Walking along the shops and restaurants on Court Street in Cobble Hill, an open door in a nondescript building reveals a glimpse of a production of the Vertical Players Repertory Theater.
Photo by MK Metz
Thursday, June 14, 2007
A Glimpse Into Another World on Court Street
Brooklyn House of Detention Forum Thursday -- Commissioner Horn Will Answer All Your Questions
A reader sent McBrooklyn the announcement that a community forum about the City's plan to reopen the Brooklyn House of Detention (and to supersize it) will be held on Thursday, June 21st at 7 p.m., at the Belarusian Church, 401 Atlantic Avenue (Atlantic and Bond). Commissioner Martin Horn of the Department of Corrections will be the principal speaker.
The "Stakeholders' Group" is hosting this event. The Stakeholders' Group includes the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association, the Boerum Hill Association, 53 Boerum Place, the Atlantic Avenue LDC, Brooklyn Vision Foundation and the Brooklyn Heights Association.
Previous posts about the Brooklyn House of Detention here.
Photo by MK Metz
DeBlasio: Scarano 'Bad Actor' and Cheat -- And DOB Ignores Self-Certification Shenanigans
At the June 6 press conference to protest the controversial 46-unit, 70-foot-tall Scarano building to occupy the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Place, City Council Member Bill de Blasio pulled no punches. He called Scarano a “bad actor” who “cheats in any way he can” creating “pain and difficulty” for the residents who live around his building sites, according to the Brooklyn Eagle's Hills & Gardens editor, Trudy Whitman.
Oh, and De Blasio called on New York State to revoke Scarano’s architect’s license.
Though Scarano lost the privilege of self-certification last year because of "blatant" violations of code in numerous projects, says Whitman, the Department of Buildings recently “accidentally” approved a set of Williamsburg plans as professionally certified by Scarano -- until upset neighbors pointed the problem out to the DOB. Oops!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
With Hoopla But No Protests, Brooklyn's Astroturfed Cadman Plaza Park Unveiled
The lack of even one protester was a bit odd, considering all of the drama over the installation of synthetic turf in Cadman Plaza Park in 
Brooklyn Heights
(technically Downtown Brooklyn).
At one point, the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, New Yorkers for Parks and major veterans groups opposed the syn-turf.
But since its installation, soccer teams and private school groups have been using the field, and the community has given plaudits to the overall design. In addition to the controversial installation of synthetic turf, the $2.9 million reconstruction included new tree and shrub plantings, a refurbished running path, benches and more.
Knowing how to put on a show, Brooklyn Special Events brought in the press, dozens of flags, the Kings County American Legion and a cute bunch of preschool kids for the ribbon-cutting. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Councilman David Yassky (who provided major funding) threw a Frisbee around with a group of kids from Brooklyn Friends School who happened to be celebrating their last day of school at the park.
And nobody said anything about toxic turf issues.
UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle reports that Walt Whitman Park (right across the street in front of the Office of Emergency Management) will also be restored with a $2.5 million allocation of federal funds.
'Turf' War Erupts Over So-Called Dust Bowl in Cadman Plaza: New York Sun
Just Say No to Artificial Turf: Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Whose Turf? Cadman Park Controversy: Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Toxic Park in Brooklyn Heights? McBrooklyn
Parks Dept. Refuses to Study Synthetic Turf Health Risks: McBrooklyn
Photos by MK Metz
Atlantic Yards: Uh, Is It Too Late to Stop the Check?
Brooklyn community groups affiliated with Brooklyn Speaks were scheduled to hold a press conference today to call on the City to “Stop Payment” of the $100 million in the City’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget for Forest City Ratner, earmarked for the acquisition of private land for development of Atlantic Yards.
According to a press release from the Fifth Avenue Committee, the groups are asking for "a comprehensive and inclusive governance structure in place to oversee the project as it moves forward." The release mentions Councilmembers David Yassky and Leticia James as sponsors.
According to the New York Post, more than half of Bruce Ratner's $4 billion Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn will be funded by government subsidies.
Photo by MK Metz
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Voted Number One
The Post reports that Brooklyn's new cruise-ship terminal has been chosen as the nation's best new homeport.
"The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is a wonderful addition to the cruise industry," said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, who made the selection.
Unlike many New Yorkers, Panoff called the terminal's location -- Red Hook -- convenient. "And you can't beat the views of downtown Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge," he said.
McBrooklyn recommends that cruise travelers read the Brooklyn Cruise Guide, especially the Directions section. The day we visited, hundreds of confused travelers were on cell phones, trying to explain to their rides just exactly where Red Hook was.
Photos by MK MetzTuesday, June 12, 2007
Brooklyn Bridge Park Wrap Up: Purchase Building Out, Spitzer Photo Op In
A nice overview of the near future of Brooklyn Bridge Park is provided by Dennis Holt in the Brooklyn Eagle. Holt attended last Thursday's "Sunset Splash" fundraiser where those in the know had a handle on upcoming park happenings.
Among his many observations, Holt says that everyone "was pretty sure that any chances to save the old Purchase Building are now dashed: the building is expected to be demolished sometime in August."
He also says that sometime this summer there will most likely be some type of symbolic groundbreaking, giving Spitzer his first opportunity to be personally associated with a big “splash” of good news.
Holt says that there was even a buzz that "before long, there might even be some news about the housing component of the park plan, which could take any number of forms."
More here.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Atlantic Yards Opposition Blew It, Says Brooklyn Eagle
Emotions got in the way of common sense three years ago when the Atlantic Yards project first surfaced, says Brooklyn Eagle's Dennis Holt, and the "discussion" that should have happened never took place until far too late in the process.
Holt says that if the community had approached the issue and Ratner with “What else are you thinking about?” and not entered into a name-calling contest, things could have turned out differently. "No one now will want to accept responsibility for that great and fatal mistake," Holt says.
More here.
Brooklyn College Art Students Win 'Trashed Art' Lawsuit
Eighteen students whose artwork was, in some cases, trashed during their Brooklyn College Master of Fine Arts thesis show last year have won their First Amendment lawsuit, according to a report in the Brooklyn Eagle.
Their exhibition, titled “Plan B,” opened on May 3, 2006, and was shut down the following day by Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Julius Spiegel, who said it was “inappropriate for families." (Was it the lifelike sculpture of a penis? Or the watercolor depicting gay sexuality...)
The exhibit was set up in the War Memorial Building in Cadman Plaza Park. Spiegel locked the building and workers from Brooklyn College removed artwork, damaging and even losing some of the works.
The full story is here.
Photo by MK Metz
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