Friday, December 30, 2011

New Year's Music @ Christ Church

Thanks to Father Ron Lau for this tip about a great event at Christ Church.

The Cobble Hill Consort, made-up of the Christ Church Choir and the Canoni Chorale, both under the direction of Donald Barnum, will sing Evensong at Christ Church, Cobble Hill at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon on New Year’s Day, Sunday,  1st  January 2012.  Unlike recent evensongs, which highlighted  polyphonic settings of the canticles and anthems, this service will feature simple plainsong settings.

Following Evensong, all are invited to the Christ Church Rectory for the Rector’s Annual New Year’s Day Open House and New Year’s Masque!

What is a masque???  The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe.  A masque involved music and dancing, singing and acting. Professional actors and musicians were hired for the speaking and singing parts. Of all the arts of the Renaissance, the masque is the artistic form most alien to audiences today. The most outstanding humanists, poets and artists of the day, in the full intensity of their creative powers, devoted themselves to producing masques; and until the Puritans closed the English theatres in 1642, the masque was the highest artform in England. But because of its ephemeral nature, not a lot of documentation related to masques remains, and much of what is said about the production and enjoyment of masques is still part speculation.


While we cannot promise dancing, we will have music and singing, and some acting to accompany a fully-laden holiday 
board  -- an evening of music, merriment, and mummery -- and food and drink!

For more information, please call 718 875 3144.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Cobble Hill Mulchfest 2012

This just in from our friends at the Cobble Hill Tree Fund...

DATE: Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8, 2012 
LOCATION: Cobble Hill Park: Clinton and Verandah Place
TIME: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Mulchfest 2012 gif

Bring your holiday tree to Cobble Hill Park, at Clinton Street and Verandah Place, and other locations city-wide, to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city!

Join us and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and GreenNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips.
These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.

Last year, close to 17,000 Christmas trees citywide were recycled. Please help us top this number! This year, MulchFest will take place on January 7 and 8, 2012. Parks will host over 35 chipping sites and 35 additional drop-off locations: over 70 sites in all! And this year, you can bring your tree to a drop-off site from January 2 through January 8. It’s easier than ever to chip in!

Please remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site. Biodegradable bags will be provided if you wish to take some free mulch home.

Wreaths, garlands, and artificial trees cannot be accepted and remember that tress will NOT be accepted after the scheduled times.

Sponsored by:
Cobble Hill Tree Fund,  Cobble Hill Association,  Friends of Cobble Hill Park, and  Boy Scout Troops 213 & 815

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Cobble Hill Additions

Although nearly every lot in Cobble Hill is developed, the neighborhood does have a few empty spaces. However, new plans have arisen to potentially fill in a corner parking lot at Strong Place and Kane Street with appropriately scaled and historically contextual residential development.

Such a project in the Cobble Hill Historic Distrioct must first get approval by the Community Board, Landmarks Preservation Committee, and the Department of Buildings, but in this preliminary stage both Curbed and Brownstoner have entries about the potential construction, including renderings and floor plans.
Below is a street view of what it will be replacing.

NOTE: This entry was updated to point out no approvals by the CB, LPC, or DOB have yet been given.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Welcome Sadie's Kitchen

243 Degraw.
It's been Copper. It's been Whim. Ciello Café. It's been Chicory. It's been Ultimate Burgers and Dogs. And now, it's Sadie's Kitchen. This little spot on the edge of Cobble Hill has had an unfortunate amount of turnover the past few years, leading some to speculate the location is simply cursed. Now, owners Peter Sibilia and Damien Vizueteare hoping to give their retro style Mac & Cheese restaurant staying power beyond its recent history.
The Cobble Hill Association wishes them luck and is glad to see another new business start up in the neighborhood. Though we're used to getting write ups of our shops in the local papers and blogs, the curious past of this location has gotten enough attention that both the NY Times and Wall Street Journal even wrote about it. Read up on that media coverage, then treat yourself to trying out Sadie's firsthand.

And if anyone knows what happened to the old fashioned Coca Cola signage, let us know.

Friday, December 2, 2011

B61 Press Conference

Hat tip to a post by our neighbors at the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association for posting the below info about our neighborhood's steady, but slow, B61 Bus line.

"Next Bus Please" - Brad Lander Releases Report on Study of B61 Bus
Council Member Brad Lander invites you to attend a press conference next Monday to present their recently completed report about the B61 bus.  The report, titled “Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus” summarizes data collected by community volunteers & presents suggestions for improving service.

Time: 9:00am
Date: 5 December, 2011
Location: 4th Avenue/9th Street Bus Stop, Brooklyn

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Decaying Highway, will NOT be fixed - UPDATE

UPDATE: Cobble Hill Association President also spoke with 1010WINS & the Brooklyn Daily Eagle regarding the BQE project being shelved. A link to his comments there are linked at the bottom of this post.
Yesterday afternoon, we got word from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) that they are terminating the environmental study for the proposed rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. It is a desperately needed project of which the Cobble Hill Association and many other local groups have been participating for months. Though NYSDOT blames harsh economic times for ending the study, safety is paramount and many portions of the highway are simply unsafe. 

CHA President Roy Sloane offered these words to the NY post in response.
We were told by the state that the BQE was in danger of collapsing in the 80s," said Sloane. "It’s also pathetic that they put all these years and effort in, spent money on all sorts of designs and are now dropping it.
For more details on how this project abruptly stopped, check out the links to a New York Post, 1010 WINS-CBS News, and Brooklyn Eagle report. 

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Eat Pie & Shop - A Benefit for PS29

Our wonderful local elementary school is throwing another amazing fundraiser to help support all the great program it has for our neighborhood children. And this time... it's not just in the charitable category, it's also DELICIOUS!
On December 4 from 11am to 4pm, PS 29 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, will host the their annual “Eat Pie and Shop” Holiday Gift Fair and Pie Social, to benefit the school.  Featuring local bakers as well as shops like Shake Shack, soon coming to Downtown BK, and Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain in Carrol Gardens... it's sure to be an appetizing event.

Full details are available on the event website... http://www.eatpieandshop.org/

Friday, November 11, 2011

Rat Information Portal

Though most of our local streets are rather well cleaned, some have observed an uptick in Rat sightings. This isn't just a matter of keeping our neighborhood attractive, it's also a serious health concern. Fortunately, just this week the city's Department of Information Technology has made it easy to access the Department of Health's "Rat Information Portal."
The Rat Information Portal (RIP) is a web-based mapping application where users can view rat inspection data. Findings from the Health Department’s inspections are searchable by address, or by borough, block and lot (BBL). You can use the map tools to find information about properties on the map. Visit the Rat Information Portal at gis.nyc.gov/doh/rip to view rat inspection data.
Be sure to track the issue on your block and always call 311 if you come across a problem in Cobble Hill concerning rats, rodents, or any other creatures that do not belong.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Electronics Recycling Update

Just a few weeks ago, the Cobble Hill Association helped plan yet another electronics recycling event at PS29 with the Lower East Side Ecology Center. With the dedication of amazing volunteers from the school's PTA, the scope of the collection went far beyond computers and cell phones - it included paper shredding, textiles recycling, and even had composting demos from the NYC Compost Project in Brooklyn. All in all, a complete success and we are now report the final tallies.... 212 families came to drop off 4.5 tons of electronics!
Look to the spring for another e-waste event....Tentative date is already set for April 22nd 2012.... Earth Day!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Cobble Hill Halloween

We hope everyone enjoyed the massive Halloween parade through Cobble Hill Park this year, but are curious if you also remembered to check out the neighborhood's other spooky celebration... the annual
'Impalements' installation done by local artist Jane Greengold.
Image courtesy of the artist Jane Greengold
It's a dizzying celebration of pumpkins that showcases 100 individually carved creations on the corner of Kane and Strong Place.  Though its been going strong for many years already, this time around the NYTimes even got in on the action!

For articles and images of the fantastic work, please check the links below.
http://www.janegreengold.com/projects/public-art/impalements
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/jane-the-impaler-and-a-ghastly-halloween-tradition/?ref=nyregion
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/pumpkin-heads-will-remain-until-christmas

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Remembering one of our own

Just over two months ago, Cobble Hill resident and Cobble Hill CSA founder Jeffrey Axelrod was killed while riding his bicycle through the Lower East Side. Though it happens with alarming regularity, our streets MUST NOT remain speedways that give cars priority over people's safety. These types of 'accidents' are largely preventable by better engineering of our roads, education of our drivers/cyclists, and most importantly better enforcement by our NYPD to take vehicular crimes more seriously.

Though nothing will bring Jeffrey back, the generous collective at the NYC Street Memorial Project have installed a ghost bike recently to make sure his death will not be in vain.
http://www.boweryboogie.com/2011/10/jeffrey-axelrod-ghost-bike-now-at-chrystie-and-delancey/
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/boerum-hill-resident-remembered-with-ghostbike-memorial

Cobble Hill Halloween Parade

Calling all ghouls, ghosts and goblins!
The Cobble Hill Halloween Parade will be Monday October 31st
TIME/ DATE: Monday, October 31st,  4:00 pm
PLACE: Cobble Hill Park
MUSIC: Jah Pan Steel Drum Band

All are welcome to attend this ever growing neighborhood event. However, it cannot be pulled off with some elbow grease to set up so we would like a crew of volunteers to help set up at 9AM and then another group of volunteers to help clean up at 8:30PM on the day of the parade.

If you would like to volunteer to help, please let us know by responding to CHA president roysloane[at]earthlink.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Recycling Day at PS29 - Sunday 10/23

In our continuing efforts to green the neighborhood, the Cobble Hill Association and amazing folks at PS29 are yet again holding an electronics recycling event with the Lower East Side Ecology Center. What's more, it'll include plenty of other recycling opportunities too throughout the day!
• 10a.. to 4pm...Old computers and electronics will be collected by Lower East Side Ecology Center, in conjunction with Cobble Hill Association.   See www.lesecologycenter.org to review the list of accepted items at bottom.
• Composting Workshop led by The NYC Compost Project in Brooklyn.  Backyard composters will also be for sale. 
• Computer hard drive shredding provided by eRecycleNY, PS 29 parent owned EPA compliant electronics recycling company serving the NYC area. 
• Clothing rummage sale, proceeds go to PS 29 PTA. Wearable Collections will be picking up remaining clothes, as well as stained & ripped clothing, textiles & stuffed animals. 
• Confidential Documents shredded on-site (& then recycled) for a small fee. by Time Shred Services

Friday, October 7, 2011

How to Research Your Home Workshop

You Are Invited to the COBBLE HILL ASSOCIATION Spring, 2011 General Meeting
How to Research The History of Your Own Home
with Francis Morrone
image taken by Giles Ashford during the Municipal Art Society's
Jane Jacobs Forum 2010
Join us for a discussion with Francis Morrone about how to research the history of a house or other building in Brooklyn. Morrone will discuss some of the nuts and bolts of basic building research, as well as the myriad avenues opened up in recent years by the internet. The web has changed the whole game. For the serious researcher it has not replaced the necessity of consulting physical archives, but it has made stay-at-home research rewarding as never before.

Learn the secrets of the trade from a professional historian.

Time: 7:30 P.M.
Date: Monday, October 17, 2011
Place: Long Island College Hospital, Conference Room A
Enter at main entrance 339 Hicks (at Atlantic)

All members of the public are invited. No admission charge.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Amazon filming @ Ted & Honey

Cobble Hill is already a coveted spot for families and businesses, now once again it's the desired locale for another film shoot. Word just came in from CB6 that Eyeball NYC will be in production this week on a commercial for Amazon. 
"We will be filming at Ted & Honey Cafe and on Verandah Place from approximately 7:00am to 3:00pm on Tuesday September 27th. For the purposes of staging scenes and parking production vehicles, street parking will be held in advance on oth sides of Clinton from Kane to Verandah Place... We appreciate the opportunity to shoot in Cobble Hill and will do our best to hold only the space necessary, and operate in as clean and quiet a manner as possible. We look forward to working in Brooklyn (aka home); thank you very much for helping to keep the production industry strong in New York City."

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Another addition to Brownstone Brooklyn

Wanted to share the good news that the Cobble Hill Blog and NY Post have already sent out...

The NYC City Council finally approved a 50 foot cap on new development in Boerum Hill, the great neighborhood immediately adjacent to Cobble Hill.  The rezoning area is bordered by Atlantic Avenue to the north, Court Street to the west, Fourth Avenue to the east and sections of Warren and Wyckoff streets south. We are happy to see Boerum Hill now under the same landmark guidelines as our own Cobble Hill which will ensure future developments maintain the character we've all come to love.
NY Post: Councilman Steve Levin, who represents the historic, landmarked Boerum Hill neighborhood said many of the its homes were build more than 150 years ago and the rezoning “is going to make sure that … historic character is preserved in perpetuity.”
“Everyone saw that there was a great need for this rezoning,” he said.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

BQE Emergency Repairs

CHA President Roy Sloane sent along this emergency notice...
Part of the eastbound lane of the BQE (adjacent to Grace Court and therefore under the Promenade) caved in earlier this morning. It is 'just' the asphalt itself, not the supporting steel structure

Presently, DOT are plating the area and putting up jersey barriers to keep cars off the affected lane. BQE is currently down from 3 to 2 lanes (leading to extensive delays). Repairs will be done on Wed 31st, from 10pm to 6am Thursday. There will be a full shut down of the Atlantic Avenue ramps to the BQE.

During this time, Furman will be made two-way to accommodate traffic, and there will be traffic agents on site to direct traffic. DOT says the repairs will hopefully only take a couple of days, but this is not a guarantee until they know the full extent of what they are dealing with.
Good to know DOT is on top of this emergency work, and will make necessary road changes that include a a temporary TWO-WAY Furman Street. However, one has to wonder, why isn't it ALWAYS two-way? Current vehicle speeds are dangerously high, and keeping this temporary conversion could make a safer road to walk across, bike along, and drive on.

Monday, August 22, 2011

"Cobble Hill was a prime church hotspot"

While we're proud to have had historian Francis Morrone lead walking tours through the neighborhood, we are also glad to know other history buffs are exploring the richness of Cobble Hill too.

Mary Ann DiNapoli recently led a tour with the Municipal Arts Society entitled “Churches of Cobble Hill: The Here, the Now, the Long Gone & the Forgotten." It not only revealed details of churches standing tall today, but also those which have been converted into other uses (like the Met Foods on Henry Street, or the apartments on Hicks & Warren).

For a full report, read Tania Karas's write up in the Patch.
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/on-a-cobble-hill-church-tour-history-and-real-estate

Friday, August 19, 2011

Cobble Hill Cyclist Killed

We are very sad to read reports that Jeffrey Axelrod, a Cobble Hill resident and founder of the Cobble Hill CSA, was killed last night while cycling in the Lower East Side near the Delancey and Chrystie Street intersections. There is undeniably a surge in ridership the past few years throughout NYC and though opinions vary on to how best accommodate all modes of transportation, the universal truth is that all forms must offer SAFE travels.  Our condolences go out to Jeffrey's family and friends, and we hope the Department of Transportation takes this tragedy to heart and continues improving safety for all street users to avoid incidents like this in the future.

For more reports....
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/cobble-hill-towers-resident-killed-in-les-bike-accident
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/jeffrey_axelrod.php
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/18/2011-08-18_man_crushed_underneath_cement_truck_after_losing_control_of_bicycle_on_lower_eas.html

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

BK Bridge Park Decision

The city announced plans which may potentially eliminate the need for new housing on Pier 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park, yet would still drop housing in Brooklyn Heights. The Cobble Hill Association has long fought for an inclusive, community oriented park without private housing, not piecemeal plans which pits neighborhood against neighborhood.

Our friends at Cobble Hill Blog covered some of the story, as did the NY Times.  However, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund released a very strong press release in response, with Cobble Hill Association President offering these words -

“We deeply regret this inevitable result of the Mayor and the Brooklyn Heights Association's preferred ‘housing only’ alternative to financing the park,” said Cobble Hill Association President Roy Sloane. “It is especially sad given how hard community activists and former Borough President Howard Golden fought to secure this Con Ed brownfield for a park to serve the residents of DUMBO, Vinegar Hill and the Farragut Houses. Seeing park land given up to development especially when so many viable funding mechanisms were identified in the recent "Committee for Alternative to Housing " conducted by Bay Area Consultants, is especially disturbing.”

Click for full BK Bridge Park Defense Fund press release.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Local Spotlight: Dorothy Siegel

Our very own local activist Dorothy Siegel was recently featured with a full article in the Patch.com.
Siegel is a political activist... a preservationist and a community builder: as a concerned resident she has fought time and time again to help maintain the character of Cobble Hill and to build parks....
Siegel's big issue today is Brooklyn Bridge Park. She has been working for many years, with a host of other locals including Roy Sloane, President of the Cobble Hill Association, to fight against the city's plan to build private housing within the footprint of the park.
"We've been fighting for a real Brooklyn Bridge Park for years," she said. "We mounted a battle, and it looks now like the city is blinking."
To check out the full interview, check out the link below.
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/headliners-longtime-resident-and-cobble-hill-activist-dorothy-siegel

Thursday, July 21, 2011

TONIGHT! Free Music!

Tonight, Thursday 7/21, at 7pm kicks off the Cobble Hill Association's "Music in the Park" concert series and leading the way is Suzanne Sherman Prop who'll be playing family friendly folk music in our beautiful park. Free for all... so come on out and enjoy. 

Thursday, July 21 – Suzanne Sherman Propp (Family Friendly Folk)
Thursday, July 28 – The Clermont Strings (Classical Favorites)
Thursday, August
4 – The Crustaceans (Acapella w Colgate13 Alumni)
Thursday, August 11 –  Nate Schweber (Singer/Songwriter)

All concerts begin at 7PM at Cobble Hill Park

Thanks to the series organizer Bryan Johnson, and to our sponsors SUNY Downstate at Long Island College Hospital and Ridgewood Savings Bank.

Monday, July 11, 2011

BK Bridge Park Board of Director's Meeting

Reprinted from our blogging friends at the Cobble Hill blog...

The board of directors of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation will meet on Monday, July 18, starting at approximately 1:30 p.m., at the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Heights branch, 280 Cadman Plaza West (at Tillary Street). The public is invited.
There is no agenda yet available for the meeting; we will publish it as soon as it is finalized. It may include action on the recommendations of the board’s Committee on Alternatives to Housing.
As noted in the Cobble Hill Association's postings last year (BK Bridge Pk Statement), we remained firmly opposed to new housing within the park and believe there are numerous non-privatizing ways to instead fund park maintenance. We envision a world class park with the recreational opportunities our borough wants and deserves, not a landscaped backyard for luxury condos.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Cobble Hill Summer Concert Series

Line-up just announced!

The 2011 "Music in the Park" concert series in Cobble Hill Park, organized by Bryan Johnson, is a wonderful neighborhood tradition of FREE family-friendly music under the stars. 

Thursday, July 21 – Suzanne Sherman Propp (Family Friendly Folk)
Thursday, July 28 – The Clermont Strings (Classical Favorites)
Thursday, August 4 – The Crustaceans (Acapella w Colgate13 Alumni)
Thursday, August 11 –  Nate Schweber (Singer/Songwriter)

All concerts begin at 7PM at Cobble Hill Park

Rain Date for all concerts is the following Friday when possible.
This year's concert series has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of SUNY Downstate at Long Island College Hospital and Ridgewood Savings Bank.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Cobble Hill Park History

Peter Justice of the neighborhood blog The Patch, has a wonderfully detailed history of our beautiful Cobble Hill Park, maintained by the Cobble Hill Association tireless park leader Barbara Krongel.
Read it in full, right here:
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/the-origin-of-cobble-hill-park
Cobble Hill Park

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Hospital Saved and Renamed

Everyone in the Cobble Hill community knows how tirelessly our local advocates have been fighting to keep nearby Long Island College Hospital from shutting its doors. After many months of negotiations, and the immense help of elected officials, the unprecedented merger of LICH and Suny Downstate is complete. Cobble Hill Association president Roy Sloane first announced it at the recent Spring General Meeting, and yesterday it became official as the new sign went up introducing the new University Hospital of Brooklyn at Long Island College Hospital.

For more detailed accounts of the merger, check out some of the local press coverage linked below. The CHA also wished to once again express our deepest gratitude to the late Murray Adams, a lion of an advocate, without whom this hospital saving merger would have never been possible.

Brooklyn Eagle Article
Brooklyn Paper Article
Carroll Gardens Patch Article

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

E-waste Report

Just a few weeks ago, our local elementary school PS29 graciously played host to our Cobble Hill Association electronics recycling event, run by the wonderfully green Lower East Side Ecology Center. The day also included recycling of textiles and plastic, making an all out day of eco-consciousness. While we don't have exact figures on those goods yet, we did get the figures for the electronics materials.

Total tonnage collected: 13,093 pounds, or 6.5 tons of materials
Number of participating households: 257
Those numbers on their own are really quite impressive; More than 6 tons of 'junk' that will avoid going into landfills, and instead get broken down safely and securely. But what's even more interesting is that less tonnage was collected (in 2010 we collected 18,846 pounds or 9.4 tons) because older model electronics are gone and 1st generation smaller, lighter, flat screens are now making their way to the recycling bin. In spite of the smaller haul... even MORE people participated this year (in 2010 only 231 households came out). 

The CHA is glad to have had yet another success, and hope that if you didn't get a chance to participate this time, you'll save those electronics for another e-waste event sometime this fall.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Welcome to the Cobble Hill Association 'Garden Club'

While we all enjoy our local green gem, Cobble Hill Park, we've also been noticing some beautifully blooming tree pits and window boxes in the neighborhood. The attention to detail on the Brooklyn Bridge homage pictured below is great, but loads more tree pits deserve some attention.

Starting next week, we'll showcase some of the best tree pits & window boxes in Cobble Hill, posting a new picture every week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. At the end of the summer, we'll post all the images at once for an online vote; whichever windowbox and tree pit earn the most votes will each win a $100 gift certificate to a local gardening shop.

Got a suggestion for us to post or think your own gardening skills ought to get some praise? Drop us a line at cha.garden.club@gmail.com with some pics and details of who's making the beautiful gardens bloom!
tree pit in front of 'Ted & Honey'

Thursday, May 19, 2011

BQE - Past, Present, Future

The BQE is one of the nation's most heavily trafficked roads, carrying vast amounts of people and products. It's importance is undisputed but it's placement is problematic. For decades it's divided Cobble Hill from the adjacent Columbia Waterfront community and only recent have local civic groups gained traction in the fight to reconnect the neighborhoods. Come join this Monday night's Cobble Hill Association Spring General Meeting and hearing updates of the BQE as a past present, a current problem, and ways to fix it all in the future.

COBBLE HILL ASSOCIATION - Spring, 2011 General Meeting
The BQE
Past
A fascinating look at the construction of the BQE “ditch”
that runs through our communities by historian Francis Morrone
Present
Update on plans to reconstruct Triple Cantilevered Roadway
 and Future
How to “Fix the Ditch” – a presentation of the NYCEDC/
Starr Whitehouse “BQE Enhancement Study”
Time/ Date: Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 7:30 P.M.
Place: Long Island College Hospital
Conference Room A,  Enter at main entrance 339 Hicks (at Atlantic)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Comptroller Town Hall

Tuesday night, NYC's Comptroller will be visiting Cobble Hill for a town hall session open to the public. As the city's Chief Financial Officer, he's responsible for ensuring our city agencies run efficiently without wasting taxpayer dollars.  Think things are running smoothly? I bet not... why not take this chance to ask him some questions! Full details below.

Please come out and join CBID, IND, LID, New Kings Democrats, Prospect Heights Democrats for Reform, and the 57th AD Democratic Organization for a Townhall meeting with NYC Comptroller, John Liu. 

The Comptroller will speak, but the majority of the meeting will be made up of questions from the audience. So bring your questions for the Comptroller! 
 

Tuesday, May 17th,  @ 7:30-9:00
Kane Street Synagogue @ 236 Kane Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231-4402,  (718) 875-1550

Friday, May 13, 2011

Cobble Hill gets new (old) Bell!

Hat Tip to the fantastic blog Lost City for pointing out that our very own Strong Place Church got a brand new archival addition during its conversion to residences - a 158 year-old bell!
Check out their post here for full details.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Green Gowanus Exhibit

Just found this upcoming weekend event in our inbox. We've supported the fight to Superfund, now let's stay invested in as we re-envision the canal's cleaner, greener future.

Our friends at Pardon Me For Asking, posted this invite with all the info.



Thursday, April 28, 2011

Green Weekend Grows!

Silver Linden on Warren & Court
With the annual plant sale part of a super green weekend on the horizon, the The Cobble Hill Tree Fund got a great write up courtesy of Molly Culver at the Patch. Check it out right here.

And, another green update: the PS29 Recycling Event will now also have special paper shredding services on hand too!

Same deal as last year: $10 for a large bag or large box of shredding. The school receives $5 and Time Shred Services receives $5.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Green Saturday, gets EVEN GREENER!

We've already told you about the jam packed line up this Saturday in Cobble Hill, with Electronics Recycling, a Plant Sale, AND a Bike Fest....
But There's even MORE sustainability in the schoolyard at PS29, as they've turned it into a full on mega green event!
PS 29 Recycling Day: Saturday, April 30th
Electronics Collection by the Lower East Side Ecology Center: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Textiles Collection by Wearable Collections: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Plastic Containers with Lids Collection by the Park Slope Food Co-op Recycling Squad & CHIPS Soup Kitchen: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Volunteers still needed! Email ps29pc@gmail.com if you have an hour to help.

Be sure to check out ALL the action in the neighborhood this Saturday. Want to see how successful we've been at events like these before? Watch here and here)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Green Saturday in Cobble Hill

This Saturday, April 30th, there LOTS OF GREEN going on in Cobble Hill!
Electronics Recycling, Plant Sale, & the Brooklyn Bike Fest!

From 10am to 4pm, PS 29 & the Cobble Hill Association are hosting the Lower East Side Ecology's Electronics Recycling Event.  We've spared tons (literally) of e-waste from landfills at these events in the past (see here and here) and hope to have the same success this time around. Grab those old computers, cameras, cell phone and properly dispose of them with us.

Then, walk over to Cobble Hill Park for the Cobble Hill Tree Fund's Annual Plant Sale, from 10:30AM to 3PM.  Annuals, tomatoes, geraniums, hanging baskets, and a variety of perennials will all be available. There'll also be plant/tree identification activities for children in the park.

Still want more green in your day? Saturday, from 10 am - 4 pm, at Brooklyn Bridge Park will be  the first-ever Five Boro Bike Fest.

This free, family-friendly event is open to the public and features live entertainment, classes, bike repair, and an expo with demos and giveaways. The Bike Fest is part of a fun-filled weekend that kicks off Bike Month.

Activities at Bike Fest
*10:30 Wear a helmet  *10:30 Fix-a-flat   *11:00 Use your gears  *11:30 How to buy a bicycle  *11:30 Chain maintenance  *12:00 Adjust your bike for a comfortable ride  *12:30 Stretching for cyclists  *12:30 Fix-a-flat  *1:00 Fuel up--gels, bars, beans, oh my!  *1:30 How to buy a bicycle  *1:30 Commute by bicycle  *2:30 Use your gears  *2:30 Fix-a-flat  *3:00 Chain maintenance  *3:30 Adjust your bike for a comfortable ride

We Demand it Again; No Housing in BK Bridge Park.

Last Wednesday at LICH, the Community Board 6 and Community Board 2's motions against housing  inside Brooklyn Bridge Park were upheld by the Mayor-appointed Community Advisory Committee.

This is particularly significant because the park's pro-housing operators had tried unsuccessfully to claim that the citizenry of Brooklyn - those individuals they had hand picked to be on the Committee in the first place - agreed that housing was the only solution for park payments.  It is obvious once again that the people of Brooklyn know that more housing is not needed inside Brooklyn Bridge Park and that there are many ways to pay for park maintenance without private housing. They have demanded that the Jehovah Witness properties adjacent to the park be mined for tax revenue; that the city explore a Real Estate Investment fee (used to secure and protect open space in East Hampton) and that all concessions, including the River Cafe inside the park, pay-in; that the combination of off site and on site parking, events and movie shoots will also go a long way to pay for the park without housing.

Please read the Community's motions for yourself. 

Motion passed at April 20, 2011 CAC meeting at LICH:
Maker:             Dorothy Siegel, BBPDF
Seconder:      Richard Bashner, CB 6
The CAC endorses the positions taken by CB6 and CB2 that encourage the BAE to aggressively study potential revenue generating ideas and expense reduction options, including fundraising/sponsorship opportunities and options involving the Watchtower properties. In addition to the revenue sources mentioned in the CB2 and CB6 resolutions, the CAC urges BAE to consider other potential revenue sources including, but not limited to: a real estate transfer fee; enhanced revenues from parking (specifically, the police garage); alternative approaches to the PID; and potential revenues from the yacht marina. The CAC further urges BAE to provide a point by point analysis of the revenue generators covered in the 1997 Praedium Group study.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

CB2 & CB6 urge more exploration

The fight against building unnecessary housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park continues and now both Community Boards 2 & 6 have passed resolutions urging more exploration. A weak study was done by the Committee on Alternatives to Housing, but failed to include the potential sale of Watchtower Properties as revenue generators.  The Brooklyn Eagle has more details below.
Debate on Park ‘Alternatives To Housing’ Is Still Alive

Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Lion's Legacy

Photo By Judy Whitman
While several local articles went around last week announcing the unfortunate passing on one of Cobble Hill's most important civic leaders, Murray 'the Lion' Adams, just yesterday the Brooklyn Eagle published a more in depth review of Murray's many accolades.
Adams was an indefatigable community activist, and all who knew him assumed he would spend many more years advocating for the neighborhood... He was one of the founders of the [Cobble Hill Association] organization and served as president in the 1960s. Asked if he would classify himself as an urban pioneer, he insisted that pioneer was “too strong a word.”
To read the article in full, please click on Trudy Whitman's The Achievements of Murray Adams

Thursday, April 7, 2011

final chances to OPPOSE housing in our parks

CB 6 sent along this message the other day. Please use it as another chance to stand up for a true Brooklyn Bridge park... that is one without private housing. It should feel like a lawn for all of Brooklyn to enjoy, not just a backyard for wealthy hugh rise condo owners. As our Cobble Hill Association president Roy Sloane eloquently put it last week "I will never support housing in this park until there are high-rises in Prospect Park, Central Park and every other major park in this city."
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Representatives for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation have agreed to brief us on the Draft Report findings for the "Study of Alternatives to Housing For the Funding of Brooklyn Bridge Park Operations" prepared by Bay Area Economics for the Committee for Alternatives to Housing.

The meeting will be hosted by the Brooklyn CB6 Executive Committee at 6:30pm on Monday, April 11th, at Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street (at Atlantic Avenue), Brooklyn.

The report itself can be viewed by clicking here, or at the following link:
http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/about-us/project-approvals-presentations

Written comments on the report are due by April 25th and may be submitted directly to:
bbptestimony@bae1.com

Safer routes to Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6

Councilman Brad Lander is renewing his efforts to make the Department of Transportation address the immense dangers in accessing our waterfront park at Pier 6 with a new online petition. It just takes a few seconds to sign, and will go a long way to keeping the issue on DOT's radar so that hopefully it can be addressed BEFORE the warm weather ushers in new visitors to harm's way as they head to the park.

As we saw last year after the new park opened, the current routes along Atlantic Avenue and Columbia Streets, past the entrances to the BQE, are just too dangerous. With spring upon us, we need some adjustments (e.g. a new traffic light at Congress and Columbia) soon.

Please sign Brad Lander's petition calling on the NYC Department of Transportation to make routes to Pier 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park safer for pedestrians, and pass it along, if so inspired.

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2777/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3735

Saturday, April 2, 2011

In Remembrance

The Cobble Hill Association suffered a tremendous loss this week, with the loss of one its greatest leaders. CHA President Roy Sloane shared the following message.  
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With great sadness, we wish to mark the passing of C. Murray Adams.  Murray passed away peacefully yesterday at his beloved Long Island College Hospital, following complications of a brief illness.  He was the past president of the Cobble Hill Association and a member of our board, but, most importantly, a wonderful person, husband & father.

There are few individuals who have had the dedication and made the contributions to Cobble Hill that Murray has over the years. He played an integral part in shaping the neighborhood from one threatened by urban renewal and Atlantic Avenue becoming a state highway to one of Brooklyn's premier family neighborhoods. He did this through his intelligence, his charm and his tireless dedication to improving our institutions and our local political representation.

Murray was one of the founders of the Cobble Hill Association in the late 1950's and served as one of its first presidents. Our longest serving leader, he was president again from 2004 through 2008 and was still serving on our board at the time of his passing. Murray was also a member of the boards of Long Island College Hospital and the Cobble Hill Health Center and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund. He served as a legal adviser for the lawsuit to prohibit housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park.  In just the past two years, his vision, leadership, and skill as a citizen lobbyist helped make the SUNY Downstate/ LICH merger possible-- saving LICH and creating a powerful new health care resource in our borough.
 
A Memorial Service for Murray Adams will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 3 PM at the Friends Meetinghouse, 110 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn (corner of Boerum Place).  Contributions in Murray’s memory may be made to the Long Island College Hospital and the Imani House Adult Literacy Program.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Cobble Hill Street Resurfacing

Next week several streets in our neighborhood will get some much needed resurfacing from the Department of Transportation.

1) Butler Street (between Court St and Gregory Pl aka Quisenbury Dr)
2) Gregory Place aka Quisenbury Drive (between Butler and Baltic Streets)
3) Degraw Street (between Hicks Street and 5th Ave)

The 1st stage of street resurfacing, a process called milling, involves the stripping away of the top several inches of asphalt. The removed asphalt is captured and returned to the Hamilton Avenue Asphalt Yard where it is recycled into a new asphalt product and reapplied to the streets. The City saves money and resources both in terms of decreasing its reliance on virgin product for fresh roadway application, and preserving precious landfill space by avoiding the disposal of the old product. The work can be loud at times, and it creates a temporary scarified, rough driving surface containing raised manhole covers and other protruding appurtenances.

The second stage of work, which usually lags behind the first stage by a couple-few weeks, involves a different work crew responsible for the laying of the new roadway surface. The final stage of work involves the reapplication of missing striping from crosswalks, lane markings, etc. In all, the total process can take a couple-few months to complete.

No one enjoys living through the process of resurfacing streets and weather or other unforeseen circumstances can slow down the process for everyone. Your patience and understanding during this time is truly appreciated.

If you experience any problems, or have additional questions, call either CB6 or 311.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Testify AGAINST Housing in BK Bridge Park

The Cobble Hill Association strongly urges its members to testify on March 31st and speak out against housing in Brooklyn Bridge park. Though developers try to convince the community that five additional buildings are the only solution to finance the park, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund and many other sensible community advocates know this s not true. Bigger revenue opportunities include selling the Jehovah Witness properties immediately adjacent to the park, as well as creating an Atlantic Ferry Landing concept that would serve as an entertainment and recreational draw on Pier 6. Or perhaps most sensibly, eliminating the duplicative entity AND conservancy with mind-bogglingly inflated budgets and simply fold it into a properly funded NYC parks department scheme?

Please take just 1 hour to attend the hearing on Thursday, March 31st at 5:30 PM and TESTIFY
that we don't want nor do we need more private housing inside this park.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Congress Street Bike Lane

While last week's roundtable discussion with Councilman Brad Lander was an opportunity to bring practically any issue to light, many residents chose to focus their voices on rumors surrounding a new Congress street bike lane possibly coming to the neighborhood. While the NY Post fueled, or possibly started, a fire with misinformation...  more accurate details came out of the Q & A. As the Brooklyn Eagle notes... 

The city Department of Transportation insists that it’s only “a conceptual design made by a sub-consultant on a study [commissioned by the Economic Development Corp.] related to the BQE enhancement” and that “previous press reports were inaccurate in suggesting that DOT officials told community members that the project was moving ahead."...  Roy Sloane, current president of the Cobble Hill Association, said, “I was asked by the DOT to take the plan to key people on Congress Street to see what they thought of it, and not one person approved of it. I know there are numerous reports that it’s moving forward despite community opposition, but I spoke to DOT and they said it’s not true.”

The Cobble Hill Association recognizes many residents remain concerned, but appreciates that DOT sought local insight, even during concept phase. We have complete faith that if a detailed plan should come to fruition, once again DOT will seek resident's input to make the best possible solution in designing a safer east-west connection for pedestrians and cyclists moving in and through Cobble Hill.  

Monday, March 7, 2011

Councilman Lander Community Roundtable 3/16

Local Counilman Brad Lander joins the Cobble Hill Association for another roundtable discussion next Wednesday, March 16th. This is the 2nd year the CHA has hosted these open interactions allowing our residents to pose questions directly to area representatives.

Whether your issue is big like avoiding housing in Brookyn Bridge Park, keeping the Prospect Park West bike path, maintaining Long Island College Hospital... or something small and localized to your block or your building, this is a great opportunity to have the Councilman's assistance.

Wednesday, March 16th
7:30p - 9p, Community Roundtable with Brad Lander @ 326 Clinton - Christ Church (corner of Kane and Clinton)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Squadron's 3rd annual Community Convention

Please mark your calendars to attend our State Senator Daniel Squadron's upcoming Third Annual, 25th Senate District Community Convention.

Sunday, March 13th
2:00-5:00 PM.
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street in Downtown Brooklyn
RSVP to Rosemarie Diaz in my office at 212-298-5565 or rdiaz@nysenate.gov

Last year, more than 400 community members attended and offered valuable feedback on topics as far-ranging as school overcrowding, park planning and nightlife and many more... with everyone getting a chance to voice opinions in small discussion groups. It's a great way to let your representative know your concerns and help guide his work in Albany.

For a complete list of this year's topics & more info, please visit http://www.nysenate.gov/community-convention.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Gowanus Canal Remedial Investigation Report

The Cobble Hill Association blog has been too busy for posts the past month.

Regretfully we were unable to write up our deep concern at Gov. Cuomo's potential closing of Long Island College Hospital, as well as our deep appreciation to the local electeds who helped keep its doors open. Thankfully, the local papers have plenty to bring you up to speed on our behalf.
* http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/6127
* http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=21&id=41361

But now that we are back to blogging, we do want to alert you of another important matter on the horizon.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM 
at P.S. 32, 317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn


The EPA offers a public information meeting on the Gowanus Canal Remedial Investigation Report, to discuss the findings of the investigation, conducted by the EPA, to determine the nature and extent of contamination in the canal.  
 
The RI is also available online at:

For more information about the meeting or other site related issues you can contact Natalie Loney at loney.natalie@epa.gov or (212)637 3639.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Feb 2 - Columbia Street Open Space Visioning

Image Credit: Christina Twomey
While much of the neighborhood's attention has been to the developing Brooklyn Bridge Park (and its unfortunate housing dropped into the park), there's another public space worth discussing;

Join the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Regional Plan Association, and your neighbors in a visioning for a new public open space on Columbia Street between Kane and Degraw Streets.

When the Van Brunt Street reconstruction and the Gowanus Flushing Tunnel construction are complete, the 80-ft deep area on the west side of Columbia Street is planned to become an open space element of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. It is one of three open space nodes that we are either designing or commencing the community visioning process.

On February 2nd, background research that has been compiled will be shared with the Columbia Waterfront community.

What:  Columbia Waterfront Park Visioning Meeting
When:  Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011, 6:30-8:30 PM
Where:  The Union Street Star Theater, 101 Union Street
Please RSVP to info@brooklyngreenway.org with Columbia Waterfront Park in the subject line.
To see all the current research, download the briefing book here... http://bit.ly/gTD5po

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Comptroller Town Hall

Wednesday, January 26th, NYC's Comptroller will be visiting Brooklyn for a town hall session regarding audits. Many find the thought of an personal audit frightening, but the Comptroller is not out to check your records, he's there to check the city's. The Comptroller is the city's chief financial officer and during the town hall will discuss ways citizens can make suggestions for needed audits of city agencies and departments.

For more info, check the flyer below or read the press release on Comptroller Liu's website.
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2011_releases/PR11-01-008.shtm

Jan 26th, 6-8 pm
The Brooklyn Public Library
Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture
10 Grand Army Plaza at Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Electronics Recycling Event

We've had some great e-waste events in Cobble Hill, but today is one just a few blocks farther in Prospect Park.  Sunday, January 16, 2011, 10am to 4pm, Prospect Park entrance at PPW & 3rd Street.