The Bloomberg administration’s goal of assuming control of the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park from the state and infusing it with $55 million has not assuaged critics who don’t want to see luxury condos erected on site of the public park – even if it amounts to only 10 percent of the acreage, according to Courier Life.
Downright incredulous and aghast is how many who packed an unsuitably cramped Long Island College Hospital conference room earlier this week for a meeting with Parks Department officials reacted as city officials held steadfast to the creation of private housing as a means of covering the public park’s projected $15 million annual maintenance costs.
“I don’t understand how you can proceed as if the last 15 months [of economic decline] have not happened,” one exasperated observer declared.
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe insisted that the city is actually open to other sources of revenue to fund the new park, but subsequent statements by both he and other administration officials at the meeting rendered that declaration dubious at best.
“We believe that housing is the right solution,” an aide to Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber said at one point.
Benepe elicited audible moans and groans when he suggested “Many parks are boarded by very tall housing.”
Downright incredulous and aghast is how many who packed an unsuitably cramped Long Island College Hospital conference room earlier this week for a meeting with Parks Department officials reacted as city officials held steadfast to the creation of private housing as a means of covering the public park’s projected $15 million annual maintenance costs.
“I don’t understand how you can proceed as if the last 15 months [of economic decline] have not happened,” one exasperated observer declared.
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe insisted that the city is actually open to other sources of revenue to fund the new park, but subsequent statements by both he and other administration officials at the meeting rendered that declaration dubious at best.
“We believe that housing is the right solution,” an aide to Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber said at one point.
Benepe elicited audible moans and groans when he suggested “Many parks are boarded by very tall housing.”
Read More:
Courier Life - December 10, 2009 - By Joe Maniscalco
The Brooklyn Paper - December 8, 2009 - By Andy Campbell
On Brooklyn Bridge Park, Condos vs. Open Space
New York Daily News - December 7, 2009 - By Mike McLaughlin & Erin Durkin
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