The structural base that holds the historic landmark Promenade in Brooklyn Heights extends under the backyards of residential buildings on Columbia Heights, Pierrepont Place and Montague Terrace. To the extent that the base cannot be removed from the cantilever below the Promenade, it will simply have to be dug up — a demolition project that will take years and cost billions. Additionally, it will cause many billions of dollars in damage to prime real estate in Brooklyn Heights. (Tree huggers note: it will also destroy hundreds of years of old-growth trees in the Promenade gardens as well as many backyards.)
Without admitting publicly that such damage would occur, the NYC DOT has waged a multi-year public relations campaign to prevent an uprising in Brooklyn Heights and beyond.
The DOT’s goal from the beginning of its campaign in 2018 has been to tear down and rebuild the historic landmark Promenade. One former commissioner noted that year, “We’ll rebuild it bigger and better.” Laughable.
A group of Brooklyn Heights homeowners is forming a private committee to explore options to save the Promenade or at least get a clear picture of the projected destruction to come.
Brooklyn Heights property owners interested in joining this group should respond to the brief form here.
A new opinion on this matter has come from longtime transportation reform advocate Roy Sloane. His suggestion: this problem should be handled by the New York State Department of Transportation. Sloane points to numerous successfully completed projects, including the new Kosciuszko Bridge, to make his point. See Sloane’s suggestions here.
Also, see the latest report on NYC DOT’s intentions in an article from writer Mary Frost in the Brooklyn Eagle.
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