Planning for Livable Communities

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

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

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

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

Backpacks for Back-to-School

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

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

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

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

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

LPC Hearing CANCELED

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

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

Drinks, Music, and Meetings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Safety Improvements?

For weeks the Cobble Hill Association has been vocal about the need for dramatic safety improvements to the Columbia/Furman/Atlantic intersection that provides access to the the newly opened Pier 6 waterfront park.  The Dept of Transportation heard our concerns shared amongst many civic groups and electeds officials in the area and agreed to make short term changes and plan long term improvements.

Our friends at the Brooklyn Heights Blog caught a sight of this sign, one of the short term changes that should tame traffic and remind drivers they need to yield to pedestrians and cyclists.  But they also noticed driving behavior has remained the same. And realistically, does the 'NEW' text go far enough at all? The driving laws of NYC already require

• When making a turn, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk;
• At a red light or STOP sign, come to complete stop before you get to the crosswalk;
• Violation of these laws could cost you a $100 fine and 3 points on your license.

New York City already leads the nation in the number of pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes and sadly over one-half of pedestrian fatalities occur at intersections with traffic signals. Perhaps this  cautionary message simply gets lost amongst the half dozen other signs posted. Bigger, bolder changes like visually bold textures or raised crosswalks are needed in the street, coupled with neckdowns on the sidewalks to shorten crossing distances.

The Cobble Hill Association remains committed to having a safe approach to our neighborhood's waterfront. We encourage all residents to contact Community Board 6 and area councilman Brad Lander about this problematic intersection. And if you have ideas or specific concerns you'd like to share with us, drop us a line at cha@cobblehillassociation.org.

Fix the Ditch - Workshop #2

The kick off workshop for the BQE 'Fix-the-Ditch' was a tremendous success. Now it's time to bring that energy back for Round 2 when the project team will present initial conceptual plans and ask for feedback.

When: Tuesday, July 20th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Long Island College Hospital (LICH), Avram Conference Center, Rooms A & B, 339 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

Please see two presentations that have been posted on EDC’s website for background on the project, including:
1)    The presentation from the 5.4.10 meeting on EDC’s website.
2)    A draft summary of the 5.4.10 workshop--we will refine and present it on 7.20.10

Cobble Hill Concert Series

Thanks to the work of organizer Rudy Kamuf, the CHA's annual series of summer concerts in Cobble Hill Park is about to begin again in August. The concerts are always free to the public and a great way to enjoy the park and meet your neighbors.

This summer's series will feature FOUR FREE CLASSICAL CONCERTS, all scheduled for Thursday evenings in August beginning at 7p.m (rain date for each is following night, Friday)

August 5 The Claremont Strings (Viola-Violin-Cello)
August 12 The Wadsworth Strings (Guitar-Violin-Cello)
August 19 The Gene Drop Ensemble (2 Violins- Cello)
August 26 The Cady Finlayson Ensemble (Guitar-Violin-Cello)

The "Music in the Park" concert Series is sponsored by the Cobble Hill Association & The Cobble Hill Community Fund with the generous support of Long Island College Hospital,  Ridgewood Savings Bank and Ted & Honey Café and Market.

LICH gets a little Greener

While our local institution, Long Island College Hospital, has been in the news recently for its likely merger with SUNY-Downstate, we didn't want to let this little green nugget go silent. After enrolling in the Energy Curtailment Specialists' (ECS) PowerPay! New York Program in 2008, the hospital has gotten a bit more eco-conscious and implemented a hopsital wide notification system that, among many benefits, helps reduce energy use during critical periods when grid supply is low.  When asked to shed 1200 kilowatss during a 'test period' LICH...

went above and beyond by curtailing 2120 kilowatts; 920 kilowatts more than expected.... When the doctors, nurses, and other staff are notified of the event, they may shut off lights when a room is not in use as part of their own commitment to reducing electricity.
"Long Island College Hospital is an ideal customer for our program because they are so motivated to help within the community all while taking the necessary precautions to assure patient safety," said Glen Smith, president, chief executive officer and co-founder of ECS.

The Cobble Hill Association is very glad to have LICH taking care of both the patients inside the building and the community's energy needs around it.
image courtesy of Ruby Washington/The New York Times

Pier 6 Safety Improvements on the Way

Many residents and park-goers have been worried about the incredible dangers of the approach to Brooklyn Bridge Park's new Pier 6. The Cobble Hill Association responded quickly, speaking with local elected officials to urge the Department of Transportation to implement changes immediately, and plan a safer approach for the future.

Word came through this State Senator Daniel Squadron's office that help is on the way because DOT has 'heard his and our constituents' cries for improved safety'.  DOT outlined the following steps in response.

-“Stop Here on Red” sign on Atlantic Avenue at the eastbound approach to the on-ramp, to communicate to drivers that they do not have a free left turn when the light ahead is red and the pedestrian indication across the ramp is WALK.

  

-“Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians” sign on Atlantic Avenue at the westbound approach to the on-ramp, to emphasize  to drivers that  they must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

  

- Conducting a traffic study to determine if further signal or regulation changes that will reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts at this location are feasible.  Additional recommendations will be shared publicly in near future.

  

- Evaluating medium term opportunities for more significant reconfigurations to the street network around Pier 6 that will assist with bicycle and pedestrian park access, including the intersection of Columbia Street and Atlantic Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue west of  Columbia Street.

The Cobble Hill Association appreciates DOT's response and feels the changes cannot come quick enough.  While the simple signage change may not be a game-changer, the "Stop Here on Red" adjustment could be significant now... and the future plans could prove immensely effective. Without a doubt we will stay on top of the situation.

Hey Cobble Hill, How GREEN are YOU?

Even before the Gulf of Mexico became an oil swamp, Green was the new black. We've all got to be thinking sustainably and now here's a chance to flex your eco-muscle and prove you're doing your part for a cleaner tomorrow.
NYSERDA, ConEd and Councilmember Brad Lander Challenge You to Reduce Your Use in the 39th District!

There are many quick and easy things you can do to bring down your family's electricity usage - from switching to compact florescent light blubs (CFLs), to buying energy efficient appliances, to unplugging power charges when they aren't in use. We want to help as many people as possible to make these kinds of changes.

Our competition begins on August 1st
Simply fill out the online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/reducetheused39
Or, contact Michael Curtin at 718-499-1090 or mcurtin@council.nyc.gov
 
We will send you monthly updates with who has saved the most energy, and with tips to further green your home!

Double D pool will stay OPEN!

Last week we posted about an unfortunate pool closing in our neighborhood, the Douglas-Degraw pool. Fortunately, after local residents and electeds rallied support, the 4 pools which had been set for closure thus summer will instead be open for everyone to enjoy. The City Council and Mayor have agreed to a budget that may not be perfect, but does spare the much needed source of recreation for our residents.  The Brooklyn paper has the full story

CHA calls for safety improvements

At the base of Atlantic Avenue, sits the newly created Pier 6 playground with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline and active amenities for Brooklyn children to run, jump, climb, dig, and play on. The waterfront spot could be a tremendous resource for our green-space starved borough – if only there was a safe way of getting there.

The Cobble Hill Association has long supported a completely public park with active recreation, and delights seeing neighborhood children using the brand new Pier 6. However, there have been many concerns from the community regarding access to the park. The Atlantic Avenue – Columbia/Furman Street intersection has long needed traffic-calming measures, and now the situation is severe.  Children dart across the swath of asphalt without any pedestrian refuge islands, and stroller moms must wheel carriages hurriedly to avoid speeding traffic from Furman’s excessive road width, while also contending with entering/exiting traffic on the BQE.

Representing the neighborhood’s concerns, CHA board members are pushing for immediate improvements. Association President Roy Sloane brought a motion to the Community Board 6 Transportation Committee asking NYC Department of Transportation to begin temporary safety improvements now, and pursue a long-term traffic plan that would ease crossing for all users.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund along with CHA officers Roy Sloane and Murray Adams met with Councilman Brad Lander to request urgent remediation of the dangerous conditions. He shares our concerns and asked DOT to design safer pedestrian routes from Cobble Hill to Pier 6 to navigate the trip down either Columbia or Atlantic, across the BQE entrance ramps, across their Pier 7 truck gate.  Thankfully, DOT is aware of the problem and working to design solutions.  They indicated they would have some designs within weeks.