State’s Development Corp. Approves Final Plan
Brooklyn Bridge Park Will Stretch 1.3 Miles Along East River
BROOKLYN WATERFRONT — Over time, many dates will be memorable in the creation of Brooklyn Bridge Park. January 18, or yesterday, will clearly be one of them.
Yesterday, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), through its board of directors, approved the final plan for the 85-acre park stretching 1.3 miles along the East River.
The idea for such a park goes back almost three decades, but the operative planning process began in 2000, and the end of that process, along with required approvals, took place last year.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation was created by ESDC, the governor and mayor in 2002 with the mission to build the park.
Charles Gargano, chair of ESDC, said that “we move closer to the realization of a project that will provide Brooklyn with its first new park in 135 years.â€
Daniel Doctoroff, deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding, noted that “Brooklyn Bridge Park is another great example of what can be achieved when all the stakeholders work together. The plan approved today will guide the creation of one of New York City’s most magnificent parks.â€
Giving a loud hooray and doffing an imaginary hat, Marianna Koval, co-chair of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, said that “Brooklyn will have a brand new front yard, and the city a new welcoming vista in a very few years. It took a long time to plan this park, but it won’t take as long to build.â€
Also, some dates have been firmed up. Planners expect that 85 percent of the park will be completed by 2010, and some demolition on the park site may already be under way by the end of this year.
It is worthwhile to review what will be built on the old piers — two large playing fields, six basketball courts, 10 handball courts, two volleyball courts, a hockey rink, three playgrounds and a lot of open lawn space.
In addition, there will be four miles of canals, boardwalks, and floating walkways that wind around the piers. A total of 12 acres of safe paddling waters will be created for kayakers and canoe-ers. There will be rolling hills to help reduce sound, some beaches, and welcoming entrances at three major areas.
Some Meaningful Numbers
After years of planning, the park authority has come up with some meaningful numbers.
The park will contain 1,240 units of housing in several towers, which will be the main revenue source to sustain the park; a maximum of 225 hotel rooms; 188,000 square feet of retail stores; 138,000 square feet of restaurants, cafes and other eateries; 30,000 square feet of meeting space; 95,000 square feet of offices; 90,000 square feet of showrooms, and 1,183 parking spaces.
With all that, these revenue-generating uses will take up only 10 percent of the available park space.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2006
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