I won't be warmly greeting anyone. What is this, Colonial Williamsburg? Hahaha. Whatever. Would you like a biscotti while you park your Range Rover?
It's a matter of political will. If those courtyard spaces are essentially DOT sidewalk then there's no allowing parking on them. The only way for existing curb cuts to approach legitimacy on these "Place" blocks is if they lead to an off-courtyard parking location (i.e. a garage or backyard space within the property line). The courtyards are part of city owned right-of-way, and these owners can not park as they have been. This includes those who have been doing so for decades. While we may not be able to force owners to landscape the courtyards, they can be made to move their cars off of them. If certain owners have legal curb cuts, the city can enforce that these drivers pull their cars in off the courtyard space. If there is no garage or place on the actual property to house a vehicle, then it is unlikely that the curbcut is legal. Therefore I don't think any of these blocks are too far gone. Political will to enforce parking laws is needed. Coupled with a real effort to clarify courtyard usage in City Council.
This 1 time I'll give the DoS a small break (very small).
Due to election day they were behind schedule. All regular trash (that's normally picked-up early Wednesday morning) was picked-up very late on Wednesday - - as late as 5:30 on some blocks. They had double duty yesterday, so that might be why they didn't get to the Corner Bins and why there would have been 2 days worth of trash to start with.
However... what's the excuse on the other days?
This is not just child's play. The children realize the unique nature of this place and identify with the most valuable use for this area--a place in which to interact with nature.
It's too bad that the city planners haven't been able to see the real value of this place, yet.
Marlene
For years now, whenever I see the street cleaners coming I move as quickly away as I can lest I get a lungful from the cloud of dust they kick up. They drive too fast to be effective and often leave the brushes running when they aren't sweeping. The worst part is the noise; these are some of the loudest trucks on the street, especially when they speed.
Katia,
Please bring your camera to see what's going on when the same people are leaving for work in the morning. It's chaos and dangerous as people are crossing the street to the only open entry at the back end of the train. Someone must be out there directing traffic until the new building is finished enough for us to get our entry back. I truly am afraid someone is going to get hit by a car. Shouldn't the developer have to pay for this, and not taxpayers?
Katia
2 tables become 4 and they will always try to increase seat counts to drive business. Yes it takes up already crowded sidewalk space occupied by traversing parents with strollers, dogs and neighbors caring groceries. In addition the increased noise levels from more people is frustrating.
For people like me who have been here long before there was a single restaurant with sidewalk seating I prefer the owners working within the law when it comes to seats and closing times. Thank you for listening.
"I saw a night heron a few weeks ago. It was sitting silently on the shore. We were watching it for a while and then a fashionista type talking loudly clunking by in her noisy sandals completely ignoring the few people sitting in silence on the bridge, scared it away.We did get to see it's beautiful wingspan though..."
Maura, the discussion here focused on there being a need for space for community recreation and sports. This is true whether you live in Mayberry or in Brooklyn. It's about community needs. Frank Verderame, r.i.p., was a native Brooklynite who was tied to his community, did a lot for it, and he had Public Place designated as exactly that, a site to be used by the community for sports and recreation. He saw the need and addressed it. This need is still here. I still remember the drawing he had made up of the baseball field that would be part of Public Place. People. Community. And you and natty, just from visiting this blog show your curiosity about the neighborhood, your community. And in writing your comments, it appears you must feel that same need to be part of the voice in this community. Whether we are in Brooklyn, or Mayberry. What's the diff? Absolutely none. Except that here in Brooklyn, we lead such compressed lives in terms of space, open space, green space, nature. Even more reason why we need Public Place to be a realization of Frank's vision. On the books, that's still what it is there for, too!
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Bay Ridge is a great neighborhood, but do we really want to ship our kids off on two trains to get there so they can play on their skateboards? 14-17 years old kids are still kids, and our kids should be able to play in this neighborhood. Remember that song: "Streets are for cars and buses, not for bikes or balls or toys. Sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds are the places for girls and boys." I have balled out many kids who ride their skateboards on the World War I monument at the park. Am upset to see what's happening with the marble base. Talked to the kids about how important it is to respect neighborhood kids who weren't much older than them who died for us with the idea that we should a good life, that they should be respectful. Seems like it's the first time anyone talked to them like they were smart enough to understand (which they were). Wonder where their parents have been and how much their parents connect the past, however recent to the present. We do mostly have a very good life indeed. Healthy neighborhoods, whether in Carroll Gardens, Bay Ridge, or Timbuktu require safe places for kids of all ages to play. When the Gowanus is cleaned up correctly, as I pray it will be, there will be a Frank Verderame park for all kinds of fun things for kids to do, whether they are three, fourteen, or fifty.
While there was overwhelming support for the majority of the plan, there was also VERY strong consensus against the different zoning (R6A) for the sections of Henry Street, Carroll Street, First Place and Columbia Street. This would allow buildings of up to 70 feet (60 feet plus an additional 10 after a set-back) on these streets. That would have a severe negative impact on those blocks. This was very strongly voiced at the Community Board's public hearing on June 25, but seems to have been overlooked since then. So, while we should support the basic plan, we should be very clear in asking them to change that specific feature. The community has strongly stated that it doesn't want to sacrifice Clinton, Henry, First Place and Columbia.
Cas Holloway is paid a lot of money by us to spin the crap that comes from Mayor Mike's office and sewage overflows. We must remember Mayor Mike loves his middle class like we are his little puppies. People who live live in the projects and eat toxic Gowanus fish as a major source of protein were never even considered until the EPA stepped in.
We all make choices, and everyone who lives in a dreamworld chanting that for-profit development is the key to fixing everything will have to live with the karmic consequences to people's health, whether these are for profit developments like Toll's, or Public Place, as advocated by Brad Lander. They are delusional and it is up to us to remain vigilant and fight the good fight!
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