Brooklyn Today December 26: Fortis Pays $91 Million for Former Watchtower Parking Lot

The Lede

Happy Wednesday! A mall cop kicks out a disabled Cypress Hills man, state senate newcomers endorse congestion pricing, and police officers arrest a man for beating his pregnant girlfriend. Plus, a motorist is charged for running over a Sheepshead Bay woman, Fortis pays $91 million for a former Jehovah’s Witnesses’ parking lot, and America’s most expensive coffee shop closes. Finally, Greenpointers are upset about their inadequate waterfront access, and we recommend the best pasta restaurants in the city.

Imprint

Actresses Denise Gough and Keira Knightley hold hands on the January cover of Diva Magazine.

The Rundown

MALL COP EJECTS DISABLED BROOKLYN MAN FROM QUEENS MALL

A security guard at Green Acres Mall is coming under fire after calling the police — under false pretenses — on a disabled Brooklyn man who was window shopping while he waited for his wheelchair-accessible ride to the doctor.Ramon Lopez, 43, suffered a serious spinal injury while shoveling snow three years ago that left him permanently disabled. The Cypress Hills resident and father of two often travels over 21 miles to Westbury, Long Island, to the doctor, hoping for an eventual surgery that will allow him to walk again. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

POLICE ARREST MAN FOR ALLEGEDLY BEATING HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND

A 19-year-old man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly dragged his pregnant girlfriend out of her home at 336 41st St. and assaulted her in front of a group of schoolchildren. The assailant was identified as Marisio Juarez. He was nabbed by 72nd Precinct police after family members called 911 during the assault. The victim, also 19, told police that she had an order of protection against the assailant and has had a history of violence with him. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

STATE SENATE NEWCOMERS ENDORSE CONGESTION PRICING

The idea of instituting congestion pricing in Manhattan continued to gain momentum last week as six incoming members of the New York State Senate went on record as strongly supporting the proposal. Democrat Brooklyn Sens.-elect Andrew Gounardes, Zellnor Myrie and Julia Salazar were among a group that issued a joint statement calling for congestion pricing legislation. “Congestion pricing has the unique potential of raising over a billion dollars each year dedicated to transit,” the statement said. “Without it we will not achieve the revenue necessary to achieve those goals.” (via Brooklyn Eagle)

STATEN ISLAND MOTORIST CHARGED UNDER VISION ZERO LAWS

A Staten Island driver was charged on Thursday, two months after running over and killing a Sheepshead Bay woman as she crossed the street, police said.Nicholas Didio was arrested on failure to yield to pedestrian and failure to exercise due care charges for mowing down Elina Sokolov on the corner of Nostrand and Emmons avenues. On Oct. 11, Sokolov, 45, was walking “outside of the marked crosswalk” on Nostrand Avenue when Didio attempted to make a right turn onto Emmons Avenue in a 2015 Dodge Durango. (via Brooklyn Eagle)

FORTIS PAYS $91 MILLION FOR FORMER WATCHTOWER PARKING LOT

Fortis Property Group has closed on its purchase of 30 Front St., previously used as a parking lot, from the Jehovah’s Witnesses for $91 million. This was the last remaining property at the Witnesses’ former Brooklyn headquarters. Fortis plans to build a 26-story apartment building on the site with 74 units. It will include 178,000 of residential space and 72,000 of community space. Fortis is also planning a mixed-use project at 350 Hicks St. in Cobble Hill, part of the former Long Island College Hospital campus. (The Real Deal via Brooklyn Eagle)

BROOKLYN’S EXTRACTION LAB, HOME OF THE $18 COFFEE, HAS CLOSED

Extraction Lab at 51 35th St. on the Brooklyn waterfront — which sold America’s most expensive cup of coffee at $18 — has shuttered. Alpha Dominche, the coffee shop’s parent company, announced earlier this month that it was stopping all operations. In addition to its expensive coffee, the company was known for its flagship product known as the “steampunk,” a $15,000 coffee and tea brewer operated through an iPad app. (Eater via Brooklyn Eagle)

GREENPOINTERS DISAPPOINTED WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS’ WATERFRONT ACCESS

Many Greenpoint residents aren’t thrilled with new waterfront developments in the neighborhood, which they believe have the bare minimum of waterfront seating, pathways and plantings. While the city’s 2005 waterfront rezoning allows for “more design” other than the required bulkhead walls and railings, it doesn’t require it. While the Department of City Planning “strongly encourages” developers to create more waterfront amenities, it has no power to penalize developers who merely adhere to the basics. (Bklyner via Brooklyn Eagle)