Brooklyn 11211

The Post reports that BTCC “is planning a two-pronged strategy to delay or derail the plan as it moves forward”. One of those prongs focuses on court challenges – a much better venue than the ULURP process for challenging the process of awarding development and housing.

Last year was taken up with fundraising and calling in favors. The winter was filled with bland meet-and-greets. June was wasted collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot. But now, with just two months to go before the Sept. 15 Democratic primary election — tantamount to victory in most Brooklyn neighborhoods — the race for key City Council seats in [Brooklyn] are about to go into hyperdrive.

The Brooklyn Paper has district by district rundown of the council race.

Developers who are in trouble are looking for ways to stay afloat. Stephan Butler was brought in to consult on a few projects that are not yet finished and heading for potential foreclosure—many are in Williamsburg.

Certainly in dollar value, commercial (development) foreclosures will far outstrip residential foreclosures in much of Brooklyn.

$5 each way on weekdays, but waived if you spend more than $10 at the store (not sure if that includes meatballs). Basically it puts the IKEA ferry at the same price point as the East River commuter service, but without the commuter hours (service will start at 11:00 on weekdays).

Still, a nice ride.

The Council’s Land Use Committee has approved the Coney Island rezoning. In the process, some good changes have been made. CM Recchia seems confident that more changes will be made between now and the full Council vote on the 29th. These include the very good changes being advocated by MAS. If more changes aren’t made (and Kinetic Carnival is not optimistic) Coney will suck.

Greenpointers takes a look at the temporary park at the foot of Greenpoint Avenue. The real park is slated to begin construction next Spring, at a cost of $10 million.

A hotel on South 8th Street rents out a bed on the roof.

It should have been a banner week for Open Space Alliance Executive Director Stephanie Thayer.

Its not that hard – OSA is a partner with the Department of Parks. OSA raises money for North Brooklyn parks, and works with Parks to develop and maintain parks in North Brooklyn. OSA’s executive director is also an employee of Parks (51% Parks, 49% OSA). In the long run, North Brooklyn should benefit from the access and control that OSA has.

But access and control mean that OSA is not going to be the parks advocate that thumbs its nose at the Mayor. Its not a sell out, it’s their role. Happily, we have other groups that can fill the advocate role – and keep the City (and OSA) honest.

From Cobble Hill Blog*, a follow up to the link I posted earlier about the Mayor’s plans for the Sunset Park waterfront. It sounds like a very enlightened approach to maintaining a working waterfront in 21st century New York.

(* which IS in South Brooklyn.)

And to think, I was there at the beginning.