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.