So What Do You Think About the New York Times Op-Ed on Brooklyn Bridge Pier 6 Housing?

By on August 13, 2014 3:10 pm in brooklyn bridge park

The New York Times weighs in today on the controversy about the housing planned for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6.
What do you think of their take?

Comment away!

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The NY Times Sheds Light on the Opposition to Affordable Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park

NYT: Thankfully, many of their neighbors in Brooklyn see through those arguments. They recognize that raising a ruckus about “crowding,” property values, traffic and school capacity is just a less obvious way to try to keep poor, or poorer, people off your block, and out of your park. The following statements are true, and not incompatible: Private development is essential to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s success. But a lack of affordable housing is a citywide emergency. Brooklyn Bridge Park can sustain itself through its public-private model and still have some affordable units built on its edges. The Brooklyn waterfront can and should stay green without becoming a luxury enclave, because this city gem is nobody’s private backyard.

From the Brooklyn Bugle: The New York Times P***es Me Off Endlessly

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  • bethmn14

    I hear ya…there is no NIMBYism in youes. You’re all for affordable housing and support for the less fortunate, which will of course mean building new buildings, inceasing traffic and strain in infrastructure and causing construction. Of course you get that thats important, you just want to make sure that happens somewhere that isn’t in your own backyad. Ohhhhhh damm sorry wait I guess that would make you a NIMBY after all.

  • bethman14

    Actually Prospect Park and Central Park are maitained primarily by privately funded conservancies supported by the even wealthier communities borderig them. Van Cortland Park has no such luck and is poorly maintaned dump.

  • Solovely

    that is true, but they do get some tax dollars… BBP does not …

    BBP pays $800k for utilites and $100k for insurance (based on line item detail in 2011 BAE report). These are expenses that City Parks do not pay (get utilities for free and self-insured by City). The park also pays more than $2m per year in management and administration (pg 6 of 8/6/1 presentation). Much of this expense would likely go away if this were a City park.

    Also, PILOT structure is a hard to find subsidy

  • David on Middagh

    Dang! Why are people kicking their strange bedfellows out of bed? Maybe Doug Biviano is right about affordable housing being a wedge issue, a divide-and-conquer strategy that leaves Big Real Estate triumphant. It sounded a bit conspiratorial, but that’s the way it’s working out on this blog. Who cares if the people who agree with you are new residents or old?

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    As much as I like Smorgasburg, this is good news. Where is your info coming from?

  • Remsen Street Dweller

    Tell us, oh, Saint bethman14 what is thy vision for this community?

  • Doug Biviano

    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

    We issued a press release in response to this NY Times opinion piece —-> Without Candidate Debates… The Only Solution to Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park Is Offered by the NY Times

    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

    Ask yourself why no response from the other candidates Sikora and Simon? It’s because they are on every side of the issue and they try to fool you with their slick mailers. Sikora, de Blasio and lobbyist Berlin Rosen are all friends and clients. Berlin Rosen also represents major developers (Two Trees and Forest City Ratner…). Simon took $2,500 from Henry Gutman and $1,000 from Marty Connor — both board members of BBP Board who smacked down modifying General Park Plan to account for Environmental Impacts that far exceeded expectations. It should be clear where they’ll align after the election but will play all sides of the issue until then to get your vote.

    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • Banet

    Personal conversations with various members of the Park Corporation. I’ll miss it too, in theory, but in reality it’s just too much for Joralemon Street.

  • Doug Biviano

    Judi, in the sincerest way, all of your great points don’t mean a thing so long as you allow party insiders to win local elections. It’s that simple. Simon & Sikora are insiders. They are on every side of this issue (the money & their relationships prove it). They will not respect the voters after the election. Help me –> http://dougbiviano.com

  • Doug Biviano

    RSD, what do you want to do about it? Vote in the same people who killed it? Let’s talk. http://dougbiviano.com

  • Doug Biviano

    Gutman gave JoAnne Simon $2,500 for her campaign. Marty Connor gave her $1,000. They both smacked down the GPP motion last week. Surely, they don’t waste their $,$$$ for influence ;-)
    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • Doug Biviano

    JC, my opponents Sikora is joined at the hip with de Blasio and his lobbyist Berlin Rosen. See our press releases starting with this one:
    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • Doug Biviano

    Rose, we should talk. de Blasio is no friend of this community and my opponent Peter Sikora is joined at the hip with him. We should talk.

    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • Doug Biviano

    The “Affordable Housing” wedge issue to divide and conquer the community was all Berlin Rosen, de Blasio’s lobbyist-consultant who also represents developer Two Trees. Former Councilmember Ken Fisher taught Two Trees how to do that with a Middle School in Dock Street. Peter Sikora, de Blasio and Berlin Rosen are all clients and friends. They do not respect you the voter.
    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • Doug Biviano

    WR, if you want real shot at fighting this take over of our waterfront and community then you have to support an independent Democrat like me. It’s that simple. Insiders like Sikora & Simon take money from all sides and are friends with all the lobbyists and BBP Board Members. Sikora is buddies with de Blasio and Berlin Rosen. Simon took $3,500 from Board Members Henry Gutman and Marty Connor. Suppport me: http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/7-nytimes-insult-no-debate

  • nathan

    bethman14, oh I get it. you continue to accuse others of NIMBYISM, while 100% defending profit driven develpers? I understand you think they will make the right decisions on everything, like our safety and what is right for city parks? – especially over valid concerns of actual RESIDENTS? This makes no sense to me, but have at it.
    But answer this, do we live in a city with dynamic growth, high density develpment, and tall building ALL INSIDE OUR NEW YORK CITY PARKS?
    Our parks are great b/c we kep the develpment out of them – read up on the history of Central Park. If your amazing developers had their way we might have a CVS and Duane Reades on Sheeps Meadow. Maybe a TGI Friday’s on the Great Lawn.
    This isn’t NIMBY, it’s about responsible development – and safety. You are not understanding this very simple point, despite your constant trollling of residents who care about the park.

  • nathan

    bethman14, rather than accuse anyone calling for an updated Environmental Impact Study for Brooklyn Bridge Park, to make sure it’s safe for children, you simply accuse them “NIMBYISM” without knowing their motivations.
    Since the real issue is not even about Workforce Housing, you try to make it that. Can you provide me all the support you have given to various low income housing and workforce housing developments in New York City? Or do you just want development for developments sake INSIDE city parks? Or are you just a developer slash troller?

  • Doug Biviano

    Susan, it’s all our elected officials who gamed us. If you want to continue with the slaughter of our institutions and public trust voter for the insiders Sikora and Simon.
    http://dougbiviano.com/index.php/press-releases/5-berlin-rosen-suppresses-assembly-debate

  • Jorale-man

    Yes, and yes.

  • Rick

    Do you actually think you made a point by twisting his words? It seems you just enjoy typing “NIMBY”.

  • mykelde

    Only too true. Divide & conquer, that seems to be the NYTimes & our dear mayor’s motto. Is anyone really shocked at bill’s suck up to $$$ed interests?

  • john good

    These lawsuits are happening, in part, BECAUSE Pier House is such an abomination. What’s your point?

    if I thought there were any sincerity to the NIMBY argument, I’d have to ascribe your accusations of NIMBYism to magical thinking. You believe you can read minds. Right? I mean, how else can you know with such certainty any of our motives and intentions.

    There are so many concerns: traffic, schools, aesthetics, safety. But, no, it’s NIMBYism. As though moderate income residents living in BBP are going to lower the class of people who frequent the park. Ridiculous.

    It’s pure politics. Like when the present mayor moves from 4th to 1st in the polls by getting arrested at LICH, and then lets it die all the same. Concern for the poor? Yeah right. Some sincerity.

    Yes, I think Doug Biviano is right. Something smells at BBP, and it ain’t the East River

  • HicksOnHicks

    Its called generalizing. Its easy to identify ethnic demographics that are highly correlated to lower income. Can’t you?

  • HicksOnHicks

    Pier House wasn’t a bait & switch. We were told we “needed” housing in the park to pay for the maintenance. Now we’re told we don’t need all the money for maintenance and some can be used for affordable housing. There has been no transparency. We don’t know the cost of park maintenance or the housing revenues. The politicians, bureaurats and developers are all keeping us in the dark. That’s why!!

  • HicksOnHicks

    When they don’t have a winning argument they need to resort to baseless accusations and attack your motives. How do the pro-development/affordable housing crew understand opponent’s motives? They don’t care or need to know. They just demonize those that they disagree with.

  • petercow

    Exactly. Perfectly put.

  • gatornyc

    If BBP was a City park it would look and be nothing like it is today. This City deserves great parks and a the current financial model succeeded in giving City residents a truly great park. If the Parks Dept. ever is to get its hands on BBP, it will be the end of BBP as we know it. I respect many aspects of your position, but not having BBP under the budget and management auspices of the Parks Dept.

  • johnny cakes

    How do you know that?

  • gatornyc

    Discussions with BBP personnel.

  • Doug Biviano

    You have to understand that lobbyist George Arzt is now in the game. He’s allies with party boss Seddio and partner Frank Carone the lawyer that got TRO. Another shakedown by Seddio? We’ll see after election the injunction lifted and housing built slightly less of something. Lobbyists will divide up cash and contribute to politicians and their PACs. We explain in our press releases http://DOUGBIVIANO.COM

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