Residential Housing Will Pay - In Part - For Brooklyn Bridge Park

After many months of struggle and uncertainty, it was announced Tuesday that the more than $16 million dollar yearly operating costs of Brooklyn Bridge Park will be paid for, in part, by private housing in the park.

The deal, agreed upon by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman, can be seen as a compromise: the city backed Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation wanted three new developments and is only getting one for sure.

Under the deal, the plan for residential housing at the John Street site in Dumbo will move forward though at a significantly reduced size, and the additional planned developments at Pier 6 near Atlantic Avenue will remain undeveloped until January, 2014, if not forever.

By leaving those sites undeveloped, the city has : that the Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower Properties in the Heights and in Dumbo could become residential housing, and would help pay for the park's maintenance.

The Witnesses have been moving many of their operations upstate in recent years, and the properties in Brooklyn, most of it currently zoned for manufacturing, could be rezoned for residential housing. If this happens and the buildings are sold, the high property tax revenue could be used to pay for the park, which is mandated to cover its own operating and maintenance costs.

If after January 1, 2014, the Watchtower properties do not change ownership, the city will release requests for proposals for the two developments at Pier 6.

“It was critical that we come to an agreement on a long-term funding plan for its maintenance so the park would be self-sustaining," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

But some community organizations that have fought against housing in the park for many years, are up in arms.

“In today’s secret, back-room deal, Mayor Bloomberg exacted a high ransom from Brooklynites,” said Judi Francis, President of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund. “Did our elected officials have any alternatives? Yes!”

State Senator Daniel L. Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman had veto power over the housing planned for John Street and Pier 6, but did not use it.

"We urge Senator Squadron to use his veto over housing. Period," said Francis.

But while the defense coalition, made up of community groups including the Cobble Hill Association and the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, are saying the community was not consulted in regards to the deal, Senator Squadron hailed the compromise.

"By reducing or eliminating housing and requiring Watchtower and other alternatives to be used, we have dramatically changed the plan,” he said. “We found a path to complete Brooklyn Bridge Park and address long-standing community concerns about housing on the site."

Additional revenue, totaling $750,000, will be reaped from increased concessions, events, recreation fees and institution of parking fees.

Under the agreement, other amenities will also come to the park: a temporary pool for five summers, a seasonal recreation ‘bubble’ and an ice skating rink concession at Pier 5 and tennis courts and 2,200 square feet of community space.

Dorothy Siegel, Working Families Party District Leader for the 52nd Assembly District, supports the deal and is choosing to look forward.

"When Mayor Bloomberg’s term is finally over, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation board’s term will also be over," she said. "The city’s new mayor will appoint new board members...Hopefully, they will not be as fixated on using revenue from luxury housing to sustain Brooklyn Bridge Park, when there are so many other more sensible revenue generating options."