Rep. Velázquez: Build A Park Entrance From Montague St.

By on July 27, 2017 6:49 am in brooklyn bridge park

According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez is advocating another entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park, this one over the BQE from Montague Street or Remsen Street, to be constructed as part of the planning of the rehabilitation of the highway.

A plan to build a vertical walkway between the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park has received a strong push from U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (West and Central Brooklyn, LES).

 

“A Montague Street entrance would both relieve pressure on other, more residential park entrances such as the Joralemon Street entrance and would bring potential customers to the shops along commercial Montague Street. But the idea has, in the past, raised concerns about blocking the landmarked view from the Promenade.”

Velázquez recently wrote to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg in support of the idea.

“For native New Yorkers and visitors alike, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a space for recreation, events and relaxation,” Velázquez said. “In order to meet such high demand, I’m urging NYCDOT to consider the creation of additional entrances. I strongly believe that by making access to the park easier, we can fully maximize our public spaces.”

Get the full story at the Eagle, including the text of Velázquez’ letter.

 

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  • gc

    What a terrible idea!

  • Banet

    Great idea to build this off Montague. Terrible idea to build it off Remsen.

  • Jorale-man

    Though I admire the impulse to relieve Joralemon Street of foot traffic, this seems very improbable. It would mean building over the BQE for one thing, which is expected to undergo a major rehab in the next decade or so. And it would make a mess of the Promenade. I’d rather see them use such money for a shuttle from Borough Hall down to the Atlantic Avenue entrance, for instance, or any number of other ways to direct pedestrians to Atlantic and Fulton Ferry Landing (where the entrances can handle the onslaught of people much better).

  • Kit

    I had to laugh when reading the end of the quote. Yes, a pedestrian path down to the park from Montague Street would both restore the old Penny Bridge in a way AND violate the “landmarked view.” Of course, since the Pierhouse has already violated the “landmarked view” first, it wouldn’t surprise me if some developer found a way to further desecrate the view.

  • Eddyde

    I think its a great idea, it would relieve a lot of the increased foot traffic on Joralemon St and in the north Heights. If done right, it would not detract from the Promenade view.

  • Eddyde

    I think the idea of a shuttle far is more implausible in its actual success.

  • KXrVrii1

    “It would mean building over the BQE for one thing, which is expected to undergo a major rehab in the next decade or so”

    That is the whole point of the push, to integrate the new access as part of the BQE cantilever rehabilitation.

  • Jorale-man

    If it works for IKEA…

  • B.

    For that matter, that enormous, cheap-looking, blue-roofed basketball court desecrates the view of New York Harbor.

    At least when “old New York” made way for Rosario Candela apartment buildings, we were getting something. The Woolworth Building is beautiful. And so on.

    But the new buildings clad in what looks like flimsy plastic really don’t make the cut. And putting odd-shaped windows every which way makes one wonder. . . .

  • MaggieO

    Okay, so here’s what we do – build a staircase that goes down underground behind the Promenade/BQE at Montague Street and exits on Furman Street! Everybody likes tunnels, right? It’ll feel like a subway entrance!

  • A Neighbor

    Talk about a waste of money. I have an idea — why not spend tax dollars on subway maintenance rather than another trophy for the pols?

  • Eddyde

    Ikea is a completely different situation. First, it is much much further away from subway stations than the park and since it is a shopping destination, people will be returning with packages. For those without a car a bus is necessary.
    Second, people going to the park are going to engage in physical activity, be it sports or just walking around a few extra blocks of walking is no big deal and probably welcome. I honestly don’t see many people waiting around for a bus when thy could simply walk to the park in the same amount of time.
    Third, there are many more people going to and from the park than Ikea, even if you could convince half the people to take buses you would need quite a few of them, running the route continuously, creating noise, traffic and pollution. And then ther’s the cost…

  • Eddyde

    Exactly, if planed well, it would not be a big deal to build.

  • Eddyde

    That would be the best way of doing it, but the most expensive.

  • TeddyNYC

    That would be a better idea, but unlikely to happen.

  • William Gilbert

    No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!
    Worst idea I have heard since the park was built. There are already three entrances and two ferry stops for the park and this proposed entrance would be the most destructive, and destroy the peace, tranquility and the views from the Promrnade. The Heights does not exist for easy access to the Park. We are an old established area. It is an historical old residential jewel of a neighborhood that needs to be preserved. I will join any organization that fights this move and we will rally against the congresswoman’s plan and make sure she will certainly lose the votes of many Heights residents and friends.
    Bad, bad, bad, bad idea!!!!

  • Bornhere

    I know that there are thousands who enjoy the park, but I think our “residential jewel” already has been irreparably damaged by the park, the crowds, and the relentless construction of ugly buildings over the past few years. The influx of new residents and transients has done nothing to save small businesses — Montague Street and commercial efforts have never been as pathetic as they are now, so I’m not sure what the “if you build it (a park, condos, etc.)” mindset has done for those who have lived and done business in the Heights, and loved it for its beauty and comparable seclusion. And … I still miss the (old, rotting, rusty) piers, if only because they served as a historical reminder of the vibrant shipping and maritime activity that once helped define the Heights.

  • Eddyde

    I disagree, This “old residential jewel of a neighborhood” Is already a access point to the park. Take a walk around this weekend, see how many people are pouring down Joralemon St and through the North Heights on their way to the park, That’s not going to change, and with more high-rise condos being built, it will only get worse. Best to deflect the increased foot traffic off the quiet residential streets and over to Montague St, which can handle it, and will even benefit some of the businesses.
    Change is inevitable, instead of fruitlessly fighting it, your efforts might be better directed at trying to make sure these changes are done the best way possible.

    I am a life long, 50+ year, Montague St resident.

  • MaryT

    I don’t know why Brooklyn Heights has become the BBP’s bitch. Masses of crowds cutting through our narrow, formerly quiet, LANDMARK streets is a good idea? Any urban planner who thinks this is a fool. Or worse.

  • B.

    I agree completely, Mr. Gilbert. But probably the horse is out of the barn. The destruction of your library and the erection of what will be an eyesore tower on that spot had the approval of a lot of Heights residents. Montague Street, with its new enormous plate-glass windows and in some spots ostentatious signage, isn’t the low-key, pleasant place I strolled on when I was young. And the Promenade, where I used to be able to read quietly despite traffic sounds from the BQE, seems a little tawdry lately, with unnecessarily loud talking, some radio playing, and more making out on the benches. Not to mention the reverberations of music from the basketball court. Eh. Too bad.

  • BKLYN1999

    Terrible idea. As stated their are multiple entrances to the park. Why not improve those instead of cutting through Brooklyn Heights and completely altering a historic neighborhood. Fix the pathway from Borough Hall (shuttle, Atlantic) and access from Dumbo before permanently damaging a treasured neighborhood and changing the feel of the Promenade. This idea would suggest why not do it at Clark Street as well and all the other streets? Just make Brooklyn Heights a freeway for access to Brooklyn Bridge Park after all? This idea is so bad….almost laughable.

  • BKLYN1999

    Terrible idea. As stated their are multiple entrances to the park. Why not improve those instead of cutting through Brooklyn Heights and completely altering a historic neighborhood. Fix the pathway from Borough Hall (shuttle, Atlantic) and access from Dumbo before permanently damaging a treasured neighborhood and changing the feel of the Promenade. This idea would suggest why not do it at Clark Street as well and all the other streets? Just make Brooklyn Heights a freeway for access to Brooklyn Bridge Park after all? This idea is so bad….almost laughable!

  • Reggie

    For all her genteel manners, I heard Brooklyn Heights likes it rough.

  • MaggieO

    unnecessarily loud talking? wow. lol.

  • Andrew Porter

    Also, IKEA is a business; the cost of a Shuttle is a business expense.

  • Andrew Porter

    There’s already a tunnel there. It’s called the Subway.

  • MaggieO

    Yes! Great idea Andrew, just build a new subway stop from the Montague tube to let people directly into the park! You’ve got the ventilation shaft there already, shouldn’t be too hard… right?

  • Jorale-man

    Fortunately, in this case, big infrastructure projects don’t really get done in 2017, so I don’t feel like this is a big threat. Clearly, there are a couple of people on this forum who are invested in the idea (and perhaps even have a financial stake in it). But the era of big, visionary projects (a couple new bridges notwithstanding) will remain a symbol of the mid-20th century.