Planning for Livable Communities

This important survey just came in from our friends at the Heights and Hills Community Council. Though they provide vital services for older adults, the changes they seek to make will benefit quality of life for everyone young and old in the area.

Heights and Hills Survey
Is your neighborhood “senior friendly”? If you live in Cobble Hill, there is a lot of interest in the answer. Heights and Hills, a long established agency supporting Brooklyn’s older adults, has received a planning grant from the NYS Office for the Aging to identify what resources exist and what is missing that seniors want that would allow them to remain in their homes as they get older. In the process of developing livable communities for seniors, all ages will benefit.

What is unique about this project is that it is senior-driven grassroots model and not top-down imposed. The members of the Steering Committee, recommended by civic organizations and the two community boards in the neighborhoods of interest, are seniors themselves who are involved in their communities and think constructively and globally. They are the active working group and they have designed a survey that is ready to be distributed. The goal is to have as many residents ages 55 and older fill it out.

If you want to take the survey online, go to <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5XRYTDQ> or to receive a hard copy for yourself, your neighbors or your club, contact the project coordinator Anne Perzeszty at anneper[at]verizon.net. Heights and Hills, through this planning grant, will use the voice of seniors themselves to inform community leaders in the target neighborhoods about what is needed to meet the definition of a livable community.

Backpacks for Back-to-School

Betty Lester of the Gowanus Neighborhood Association sent over word that some area students need help obtaining backpacks for the upcoming first day of school. One backpack can make a difference!

FRIENDS OF NICHOLAS HEYWARD JR/GOWANUS PLAYGROUND
We are a group of local residents and parents, whose desire is to provide a clean, safe, open play space for children in the community. Our mission is to bring awareness to the park itself and reinforce the need to get involved.

Many/Most of the children that use the playground daily are from low income, at-risk households. We have sponsored several events throughout the summer to provide these children with recreational activities, as there are no affordable summer programs in their community. Operation Backpack is our last event of the summer, and is scheduled for August 27th from 2pm-6pm.

We were anticipating a donation of backpacks from Volunteers of America (VOA). However as the date draws near, we are being informed that their donations are for homeless children only. So we are in need of donations and/or contributions from our friends and neighbors. In today's economy we realize that everyone's finances are limited, but these children won't have school supplies through no fault of their own.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A KID SMILE ON THE 1st DAY OF SCHOOL!
Need more info? contact BETTY LESTER @beejay919@yahoo.com or 718-243-1252

LPC Hearing CANCELED

Regarding the hearing for 227 Clinton Street renovations, this just came in from CHA president Roy Sloane.  
"We have learned that the applicant has removed the objectionable elements from the proposed renovation of 227 Clinton Street... It appears that the applicant was unable to obtain a release from the historic easements that had placed on the three facades of the property. Therefore, the side windows and rear "glass box" extension are no longer part of the application."

Thank you to everyone in the neighborhood that supported keeping all planned renovations in line with the neighborhood's landmarked aesthetics.

Drinks, Music, and Meetings

Tonight is the first Wednesday of a new month and as always that means the Cobble Hill Association Happy Hour is in full effect at Watty & Meg. From 6-9pm enjoy $5 glasses of wine and $3 beers while enjoying a summer evening with neighbors.

Tomorrow night, Thursday, kick starts our summer music series in Cobble Hill Park. At 7pm, The Claremont Strings will play free classical concert for all to enjoy. The series continues every Thursday this month. Click here for the full lineup of musicians.

Then, next Tuesday will be a very important Landmarks Preservation Committee meeting for proposed changes to 227 Clinton Street, between Congress and Amity. While the Cobble Hill Association supports residents improving their homes as they see fit, the CHA strongly believes in preserving the character of our landmarked district. The application for 227 Clinton is to alter the roof and archway, enlarge window openings, and excavate the rear yard for a swimming pool.

Where that conflicts with the neighborhood aesthetic is that 227 Clinton is a Greek Revival rowhouse built in 1842-44 and the 60 similar houses in the area all have either blank facades, or simply one or two window openings. As quoted in the Brooklyn Paper, CHA president Roy Sloane notes 'It’s a very egalitarian style — [original residents] tried not to overawe their neighbors...This low-key character affords privacy. [It’s] the same character that makes people want to move to Cobble Hill in the first place!'

The Cobble Hill Association encourages residents to attend the hearing and give short 2-3 minute testimony.

Tuesday, August 5th
time TBD
1 Centre Street, 9th Floor Conference Room
Manhattan