to The New York Times, falling trees and limbs have led to a marked increase in injuries, deaths and lawsuits. “Tree pruning is something where you don’t see the impact of deferring until there’s a tragedy,” Park Slope-based Councilman Brad Lander told the Times. “Hopefully, getting pruning back on a better schedule will mean New Yorkers will be safer.”

Money added for tree care would put street trees on a more timely pruning cycle. Because of budget cuts, the pruning rotation had been elongated to every 15 years from once every 7 years in 2008. During that time, the budget for street-tree pruning contracts fell to $1.4 million from $4.7 million.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43743

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, News

Bossert Plans Draw Cheers and Caveats

June 21, 2012

Update: Following last evening’s hearing, a majority of the Community Board 2 Land Use Committee voted to approve the new owner’s request for a variance to re-convert the Bossert to transient hotel use. The matter will now go to the full Community Board for consideration. We’ll keep you posted.

David Bistricer, buyer of the Bossert Hotel, was on hand for this evening’s hearing before Community Board 2′s Land Use Committee on his application for a variance to reconvert the grande dame of Montague to a “transient hotel.” While he didn’t speak, his attorney and several consultants offered these assurances: (1) it will be a hotel–indeed, a “sophisticated and upscale” (but not too upscale) hotel–not a dorm; (2) the beautiful lobby won’t be altered, but will become home to a first-class restaurant; (3) there will also be dining on the roof, but it will be very quiet; and (4) their studies of likely increases in traffic from guests arriving by taxi, limo or private car (they have an arrangement with Quick Park for valet parking service) and from delivery trucks indicate that the impact, compared with present conditions under Watchtower ownership, is not “significant.”

So, who liked it? The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, citing, among other things, the new owner’s “commitment to local hiring”; Glenn Markman, co-owner of Heights Cafe and soon-to-open Della Rocco’s, who said it will attract more business and perhaps more people to move to the Heights; Karen Johnson (who discovered she had a namesake in the audience), who “feels confident it will be done correctly”; the Montague Street BID, whose Executive Director, Brigit Pinnell, said the real comparison to be made was with alternative uses for the building, which include a dorm, a social services facility, or medical offices; and Borough President Marty Markowitz, whose spokeswoman said it will “help Downtown Brooklyn’s business community to thrive.”

Who had doubts? Brooklyn Heights Association Executive Director Judy Stanton asked what controls are in place to assure that this will be, and remain, a first class hotel. Consultant Jeff Klein said that the design, level of service, and room rates should do the trick. Ms. Stanton then noted that if the projections were wrong, there could be a large increase in taxi traffic. She also said she was concerned about guests arriving by private car; in particular, that they might have to wait in idling cars for valet service. Spokesmen for the buyer said that the assumptions made in the environmental assessment were “very conservative”, and that guests reserving rooms would be asked if they planned to arrive by private car, so that valet service could be scheduled to meet them.

Other cautionary messages came, unsurprisingly, from people living in the Bossert’s immediate vicinity. Several people from 200 Hicks Street expressed concerns. Richard F. Ziegler said the planned re-conversion “could be an asset [to the neighborhood] or an absolute devastating nightmare.” He found the statements made by the buyer’s attorney and consultants “confusing,” and said the residents of 200 Hicks had retained “high priced counsel” to represent their interests in the variance proceedings. Gretchen Dykstra, former City Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, expressed great concern about the rooftop lounge and dining area. She noted that a rooftop lounge at the Empire Hotel, also owned by Mr. Bistricer’s company, had become a venue for parties with DJs and loud music that went late into the night. When local residents complained, they were told that the owner wasn’t responsible; the space was leased to the organization[s] giving the parties. Kay Desai said more information was needed, and her husband, Rohit Desai, sternly warned Committee members that their failure to demand such information could be in violation of law.

Other neighbors with cautionary messages were David Green and Nils Larson, both Remsen Street residents. Mr. Green noted that the valet parking operation would result in an increase in traffic on Remsen because cars being taken from the hotel to Quick Park would have to go that way. Mr. Larson, a recent high school graduate, said he had grown up in Brooklyn Heights and always loved the neighborhood’s serenity. He has two much younger brothers who, because the local streets are safe, are able to walk to school and to squash lessons. He fears that the increase in traffic generated by the hotel may end that.

Photo: Brownstoner.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42752

From the Web

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

Primary Election Tuesday, June 26

June 14, 2012

If you’re a registered Democrat (we understand there are a few around here; Brooklyn Heights has not yet had an Alferd Packer; note: though the linked piece spells his name “Alfred” it really was “Alferd”); there’s an important primary election to determine who may represent you in Congress coming up on June 26. The Brooklyn Heights Association gives us these details:

THIS MATTERS. Turn-out will be low because nobody thinks about voting in June! In the U.S.Congressional District which includes Brooklyn Heights, new boundaries and shifting populations have created a contest. Hoping to unseat our incumbent Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez are three challengers: Erik Martin Dilan, George Martinez and Dan O’Connor. Continue Reading…


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42343

From the Web

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

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

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