It's Petition Delivery Time!

Let's deliver our message to Mayor de Blasio together. 

Date:  Wednesday morning, December 16th
Time:  9:15 am
Where: In front of the gates of City Hall Park, Broadway at Murray Street.
How:   4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall, R to City Hall, A/C to Chambers, or 2/3 to Park Place

Bring ID.

Can you make it?  Your presence will have an impact.  If you can be there, an email confirmation would be appreciated. Send your RSVPs to CobbleHillAssociation@gmail.com.

On Wednesday morning, City Councilman Brad Lander and State Senator Daniel Squadron will stand with Cobble Hill residents (and neighbors!) to deliver over 2017 signed petitions to City Hall.   (We actually have more than that but the number should have special significance for the Mayor.)  Our request is simple:  we want a better plan for the Long Island College Hospital site.
Bring one of the Save Cobble Hill posters or make your own, Just keep it family friendly!

THANK YOU for your efforts!  Every voice counts and is vital in our efforts to convince the de Blasio administration to listen and respond to our concerns.  We hope to see you Wednesday morning!

Walk the Windows of Atlantic Avenue this Saturday

Take advantage of this weekend's unseasonably beautiful weather to Walk the Windows on Atlantic Avenue. This Saturday stores and restaurants along Atlantic from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue will be hosting events and offering complimentary holiday treats and discounts. Hot chocolate from Sahadi's still sounds pretty good when it's 60 degrees out. The event is organized by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, described by them below:

Walk the Windows activities include live music; tribal rugs exhibit with talk; holiday terrarium workshop; cheese & wine pairing class; storytime; art lectures; book making craft; intro to meditation; Strafe signed CD and art raffle; drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic – including a whiskey knowledge tasting); ski and snowboard tips and tricks; holiday makeup tips; gift wrapping and goodies party; meet Santa, the Snow Queen (photo ops/bring your camera) and more! Holiday carolers, free tasty treats and refreshments, and fun events, will keep you in the holiday spirit.

Walk the Windows on Atlantic Ave

Saturday, December 12 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue

Full list of offerings from AALDC

Carroll Gardens 9th Annual Community Tree Lighting

Join our Carroll Gardens neighbors on Friday evening for the ninth annual Community Tree lighting. Festivities will be at the Human Compass Garden at Columbia and Sackett Streets from 6:00pm - 7:30pm, and Santa will be making an appearance. See the event posting from Carroll Gardens Assocation.

Community Tree Lighting

Friday, December 11th 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Human Compass Community Garden

Corner of Columbia and Sackett Streets

Say It Ain't So, Mayor de Blasio!

“We are not embarking on a mission to build towering skyscrapers where they don't belong. We have a duty to protect and preserve the culture and character of our neighborhoods.”


Guess who said that last February?! Mayor de Blasio!

But somehow the Mayor has lost his way and now he is supporting building high-rise towers right next to our historic low-rise brownstone community.

At Wednesday's community meeting, hundreds of our Cobble Hill neighbors and friends made their feelings loud and clear: No towers in Cobble Hill! Our representatives heard our message and they are behind us 100 percent in this truly momentous effort to stop Fortis Property Group from building their high-rises on the site of the former Long Island College Hospital.

Now we need to make sure Mayor de Blasio hears us, too! Toward that end, we are petitioning Mayor de Blasio to work with us— not against us— in our efforts to significantly downscale the current redevelopment plans. We've already collected hundreds of signatures, but we needs several times that to make an impact.

Please read our petition and-- if you agree— add your vitally needed voice to our campaign. There are two ways you can participate.

1. Please print out a copy of our petition, sign, and mail to: Cobble Hill Association, 123 Congress Street 11201 (or you can drop through the mail slot).

2. Access and sign our petition online. (Your email will be your signature.)

All the community's signed petitions will be delivered directly to the Mayor's office.

Please sign today! The sooner these petitions reach the Mayor the better!

And THANK YOU! for being a part of our community.

The Cobble Hill Community and its Representatives Reject Fortis Redevelopment Plans for LICH site

City Councilman Brad Lander, New York Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, and New York Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez announced at the Cobble Hill Association's fall community meeting that they would not support the current proposed rezoning (ULURP) plans for the former Long Island College Hospital site. "The community does not support this ULURP proposal— and neither do I," Councilman Lander told his constituents, who filled the auditorium of P.S. 29 and also spoke passionately against the Fortis plans, which feature luxury high-rise towers of at least 35 stories.  Cobble Hill Association President Laurel Burr and First Vice President Buzz Doherty also reported that, after holding nearly 20 block meetings to discuss the Fortis proposals, there was a clear consensus within the community that the redevelopment plans were unacceptable and needed to be significantly downscaled to win neighborhood approval. The CHA would like to thank our representatives for their work on behalf of Cobble Hill and our President Laurel Burr for her tireless efforts to mobilize community action on this vital issue. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest developments. 

Fall General Meeting on Wednesday Night

Fall General Meeting

November 18th, Wednesday, 7:00 pm

P.S. 29 at 425 Henry Street

Between Baltic and Kane Streets

PLEASE COME!

This will be a very important meeting of the Cobble Hill Association as the community provides feedback on the development proposals for the Long Island College Hospital site.

Incomplete and misleading information is being disseminated in our neighborhood by paid canvassers.

Some points of clarification:

• The rezoning plan is substantially larger than the As of Right plan.
• The NYU-Langone medical facility will be built by NYU regardless of which development path Fortis chooses. Continuous medical care on the site was a condition of the sale and is not a voluntary benefit offered by the developer.
• The park space proposed in the rezoning is a park “mash-up” of the existing sitting park and an existing playground, plus only 4286 additional square feet. 
• The proposed K-5 school has no schoolyard.

Check the Cobble Hill Association Facebook page for news and updates.

CHA attends meeting with Councilman Brad Lander and other community organizations to discuss affordable housing

As reported on DNAinfo's website, on November 5 the Cobble Hill Association participated in a meeting organized by City Councilman Brad Lander on the subject of affordable housing as it relates to the needs of the community and the current proposals for the redevelopment of the Long Island College Hospital site. A representative of Assembly member Jo Anne Simon's office; representatives of the Carroll Gardens Association, which works to preserve and develop affordable housing; Heights & Hills, which provides support services to Brooklyn's senior citizens; the Brooklyn Heights Association; representatives of Fortis, the developer of the LICH site; and other stakeholders were also in attendance.

The meeting served to educate community groups and stakeholders in the LICH development about the many intricacies involved in building and maintaining affordable housing units within a luxury high-rise development, including income levels, senior services, apartment size, preferences for certain groups, etc. The developer is proposing affordable housing in two of the high-rise towers they are seeking to build (the tallest of which is 35 stories), one housing primarily seniors. However, the representative of Heights and Hills, which has served seniors for decades, asked a number of thoughtful questions about the senior housing component of Fortis's current proposal and it was clear that Fortis and its partner L&M Development have not made any final decisions about the exact nature of the senior housing or the other proposed affordable units.

CHA is not opposed to affordable housing in any development plan, as long as it is affordable and acceptable to the community. As Council Lander has stated: "The proposals are deeply disturbing to most neighbors, and for good reason: they are dramatically out-of-scale with the Cobble Hill community." A historic brownstone neighborhood with a 50-foot height limit will be overwhelmed by a multi-tower residential complex with heights of up to 400 feet.

On November 18, CHA will hold its fall community meeting. The time and location are TBA. In the meantime, please "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for latest developments.

When Community Advocates Are Really Paid Political Public Relations Advisors

Cobble Hill Association can now confirm that Hilltop Public Solutions, a political public relations firm operated by former top-level campaign organizers for Mayor de Blasio, is aggressively operating a "messaging" campaign in our neighborhood in support of Fortis's proposed high-rise complexes for the LICH site. Hilltop's campaigners (who say they are working for "the LICH project") are collecting and asking residents' opinions on schooling and playgrounds to forward to New York City Councilmember Brad Lander. What is not stressed by these campaigners is that both redevelopment plans will place high-rise tower complexes over 35 stories high in our low-rise historic neighborhood.

We do not believe a consultancy firm paid for by the real-estate developer of the LICH site should presume to represent our community's opinions to our representatives. We are asking all residents of Cobble Hill and throughout South Brooklyn NOT TO RESPOND to Hilltop's solicitations. CHA is reaching out to Councilman Lander's office immediately to inform him of Hilltop's stealth campaign.

For more on Hilltop's lucrative relationship with the Mayor, read this New York Times article. And in case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal also recently ran an incisive report on Mayor de Blasio's abandonment of LICH and our community. We are updating our Facebook page regularly with news and information about the Fortis redevelopment plans and what we can do to protect our community from falling victim of gross overdevelopment. Please "like" CHA on Facebook and invite your neighbors to follow us on Facebook as well. We need your support!!

Why does Fortis want your signature?

Cobble Hill Association has received reports that representatives of Fortis Property Group are canvassing the neighborhood asking people to sign a petition in support of "affordable housing” and “more parks” for Cobble Hill. Undoubtedly, these signatures are being collected to help Fortis promote its proposed rezoning of the Long Island College Hospital site. This is in addition to Fortis’s efforts on Facebook to solicit support. We are asking that residents NOT sign the petition— either on line or in person. Here’s why:

CHA does not support the current Fortis proposals and there continues to be a number of important unresolved questions over how these towers will be built without causing irrevocable harm to the historic district of Cobble Hill— and to our larger brownstone community.

The petition only addresses what Fortis claims will be the amenities related to the rezoning development they want to build and does not allow participants to express doubts, concerns, or objections about the actual plans.

The petition may not specifically mention the rezoning, but we want to remind everyone that the rezoning would result in a development much larger than they can build As of Right, and that the proposed “public park” could be used as a schoolyard.

Our greatest concern is that residents are being asked to share personal information with a major real-estate developer who may then use the data collected to make spurious claims of neighborhood support for its high-rise towers complex.

If you have any question or concerns, please reach via email, Facebook, Twitter, or leave a comment below.

Halloween Parade Tomorrow

Happy Halloween Cobble Hill! The costumes are getting their final touches and everyone's ready to trick-or-treat! The costume parade will congregate in Cobble Hill Park tomorrow, leaving at 4:00pm. We will proceed from Congress Street to Henry Street, head south on Warren Street, and turn back to Clinton Street to return to Cobble Hill Park. The residents of the Cobble Hill Health Center are looking forward to seeing our costumes when the parade passes by on Henry! The route will be led by Captain Colon, Commanding Officer of the 76th Precint, and the Packer High School Jazz Band. See you tomorrow!

Letter to Fortis Concerning Current Site Conditions at LICH

Yesterday, the CHA sent the following message in a letter to Fortis, NYU Langone, and SUNY about conditions at the former site of Long Island College Hospital.

Dear Sirs:

We are writing on behalf of the Cobble Hill Association (the “CHA”) and the residents of Cobble Hill to bring to your attention certain matters relating to the former Long Island College Hospital (“LICH”) site in Cobble Hill and your current activities with respect to it.

First, the public areas of the LICH site are not being maintained in a safe and lawful manner. Lights are either broken or not turned on at night. Park gates, to these darkened areas, are often left unlocked at night. Other gates, including those leading to public areas, are improperly locked during the day. Sidewalk snow removal was untimely or nonexistent for much of last winter. We have received reports of bloody sheets and syringes in neighborhood garbage receptacles. Efforts by community members to locate the entity or person responsible for these matters and to get them corrected have proven time consuming and largely unsuccessful. These conditions present a clear and present risk of assault and injury to community residents.

In addition to the lack of maintenance, demolition and construction activities have caused greater hazards for the Cobble Hill community. Construction debris, moving vans, garbage trucks, parked cars and uneven pavement have rendered the public area of the Pacific Street corridor dangerous for its intended pedestrian and recreational use. This area, which long provided recreational space and a safe passageway between play areas under the auspices of the NYC Parks Department, has become almost completely unusable by the public. Elsewhere on the site, especially along Amity and Henry Streets, unsafe construction practices abound, some of which have already led to the issuance of a stop work order. Neighbors have reported unsafe asbestos removal, while the Stop Work Order was in effect, including workmen who were not wearing protective clothing. Behind the “No Parking” door on the Polhemus Building, there is floor-to-ceiling garbage. The gate to the west of the former doctors’ residence (94 Amity) has been seen unlocked and unguarded, compromising the safety of neighboring homes.

Second, the LICH parking garage at 352 Hicks Street has been unlawfully converted from an “accessory” parking facility into a public parking garage. As you well know, LICH obtained the support of the community and its elected officials for the de-mapping of Van Voorhees Park for the sole purpose of providing accessory parking for medical staff and visitors, as is stated in City Planning Commission decision referenced in the garage certificate of occupancy. It is fair to say that this deeded parkland would never have been exchanged for a public for-profit parking garage. This unlawful use must cease immediately.

Lastly, as you must know, the development and maintenance of the LICH site is governed in part by the Agreement between LICH and the CHA dated January 1984, as amended on May 29, 1987, and by an Agreement dated May 29, 1987 (copies attached), as well as agreements with the NYC Parks Department. As successors and assigns of LICH, we expect you to proceed in accordance with these agreements in all respects.

Our demands are simple – we ask that you conduct your activities on the LICH site in a manner that is both lawful and safe for community residents and in accordance with the agreements concerning this site.

Sincerely,
The Cobble Hill Association

Response to Fortis Release

New Fortis proposal including student housing is revealed: http://www.wsj.com/articles/fortis-property-group-offers-two-plans-for-site-of-long-island-college-hospital-1445307462

Cobble Hill Association Release 10/20/ 2015

Today, the Fortis Property Group released two versions of its plan to develop the former Long Island College Hospital site abutting the historic neighborhood of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. For the last five months, the Cobble Hill Association (CHA) and Fortis have been in discussions under the auspices of Councilperson Brad Lander to create a plan that would serve the future residents of Cobble Hill, while preserving the characteristics of the neighborhood that drew those people in the first place. We recognize that change is inevitable, but from the beginning the community has consistently maintained that the buildings proposed were too tall and that the population density would overwhelm the existing neighborhood. Fortis agreed to enter into discussions with the help of Councilperson Lander. Unfortunately, they have steadfastly refused to significantly lower the height or scale back the density of the plans. Instead of listening to the concerns of CHA, last week they actually increased the square footage of the ‘As of Right’ plan by adding 262,500 square feet, an increase of almost 40%, mostly in the form of student housing.

The CHA remains committed to the process organized by councilman Brad Lander and hopes to move forward in productive discussions with its new neighbor.

For further information, please contact cobblehillassociation@gmail.com

What Do You Think About Cobble Hill's CitiBike Locations?

The above CitiBike expansion draft plan was presented at Thursday night's CB6 Transportation Committee meeting [click here for PDF]. In addition to Cobble Hill, stations will be installed in Red Hook, Gowanus, and Park Slope down to 14th Street. The Department of Transportation, who presented the plan with CitiBike, says that the station density will be lower in this phase of expansion than in parts of the original network. The docks will be deployed in 2016, and the entire phase two expansion is scheduled to be complete by 2017.

Below is a close up of the docks planned for Cobble Hill along with the legend. Two stations of note are in front of Cobble Hill Park, and Trader Joe's. There will also be three CitiBike docks on or near the Brooklyn Greenway on Columbia Street. This plan will not be finalized for a few months so you and Community Board Six still have a say. The Cobble Hill Association is collecting your feedback about the stations in our neighborhood to present to the DOT with CB6. Please fill out this survey to let us know what you think of the proposal.

Halloween is Around the Corner!

Out come the cob webs, phantoms, and ghouls when the Cobble Hill Halloween Parade creeps up this autumn. Prepare your costumes for our annual gathering, and we'll see you in the park.

We're seeking volunteers to help with parade decorations and clean up. If you're available to help set up at noon or clean up at 8:30pm, please email Cobblehillassociation@gmail.com.

Halloween Parade

Saturday, October 31st at 4:00pm

Compost and E-Waste are coming to Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill is getting even greener this fall, and it won't be the leaves. The city's organic waste pilot program has arrived in Cobble Hill. Starting October first, you may have seen little brown bins delivered to your home or your neighbor's yards. All single family homes and residential buildings up to nine units are included. The bins are collected from the curb along with your trash two times a week. The compost collection accepts all food scraps excluding meat, fish, and dairy. Yard waste is also accepted. For more information see the DSNY website.

Also coming up on Sunday, October 18th the Lower East Side Ecology Center's E-Waste Warehouse is hosting an electronics recycling day at PS 29. Bring your old batteries, lightbulbs, cell phones, computers and more. Proper disposal ensures these hazardous materials stay out of the earth and are reused if possible.

E-Waste Recycling

Sunday, October 18th

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

PS 29 on Baltic Street

between Henry and Clinton Street

Free Upcoming Health Fair

The NYU Langone Emergency Department is hosting a free Health Fair the weekend of the 17th and 18th. Free flu shots and healthcare screenings will be available. For more information see the Flyer below.

Saturday October 17th &

Sunday October 18th

10:00 AM - 3:00PM both days

83 Amity Street (corner of Hicks Street)

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon is Coming to a Stoop Near You

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon has a few more months at home before it's back to Albany, and she wants to use them to meet her neighbors. The state representative wants to discuss our concerns in a less formal setting, so Simon is migrating from stoop to stoop in district 52 asking constituents to share their thoughts and questions. She will be in Park Slope tonight, and come to Cobble Hill on Tuesday, (details below). More info on the Daily Eagle.

Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill

Tuesday, October 6, 6:00pm-7:30 p.m.

On the stoop of 380 Clinton St. 

(between Sackett and DeGraw streets).

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

Welcome New CO Captain Elliot Colon at Tuesday's Precinct 76 Meeting

Precinct 76 will have it's first meeting after the summer recess on Tuesday, September 1st at 7:30pm. The community council gathers every month at the precinct on 191 Union Street between Henry and Hicks Streets. This month residents will be introduced to our new Commanding Officer Captain Elliot Colon. The new appointment follows the retirement of Captain Natalie Maldonado in earlier this year in June.

The Cobble Hill Association Retains Walden Macht & Haran

Jim Walden, a nationally recognized litigator, has been retained by the Cobble Hill Association to help the community explore legal options regarding the proposed Fortis development on the former LICH Campus. Walden has extensive experience working on behalf of community and preservation groups over land-use disputes. Among his other matters, Walden successfully challenged of the Department of Corrections’ plan to double the capacity of the Brooklyn House of Detention. He also helped lead a trial-court ruling against a massive expansion plan in Greenwich Village (a verdict later overturned on appeal). In another matter, after successfully suing over the illegal conversion of parkland in Brooklyn Bridge Park, he subsequently negotiated a deal to add parkland to the site, while permitting a local theater group to develop part of the parcel. Walden was also then-Councilmember Letitia James’ choice to help her and community groups evaluate legal options when facing expansion of a homeless intake center at Bedford-Atlantic Armory. Walden brought all this litigation and negotiation experience to bear for CHA when SUNY sought to illegally close LICH. His work there resulted in a settlement resetting the RFP process to try to find a hospital operator. Before representing the CHA and other community groups, he was then-Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s “go to” lawyer in that matter, and once elected, Mayor de Blasio aptly described Jim’s special skills: “If there is magic in the law, Jim Walden has found it because we sometimes seemed out of options. And Jim Walden would typically burst into the room and come up with a new option. And [those options] had the extraordinary tendency to work.”

Jim was the unanimous choice of the Cobble Hill Association's Executive Board.

CHA Response to Fortis' Current Plans

Here is the complete text of the Cobble Hill Association’s response to the Fortis As-of-Right and ULURP Proposals (as they were presented on May 18, 2015). This was first presented on July 14, 2015 to local elected officials including Council Member Brad Lander, State Assemblywoman JoAnne Simon, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Council Member Levin’s deputy chief of staff, Casey Adams, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s Brooklyn director, Dan Wiley, Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the Fortis Property Group development team. This was also handed out in printed form at the meeting held by Council Member Lander on August 6th.

Muyassar Moustapha, Owner of Oriental Pastry & Grocery, was Killed in a Crash on Atlantic

Late Sunday night Muyassar Moustapha was killed in a car crash at Atlantic Avenue and Clinton Street while returning to his store from Key Foods. The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene while the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad conducted conducted its survey. Moustapha was the owner of Oriental Pastry & Grocery, a family owned staple of the Arab-American community on Atlantic Avenue for over 60 years. The tragedy shocked those who knew him well as Al Shaia told the Gothamist, "he always crossed at the light and he was always careful."

Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise to those of us who know this street's dangerous conditions well. Less than two years ago another fatal crash at Atlantic and Clinton shook the neighborhood.  Last year, as part of Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero initiative aimed at reducing traffic deaths, the speed limit on Atlantic Avenue was reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph. Although traffic engineers assert that crashes at this slower speed have a far lower fatality rate, the new regulation has seen little enforcement and is often ignored. At night drivers will often exceed speeds of 35mph.

Year to date there have been 66 NYPD recorded traffic collisions along Cobble Hill's Atlantic Avenue border, 18 of which have occurred on, or near Clinton Street. Since the beginning of 2013 there have been a total 343 traffic crashes on Atlantic from Hicks to Court Street, resulting in 58 injuries and now, 2 deaths. Data source: NYPD motor vehicle collisions.

Bill de Blasio has promised to address the dangerous arterial roadway in his Great Streets initiative announced in March. The program sets aside $276 million dollars to install engineering improvements on four of the city's most deadly arterial roadways. Construction has already begun on Queens Boulevard with improvements to Atlantic Ave slated to begin in Community Board Five in spring of 2017. Advocates at Transportation Alternatives, which runs the People First on Atlantic campaign, laud mayor's efforts but say that the DOT should study the entire Avenue, from the bay to Queens, to propose comprehensive safety improvements. Those of us who cross Atlantic daily know safety improvements can't come too soon. While not everyone agrees with the implementation of New York's Vision Zero initiative, Charlie Sahadi states the salient point,

"I don't agree with some of the things Mayor de Blasio came up with, but if that car was driving at 25 miles per hour, this gentleman would not be dead today"
-Charlie Sahadi 

CitiBike is Coming Soon and Seeks Feedback on Station Locations

After a rocky first year CitiBike is now expanding its service area. New docking stations have already opened up in Long Island City with more slated to arrive in Bed Stuy later this month. This phase of expansion will also include Community Board Six, covering all of Cobble Hill. This can't come too soon for some of our more transit deprived neighbors in Red Hook and Gowanus. The company is currently gathering local feedback on the new stations' proposed locations.

On June 11 CitiBike held a public planning workshop at PS 58, where it unveiled the CB6 proposed station map available here. Brad Lander has joined the DOT to solicit community feedback on these dock locations through an online form available here. Use the form to tell CitiBike which location in your sector is best, and which ones just won't work.

Once they receive the community's comments CitiBike will prepare its final location proposals with the DOT, and present them to Community Board 6. The bike share says stations will be open by the end of 2017. Yearly memberships have increased to $149 per year, but to promote the expansion customers will save $25 by signing up before the end of August.

LICH Meeting Recap

Thank you to all who came out to the first meeting with our elected officials and the LICH Developer, Fortis. While the meeting was organized by our local elected officials, the CHA turned out over 200 people with door to door flyer efforts. The CHA presented a strong community consensus document which outlined the major, as well as very specific, areas of concern. A video of the meeting will be posted on YouTube and made available here. We have requested that future meetings occur after the Labor Day holiday, which our elected officials are now working on.

More coverage of Thursday night's meeting:
VIDEO: Pros & cons for LICH site hi-rises aired in Cobble Hill 
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Controversial Conversion of Cobble Hill Hospital Chugs Along 

- Curbed NY

'Out-of-Scale' LICH Towers Will Overburden Neighborhood, Locals Warn 

- DNAinfo

Cobble Hill Locals Not Happy with Proposed High-Rise Condo Towers 

- Habitat Magazine

Announcing an Important Public Meeting for the LICH Development Site

Thursday, August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30pm

at the Brooklyn Montessori School

at 185 Court Street (at Bergen Street)

This meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are invited to attend.

The Cobble Hill Association would like to extend our special thanks to Council Members Brad Lander and Steve Levin, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assembly Woman Jo Ann Simon, and Congress Woman Nydia Velézquez for all their hard work in decveloping htis process, and also to the Fortis Property Group for their commitment to work with the community.
- - - -
Here is Friday's press release:

July 24, 2015: NYC Council Member Brad Lander, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron, NYS Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, NYC Council Member Stephen Levin, Brooklyn Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association issued the following statement regarding the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) Site:

“Local elected officials, Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association are working together to involve the community in the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) site.

Fortis Property Group, LLC was selected to purchase the LICH campus through an RFP process managed by the State University of New York, after it decided to close LICH. This process was staunchly opposed by elected officials and community organizations.

To date, Fortis has indicated that two options exist for the redevelopment of the core LICH site: (a) an “as-of-right” option, which does not require discretionary public approvals, which would include about 400 market-rate units, and (b) a rezoning or “ULURP” option, which would roughly double the number of residential units and include affordable housing units, space for a public school, increased park space and more small retail opportunities. A rezoning would require review by the Community Board, Borough President, and City Planning Commission, and approval by the City Council.

Both of the proposed options present development that is dramatically out-of-scale with the adjacent Cobble Hill Historic District, which has a height limit of 50 feet (in each case, the tallest building Fortis proposes would be over 40 stories). In either scenario, NYU Langone will also build an approximately 108,000 sq. ft. health center at the corner of Atlantic and Hicks.

We will continue to work together to ensure all of the community’s options are explored. This working group will help organize public dialogue about the options. It is not a decision-making body, and will not recommend that Fortis pursue a particular option. Rather it will organize forums where residents, businesses, and stakeholders (including the Brooklyn Heights Association and Atlantic Avenue BID, both of whom represent areas adjacent to the LICH site) can learn more about the various options, weigh in on Fortis’ potential development options, propose alternatives, and provide community feedback. All stakeholders (elected officials, the community board, community organizations, individuals, etc.) will ultimately make their own decisions about Fortis’ proposals.

Over the next 2-3 months, the working group will organize several open, public meetings where Fortis will present their proposals and consider feedback, as well as several smaller meetings with stakeholders to drill-down on specific issues including: urban design, parks/open space, retail/commercial, the health care facility, the potential public school, potential affordable housing, and traffic/parking/transit and other infrastructure concerns.

A public meeting will take place the evening of Thursday August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Brooklyn Montessori School at 185 Court Street, at Bergen Street, in Cobble Hill. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are welcome to attend."

Thursday Night Presentation of Polhemus Building Residential Conversion Plans

This Thursday evening at 6:00 pm plans will be presented to the Community Board 6 Landuse/Landmarks Committee regarding Fortis’s repairs and changes to the exterior Polhemus Building, located on the SW corner of Amity and Henry Streets. This building is the first one on the former LICH campus to be redeveloped for residential use, but Polhemus is under Landmarks and there are no zoning changes involved. Fortis plans to convert Polhemus into a 17-unit residential doorman building.

The architect on this building is BKSK, not FX Fowle who presented the overall plans for the LICH campus at the Cobble Hill meeting in May.

If you are interested in attending, the meeting will be held at the 78th Precinct, 65 6th Avenue, between Dean and Bergen streets, at 6:00 pm this Thursday, July 23rd.

Music in the Park Concert Series Returns

Cobble Hill Parks's FREE concert series returns this summer with a new line up that's sure to please the whole family. Performances are every Thursday evening at 7pm for the next four weeks, starting this Thursday the 23rd with jazz guitarist Adam Smale. Rain dates are the following Friday when possible. 

2015 Music in the Park Line Up:

July 23: Adam Smale

July 30: Sloane Cooper Acoustic Duo

August 6: The Red Hook Irregulars
August 13: The Bodega Tall Boys

Music in the Park is organized by Bryan Johnson and sponsored by Brooklyn Bridge Realty, Ridgewood Savings Bank, and Ted & Honey.  Join us at Cobble Hill Park for an evening of good company and great music, we hope to see you there.

Solarize CB6 Upcoming Workshops

Solarize CB6 is a limited time program now underway in our area that offers substantial reductions to the price of installing solar. The initiative is a partnership between the NY Solar Smart Program and Community Board Six. The program's two installers are offering tiered discounts that increase as more neighbors sign on to go solar in bulk. It also leverages the concurrent tax credits offered by the federal, state, and municipal governments. Read more about Solarize CB6 here.

Residents and business owners may get a no commitment site assessment to determine your roof's viability for photovoltaic solar panels. This type of panel generates power directly to your building and earns you a huge cut to your electricity bill. Attend one of these upcoming workshops to learn more information and answer your questions.

Commercial Buildings & Businesses

Tuesday, July 14, 6pm - 8pm

Red Hook Initiative

767 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

RSVP here

Commercial Buildings & Businesses

Thursday, July 23, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Architectural Grille

42 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

RSVP here

Carroll Gardens Homeowners/Co-ops/Condos

Tuesday, July 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church

199 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

RSVP here

What is ULURP?

One week from today, join the Cobble Hill Association for an important discussion about ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure). It is a key component of possible scenarios Fortis would like to see happen in Cobble Hill as they further their development plans for the former LICH property. Join the meeting to learn more and be able to make better informed decisions about the future of Cobble Hill.

A New Commanding Officer at the 76th Precinct After Just Four Months

Precinct 76 welcomed a new Commanding Offer Captain Elliot Colon on June 15th. The announcement comes just four months after the community was introduced to Captain Natalie Maldonado at the precinct's February Council meeting. Captain Maldonado retired from the force in June after nearly twenty years serving the NYPD. After her short command at the 76th, this change marks the fifth new Commanding Officer in under five years. Although this offers no cause for alarm, it may raise community concerns about how familiar NYPD leadership can become with its patrol when stationed for such relatively short stints.

You can find more coverage on this, and a timeline of the precinct's last five Commanding Officers on DNAinfo.

"LICH Act" Passes in Assembly & Statement from Brad Lander

This week saw two more updates in the ongoing LICH closure and development saga.

In the state assembly the "LICH Act" passed on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by local Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, establishes that prior to approving the closure of a hospital, the Department of Health must ensure the local community's emergency healthcare needs remain well served. The bill now moves on to the state senate, sponsored by local representative Daniel Squadron. Although this legislation cannot impact the development at LICH, it intends to prevent this fiasco of a hospital closure from happening in other communities. For more coverage on the "LICH Act" visit the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Capital New York.

Also on Wednesday, Brad Lander released a statement about the road ahead for the LICH site. You can read the full text on his website here. He lays out his current stance, and offers a summary of what we currently know about the Fortis proposals, including detailed information about the as of right option. The Council Member says he will abide by the community's consensus and support our actions going forward.

LICH Development Survey Results

Dear Cobble Hill Resident,

I want to share with you the results of the online survey that the Cobble Hill Association recently completed to find out how you feel about a number of issues pertaining to the proposed re-development plans for the LICH campus proposed by Fortis at our recent General Meeting.

The survey was just one part of a community ascertainment process that has included block association meetings, two large-scale public meetings and extensive personal outreach to many of you. You will see-- especially in the very moving "Personal Comments" -- just how united and single-minded we are as a community.

While there is no question that change and development is coming to Cobble Hill, it is heartwarming to know just how deeply all of us care and how much we agree on what is important. That unity empowers us to speak with a single, powerful voice.

Thank you,
Roy Sloane, President

If you're interested in volunteering your time to aid the Cobble Hill Association with this ongoing issue please submit a volunteer form accessed below:

Volunteer Sign Up

CUP Presents Zoning 101 Workshop

Join the CHA and the Center for Urban Pedagogy for the Zoning 101 Workshop. The city's convoluted land use and zoning laws can be a challenge to wrap your head around. Which zones are residential or commercial? Why are there height limits in certain areas but not others? These questions are especially important given Fortis' recent proposals for LICH. Attend the workshop to learn the difference between what's allowed as of right, and what's involved in the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The discussion is designed to leave participants with a basic understanding of land use regulations in New York and will not specifically be about LICH or the Fortis proposals.

The workshop will be held at 7:30 PM on Thursday, June 25th at the Cobble Hill Health Center, 380 Henry Street (between Congress and Warren Streets).

Daily Eagle offers analysis on LICH development

The folks at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle have published a very thorough article about this week's community meeting responding to the Fortis proposal for LICH development unveiled at the CHA's general meeting in May. In addition to presenting the 'need-to-know' facts, the article offers some important insights from CHA leaders. Roy Sloane and Jerry Armer warn the community to be wary of the ULURP option.

Sloane said this [as of right] plan was obviously designed to “scare” the community and thus encourage support for Fortis’ “preferred” plan, which would require zoning changes that could only be approved after going through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).

Jerry Armer, former chairman of Community Board 6, pointed out that Fortis could proceed with ULURP with or without community support. He also said the city could proceed with its own ULURP plan, which would “probably be very similar to what Fortis wants.” 

You can read the full story at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Cobble Hill residents vow to fight Fortis plans for LICH site.

Citibike Expansion to Cobble Hill

In addition to next week's important LICH Development Committee Meeting, please save the date for Thursday's Citibike planning meeting. As the hugely successful program expands outward from it's Manhattan core, it will finally head south of atlantic and offer Cobble Hill residents the chance to enjoy the bike share system. In order for it to truly complement our existing transportation systems though, each station must be properly situated to balance the need for its density with the desire of our local residents. Attend one of the workshops to ensure your voice is heard in this conversation.

Public Meeting of the LICH Development Committee - June 9th

Do high rise towers belong in our low rise historic district?

You’re invited to a public meeting of the Cobble Hill Association’s LICH Development Committee Date: Tuesday, June 9th @ 7:30PM Location: Cobble Hill Health Center 380 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (between Congress and Warren Streets) We need to hear from you about the LICH development scenarios proposed by the Fortis Property Group. The re-development of the former LICH campus will have a profound impact on the Cobble Hill community. It is critical that your voice be heard! All members of the community are welcome.

Street Tree Care workshop Saturday May 30th

Worthwhile workshop this weekend here in Cobble Hill. See flyer below for details on how you can become a knowledgeable steward of street trees.

Important Landmarks/Land Use CB6 Meeting Thursday

The Community Board Six Landmarks and Land Use Committee will be meeting with representatives from the Department of City Planning this Thursday evening to discuss the Zoning for Quality and Affordability proposal. The amendment is designed to "remove a set of zoning barriers that constrain new housing creation and add unnecessary costs." These zoning barriers include caps on building height and many other protections that maintain the character of our area. Come tell the DCP in person that the city needs policies that work to improve our neighborhoods and that won't give developers free reign.

Meeting Information:

6:00pm Thursday, May 28th

P.S. 58 Auditorium

330 Smith St.

LICH Development Survey

Last night, the Cobble Hill Association held its Spring General meeting to discuss our development guidelines for pending development at the former Long Island College Hospital site. The developers, Fortis, also joined and made their first proposal to the community by showing an as of right option and a rezoning (ULURP) option. Read summaries of the meeting at the links below.
DNAinfo - Soaring Towers Enrage Neighbors
Star Revue - Cobble Hill to Change Forever
BK Paper - Towers in Cobble Hill
Gothamist - Cobble Hill Locals Declare War
Curbed - LICH's hated residential conversion

Please read those for background, but also please offer us your final comments on the Association's own development guidelines. While they were very well received by the 100+ community members in attendance last night, we want to offer more time for people who could not attend to still weigh in.

Cobble Hill Skyscrapers?

Please join us for our Spring General Meeting this Monday, May 18th at 7:30pm.  The evening will be chock full of neighborhood updates, refreshments from Ted & Honey, a few words from our local 76th precinct police captain, and a deep spotlight on imminent development and construction at LICH.

We've also received word that Fortis, the developers who now own LICH properties, will be on hand to present some early ideas and begin a fruitful community discussion.  As-of right development scenarios could legally bring 40 story towers to our neighborhood's low rise feel. Rezoning ideas already being floated could double the amount of square footage built and change the configurations of our area's beloved children's parks along Henry Street.

It is vitally important for the neighborhood to come to the meeting, hear the ideas, and be an active part of the conversation to ensure whatever gets built is a clear benefit to the community.

76th precinct Blood Drive

Cobble Hill's local precinct will be hosting a Blood Drive, sponsored by the New York Blood Center, on Thursday, May 14, 2015. The Blood Drive Bus will be parked in front of the 76th Precinct Station House at 191 Union Street and will accept blood donations from 12:30 PM, through 6:30 PM.

Giving blood is incredibly easy so if your healthy enough to donate, please do. Some reasons to give... 

• Every three seconds, someone in this country needs a lifesaving blood transfusion.
• One pint of blood can help save as many as three lives.
• The demand for transfusions is increasing as the population ages and more sophisticated medical care and surgeries, requiring transfusion support, become more commonplace.
• New York Blood Center alone requires over 2,000 volunteer blood donations each day to meet the transfusion needs of patients in close to 200 New York and New Jersey hospitals.

Upcoming Free Healthcare Events

Two healthcare events with free examinations are coming up on Friday the 15th and the Tuesday 26th!

On Friday, May 15th, from 9:00am-4:30pm free mammograms are being offered to women over 40, at the Arab American Family Support Center. The Mobile Care Clinic will be parked outside at 150 Court St. Call Ms. Maha Attieh at (718)-643-8000 ext. 25 to schedule an appointment.
See the flyer below for more information:

On Tuesday, May 26th, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, the Emergency Department at NYU Langone Cobble Hill will be giving free blood pressure readings and stroke risk screenings at their 83 Amity Street location. Attend the Stroke Health Fair to learn the warning signs of a stroke and how to reduce your and your family member's risk of suffering a stroke. 

LICH Development Updates & more

Be sure to come to the Spring General Meeting - Monday, May 18th @ 7:30pm - for Cobble Hill neighborhood updates, including a focused discussion on guidelines for development on the former site of Long Island College Hospital.

Cobble Hill CSA Accepting Members for 2015 Season

Courtesy Green Thumb Organic Farm

The Cobble Hill CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is starting again this coming June! There's no better place to get your fruits and vegetables than through a local CSA, so be sure to sign up by the 15th! Members fund a local farmer's growing season, (in this case Green Thumb Farm and Wilklow Orchrids), and in return get a share of the harvest each week from June to December. Supporting a CSA helps sustain regional agriculture, and ensures that you get the freshest seasonal produce in your kitchen.

Shares are distributed to members every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 8:00pm at the Christ Church, 326 Clinton at the corner of Clinton and Kane Streets. You can find the sign up form here.

More info from the Cobble Hill CSA:

Celebrating 19 Years of Local Food Straight From The Farm

Cobble Hill CSA Now Accepting New Member Applications through May 15th

Brooklyn, NY, May 1, 2015—Cobble Hill CSA has opened registration to new members for the 2015 season, which will run from June 2-December 8. The Cobble Hill CSA is proud to work with vegetable farmer Bill Halsey of Green Thumb Organic Farm, located on Long Island’s South Fork, and fruit farmer Fred Wilklow of Wilklow Orchards in the Hudson Valley.

Launched in 1996, 2015 marks the 19th year of the CSA partnership with Green Thumb Organic Farm. In a CSA (community supported agriculture), members purchase a share from a farmer in the spring and share in the risk and reward of the farmer’s harvest throughout the season. CSA is a great way for New Yorkers to get the best quality produce at an affordable price and to support local family farms that use sustainable growing practices.

Update from the 76th precinct

Deputy Inspector Natalie Maldonado, Commanding Officer of our local 76th precinct, recently sent along this important message for residents of Cobble Hill.

The 76th Precinct would like to make you aware that there has been a slight increase in Residential Burglaries recently. However, the good news is that during two separate incidents last week, two perpetrators were arrested for Burglary. One of the perpetrators revealed that he felt that Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill were easy targets, because many residents are known to leave their doors unlocked.

This bold statement made by a criminal should serve as a reminder to everyone that you must, at the very least, take basic precautions to protect your home and your property by keeping your doors and accessible windows locked.

The 76th precinct and the CHA strongly urge residents to be alert at all times, call 911 if you see or suspect a crime is in progress, and to take full advantage of the excellent Crime Prevention Programs NYPD already offers free of charge. Upon request the 76th will work on sending Crime Prevention Officer Bredy to do a full home Security Survey that can identify weaknesses and make security recommendations. 

Successful crime prevention is incredibly important to keeping Cobble Hill a safe neighborhood for our residents to walk about with peace of mind. However, it takes community involvement so be sure to work with our local law enforcement and try to attend one of the 76th precinct's monthly community meetings too, held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at the precinct.

Save the Date - May 18th, Spring General Meeting

The Cobble Hill Association's Spring General Meeting is coming up next month, on Monday, May 18th at 7:30pm at 380 Henry Street. Now that everyone has had a chance to thaw out, let's reconvene to mark our progress and look at the road ahead. Join us to see what's upcoming at Cobble Hill Park, give us your input on the future of LICH, and get to know your neighbors.

At the general meeting the Association will present our Long Island College Hospital Development Guidelines and we want community feedback. Lend us your support, and tell us what you want to see happen at the LICH site. There will also be updates about summer events at Cobble Hill Park, and the Tree Fund. See you on the 18th!

Rally for LICH - Tomorrow at Appellate Court

Come out tomorrow, April 23rd, for a rally to keep healthcare present at the site of Long Island College Hospital. Lend your support to The Concerned Physicians of LICH as they appeal the Supreme Court decision to sell the site to Fortis Properties. If you want to see full service healthcare continued at LICH join tomorrow, 11am - 1pm, at Appellate Court. Stay tuned in May for more about the ongoing sale and development of the LICH site.

Additional information:

The message: " We are still here ".
The sun will shine...
meet with friends, bring friends and pass the word.
Come and support the Concerned Physicians for LICH motion before the Appellate Division
to revisit the RFP that stole our Hospital.

SUPPORT THE PHYSICIANS' APPEAL

TO SAVE LICH

R A L L Y 

F O R 

L I C H

THURSDAY APRIL 23

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

Appellate Court

corner of Monroe Place and Pierrepont Street