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BQE Blockage

July 24, 2012

We received notice from Notify NYC that the eastbound BQE (southbound as it passes Brooklyn Heights) is blocked near the Brooklyn Bridge because of an overturned tractor-trailer. When we arrived at the sidewalk overlooking Hillside Park at about 5:45 p.m., this is what we saw: an upright but apparently disabled tractor-trailer in the left lane; a flatbed parked behind it; a red car stopped in the right lane; and a policeman directing all traffic onto the Cadman Plaza West exit.

As of 7 p.m., WINS-AM reported that eastbound lanes remain closed as wreckage has yet to be cleared from the road, while traffic is backed up all the way to Bay Ridge. (Photo: Claude Scales)

Update: The eastbound lanes are now open. There’s a photo on Gothamist of the overturned truck further down the BQE that caused the blockage here (thanks to readers Bloomy and Joe).


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/44654

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO

DUMBO’s Brooklyn Bridge Park Entrance Vies To Become Pedestrian Plaza

July 12, 2012

While there’s hardly a similar open space in Brooklyn Heights, the DUMBO Improvement District is proposing an intriguing option: to close off traffic along Anchorage Place—which serves as the north entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park—and turn it into a pedestrian plaza. A hearing on the plan was held Wednesday eve to air both sides of the proposal.

McBrooklyn reports that at least eight local businesses back the plan, citing pedestrian safety and more room for seating next to the colorfully painted Pearl Street Triangle. But Doreen Gallo, Executive Director of the DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance, believes that closing the street will take away from the “grandeur” of the neighborhood. She told the Brooklyn Eagle, “People can’t imagine this space and how this should be the Grand North Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park.”

Sadly, the Heights has no such “grand” entry point, after Mayor Bloomberg emphatically nixed a proposed BBP throughway from the most obvious entryway: along the southern tip of the Promenade. The best we’ve got is the coming Squibb Park Bridge that will connect the neighborhood from Columbia Heights across Furman Street to Pier One.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/44110

From the Web

Bang! Bang! Another Weekend Of Montague Street Mayhem

June 30, 2012

Last weekend, Montague was blocked as crews work on the street’s subterranean infrastructure. Ditto this weekend, as vehicles were re-routed from motoring down Montague between Hicks and Henry streets. The predominant construction is taking place in front of the Bossert Hotel at 97 Montague, where a peek inward reveals a cavalcade of wires, pipes and beams hearkening projects through the decades.

In addition, new sidewalks are being paved at Montague and Henry, in front of Corcoran Realty, while the opposite corner near City Chemist is being reshaped along the curb area. See photos below the jump.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43275

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, News

Willowtowners Fear Traffic Nightmares From Fieldhouse Crowds

June 29, 2012

Yesterday (Wednesday) evening the Fieldhouse road show continued in Willowtown, at a meeting arranged by the Willowtown Association and hosted by their President, Ben Bankson. The opening presentation was similar to that at St. Francis on Monday, except that Fieldhouse Executive Director Greg Brooks stressed even more–no doubt anticipating the questions he knew would come–that this was a meeting to hear concerns and get information from the community, not to offer answers. Also, the design portion of the presentation was handled by Jean Phifer (photo) of Thomas Phifer and Partners, instead of Greg Smith, of that firm.

Kate Collignon, of consultant HR&A Advisors, Inc., fielded the first volley of questions. The opening question was, what is the expected daily usage of the Fieldhouse? Ms. Collignon said there is no specific expectation at present; this will have to await information from local schools and other community organizations about their needs and desires. The next question was: How, then, can projections of traffic be made for the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement without full information about usage? Joralemon Street resident Frank Ciaccio said the issue of transportation needed to be addressed first. Others quickly seconded this, some noting that Joralemon between Hicks and Furman is already overburdened with auto (especially livery cab) traffic seeking a shortcut to the BQE. There was general agreement that the best solution to this problem was to block entrance to Furman Street from Joralemon. It was suggested that this could be done with retractable bollards that could be lowered to allow passage of emergency vehicles when needed. However, this would require assent of the City’s Department of Transportation, as well, perhaps, of other agencies.

Parking was also a concern. Some residents noted that parking in Willowtown had become more difficult since the playground on Pier 6 had opened, and anticipated its being much worse with the Fieldhouse. Ms. Collignon noted that one of the ways to encourage people to use mass transit instead of cars was to provide jitney service from nearby subway stations. Mr. Ciaccio suggested opening a tunnel from the Clark Street subway platform to Furman Street, which he said could be done at minimal cost.

One resident, noting Ms. Phifer’s emphasis on the lightness of her firm’s buildings, said she had spent a winter fostering a family of abandoned dogs in the the then derelict area where the Fieldhouse is to be constructed. She said the winter time she spent there showed the site to be extremely cold and windy, and she hoped that the architects, who were proud of their “light” buildings, would design something strong enough to withstand the weather. Ms. Phifer assured her that they would.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43232

From the Web

Montague Blocked

June 23, 2012

The traffic and environmental consultant for the new owner of the Bossert at Wednesday’s hearing described the intersection of Hicks and Montague streets as rating a “B” on a scale by which intersections are graded for their ease of transit. Today it would rate an “D” (Hicks is still open), as crews continue to work on subterranean infrastructure, necessitating closure of Montague. Update: It’s open again.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42889

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

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

From the Web

News

Five Year Old Hit by Taxi at Hicks and Amity

April 15, 2012

A five year old boy was critically injured when struck by a taxi at Hicks and Amity streets yesterday.

New York Post: A 5-year-old boy ran into a Brooklyn street and was hit by a taxi before the horrified eyes of his deaf parents, who then carried his seriously injured body half a block to an emergency room.

The child darted between two parked cars onto Hicks Street…at around 4:40 p.m. yesterday and was struck by the SUV cab, police and witnesses told The Post.

According to the Post story, the boy “was transferred to SUNY Downstate Hospital.” Since LICH is now part of SUNY Downstate, it’s not clear if this means he was admitted to LICH or taken to the hospital’s other campus. The story also notes that the taxi driver was not charged.

The Post located the accident at “Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights”, but Carroll Gardens Patch states it was at Amity and Hicks, which concurs with the statement that the boy’s parents carried him half a block to the LICH emergency room.

Update: Today’s Post identifies the boy as Timothy Keith, of Washington, D.C., who is here with his parents on a visit. Like both his parents, he is deaf. He is reported to be “on a respirator in very critical condition”.


Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7021

From the Web