Monday, August 17, 2009

More Changes Coming to Downtown Brooklyn

A series of changes, some big, some small, are coming to Downtown Brooklyn. Here's a roundup of the latest:

- Columbus Park and its plaza next to Brooklyn Borough Hall will be transformed into “a vibrant, engaging public space." Plans include improving the park's landscaping and increasing activities on the plaza, such as a Brooklyn-themed miniature golf course, evening movies etc. Brooklyn Eagle

- The Bloomberg administration has picked City Point, the big housing and retail complex already started (but stalled) at the old Albee Square Mall, to receive $20 million in tax-exempt bonds financed by the federal stimulus program. New York Times
More details: affordable units going in first.

- Brooklyn BP Marty Markowitz is pushing for the city Department of Finance to move out of the Brooklyn Municipal Building and into the City Point tower, above. (He's also called for retail in the ground floor of the Municipal Building.) Crain's NY

- Catsimatidis' project on Myrtle Ave., near Flatbush Avenue Extension will be partially built by the first quarter of 2010; it will house a Duane Reade drugstore, a full-service neighborhood supermarket and 95 residential apartments. Brooklyn Eagle

- Hundreds of new residents will pour into downtown Brooklyn when its tallest building—the 51-story Brooklyner—opens in 2010 at 111 Lawrence Street. Observer

- Phase I of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project is finally underway. Streetsblog

- The city has all of the parcels necessary to create Willoughby Square Park. Construction was projected to start late 2009. Brooklyn Eagle

- Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn may soon be known as “Hotel Row.” On a block with three other hotels under construction, a fourth is planned. Brooklyn Eagle

- The Fulton Streetscape Project continues with new sidewalks on side streets, the demolition of old bus shelters, kiosks, etc. New bus shelters, benches, lights and more will be installed. An open space around Albee Square is being constructed. FMIA

- Upscale retail is planned for 345 Adams Street within the year. Brooklyn Eagle

Top photo by MK Metz
Municipal Building Rendering Courtesy of Studio AMD

Fulton St. rendering courtesy of the FMIA

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

none of this is news, except for the first eagle story.

Anonymous said...

On that first eagle story, Columbus Park... does this mean that the Court employees, Marty, and Marty's staff will have to park in a public parking garage instead of in the park? How did the park get turned into a parking lot in the first place?

bj said...

Their vehicles will be cleverly integrated into the minigolf course.

Brooks of Sheffield said...

And the mass transportation and schools serving these burgeoning areas will remain the same.

Anonymous said...

Really? Minature golf? Who cares? Seriously: who is going to use it?

Anonymous said...

Are they going to incorporate the famous Borough Hall rat holes in the minigolf?