NY Observer > Brooklyn Bridge Park

Progress On a Public Project? Brooklyn Bridge Park To Start Construction

Eliot Brown — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:08:26 -0400

The proposed Brooklyn Bridge Park has been at least a decade in the planning process, and it's been about two years since it received the necessary public approvals. Controversy has been a constant on the joint city/state project, and costs have exploded well beyond the budget. Yet today, a city and state board actually approved a construction contract, clearing the way for the first section of the park, Pier 1, to open by the end of next year.

The $47 million contract with construction giant Skanska USA would create 9.5 acres of new park--mostly a grassy area, according to the state--on Pier 1. read more »

Brooklyn Bridge Park Foes Lose Appeal to Block Project

Eliot Brown — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:05:43 -0400

A state appellate court has tossed out an appeal to block the planned Brooklyn Bridge Park, removing a potential obstacle for the 85-acre project slated to rise along the Brooklyn waterfront.

The decision, which came earlier this week, marks a defeat for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, which has vehemently opposed the creation of new housing on the parkland’s edge in order to finance the maintenance.

Many hurdles remain: the planned parkland, on the drawing boards for well over a decade, is substantially over budget given the increase in construction costs, and no sources have been identified to cover the shortfall. Further, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation is resisting the concept of floating walkways that run through the park, as the agency is concerned about effects the structures could have on marine life.

The Defense Fund expects to appeal to the Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state. read more »

Water Shadows a Concern from Italy to Little Italy

Tom Acitelli — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:40:33 -0400

From the Wall Street Journal this morning, about the 142-year effort to build a bridge between Sicily and the Italian mainland:

The late marine explorer Jacques Cousteau helped with research. At one point, a study was commissioned to study the effect of the bridge's shadow on fish. None was found. read more »

Green Day: March 10, 2008

Observer Staff — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:55:56 -0400

Herewith we introduce Green Day, our selective morning line-up of stories from around the web about Green New York. Read anything lately that we've missed? Write into the comments section and let us all know about it.

Plans for Brooklyn Bridge Park, which was supposed to pay for itself with a fancy marina and boating activities, are getting negative reviews from the city's Department of Environmental Conservation. [New York Post] read more »

Planner Swap: Brooklyn Bridge Park Ex-President Takes Successor’s City Job

Eliot Brown — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:44:02 -0500

The former president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has swapped jobs with her successor, taking a position with the city. read more »

City Wants More Power Over Brooklyn Bridge Park As Project Slides Into the Red

Eliot Brown — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:19:50 -0500

As the city-and state-funded Brooklyn Bridge Park project breaks ground in coming weeks, the planned 85-acre parkland is facing substantial cost overruns, with a funding source yet to be found. read more »

Regina Myer Moves to Brooklyn

Matthew Schuerman — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:38:35 -0500

The state snaps up Regina Myer, the senior vice president for planning and design at the Hudson Yards Development Corporation (and before that, director of the Brooklyn office of the City Planning Department), to head up the stalled Brooklyn Bridge Park project. The position of president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has been vacant since March, when the previous head was pushed aside by the incoming Spitzer administration.

Full press release after the jump. read more »