Participatory Budgeting Returns

What is Participatory Budgeting? from PBP on Vimeo.

Participatory budgeting is back this year offering residents the opportunity to tell our City Council Members what we want done in our communities. Over the next few weeks Council Member Brad Lander's office will be holding meetings to seek capital project proposals that total $1.5 million. Twenty four of the city's representatives have opted in to allot funds to PB, now in it's fifth year. For more information see CM Brad Lander's participatory budgeting page here. The first PB workshop is next Wednesday (details below). You may also contact the Council Member's office directly.

PB Assembly at PS 118

Wednesday, September 30th

6:30-8:30 p.m.

211 8th St (near 4th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY

RSVP for the PS 118 Assembly here.

Last Chance to Save on Solar with Solarize CB6

Solarize Community Board Six will be holding it's final two informational workshops this week and next. If you're thinking about going solar, act now! All home and business owners must sign up before September 30th. Installing solar through the Solarize program saves you money by entering a collective installation deal with lower rates, and leveraging existing federal, state, and city tax breaks and subsidies. The information session details are below, and if you can't attend you can also sign up for a free, no obligation site assessment here.

Thursday, September 24

6:30 to 8:30 PM (Evening)

Old First Reformed Church

729 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

RSVP here

Tuesday, September 29

9:30 to 11:00 AM (Morning)

Roof at Whole Foods

3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

RSVP here

Cobble Hill Association Installs New Executive Board

Last night a large crowd of residents gathered at the Cobble Hill Health Center to vote on a new line up of officers for the Cobble Hill Association's executive board. There had been several recent vacancies, but with massive development looming at the former LICH site locals did not want there to be any lapse in leadership positions.

Below is a summary of the now approved slate, along with bios of each person after the jump.

President: Laurel Burr
First Vice President: Adrian (Buzz) Doherty
Second Vice President: Daniel Arbeeny
Treasurer: Ezana Bocresion
Membership Secretary: Amy Breedlove
Corresponding Secretary: Kathryn Yatrakis
Recording Secretary: Laurie Maurer

Click for Bios (in alphabetical order)

First Fortis Conversion: Polhemus Building to Landmarks Hearing

Dear Cobble Hill,

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, September 8th, proposed alterations to the Polhemus Building, 350 Henry Street, will come before the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). This is the first LICH building to be converted to residential use by the developer, Fortis, and one of the very few LICH structures governed by landmark status.

The hearing is open to the public and attendees need to be at 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, Manhattan, by 9:30 am.

Here is a link to the architect’s plans:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/presentation-materials/9_8_2015/350_Henry_Street.pdf

I am as sorry as you are about the short notice. I just discovered it was on the calendar for tomorrow. If you are able to attend, could you reply to this with a quick email? Whether you have opinions about the proposed changes to the structure or are able to make a show of community force by simply appearing, your attendance is helpful.

Then on Wednesday morning, there is an important hearing on a proposed change to NYC landmarks legislation in the City Council, called Intro 775. The hearing will take place at 11:00 am, September 9th, at City Hall, City Hall Park, between Park Row and Broadway (bring photo ID).

The Historic Districts Council states that “this bill…has the potential to affect all future designation activities of the LPC”.

If Landmarks and Historic Preservation are important to you, please read about the proposed changes and lend your voice in opposing this bill by attending the hearing or by contacting Brad Lander, our city councilman, at lander@council.nyc.gov, or by phone at 718-499-1090.

Here are just a few articles and posts about Intro 775:

Historic Districts Council:
http://hdc.org/blog/intro-775

Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation:
http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/preservation/intro775/intro775-oped.htm

Curbed:
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2015/08/24/controversial_bill_could_wipe_out_landmarks_backlog.php

September is off to the races.

Laurel Burr
Membership Secretary