Reminder: Spring General Meeting May 20th

One week from tonight....

UPDATED: Volunteer at Cobble Hill Park, Tuesdays @ 7:30 am

***Tues, May 13th has been canceled because if rain. But please join us the week after instead!

Nice weather is upon us and there's nothing like enjoying it in our neighborhood's beautiful Cobble Hill Park. However, it takes a combined effort by both the NYC Parks Department and local volunteers to ensure the park is always looking it's finest. Barbara Krongel, head of the CHA's Park's committee, leads a heroic volunteer effort every week to plant and seed, trim and tidy, and both spruce up and sweep up our park. Have a spare hour or two? Come join us.

What: Cobble Hill Park volunteers needed
When: every Tuesday morning @ 7:30 am (rescheduled when it rains)
Where: Meet at the Clinton Street entrance to the park
Please RSVP to cobblehillassociation@gmail.com if you'd like to join. 

Brooklyn "Skyscraper" Park?

For years, the Cobble Hill Association has advocated for the creation of Brooklyn Bridge Park to serve the growing borough's needs for active recreation and green space. We are glad to see tens of thousands now come to the waterfront each day to enjoy the developing park, but have long felt private housing should not be in the mix. We need a park, not a large scale project with private high rises. Unfortunately, that has been the path towards the creation of Brooklyn Bridge "Park" and it shows no signs of stopping. 340 Furman is already in place, but recently revealed plans suggest two new towers will soon be dominating the Atlantic Avenue gateway as well.

Rendering of the development sizes slated for Pier 6 at the foot of Cobble Hill. Site A will be a max 315 feet (with 290 units) while site Site B will reach up to 155 feet (with max of 140 units of affordable housing & retail)

The press has begin taking note of this potentially massive change to our neighborhoods landscape with articles in both Brownstoner and the Wall Street Journal. Concerned residents have begun this change.org petition to oppose the pending monoliths and the Cobble Hill Association has signed on to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund letter below which was sent to Mayor DeBlasio asking for his leadership to eliminate new housing in the park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund Letter to Mayor Deblasio

Save the Date - Spring General Meeting May 20 with DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg

Save the date: 2014 Spring General Meeting. See flyer below for details.

76th Precinct Sunday Traffic Alert

Our officers at the local 76th precinct just shared this bit of traffic news for all to be aware of this weekend.

Please be advised that traffic in our area will be affected by following two separate events this weekend, both on Sunday, May 4, 2014:

1. Five Borough Bike Tour - Cyclists will be travelling throughout all five boroughs causing Street and Highway closures.  In our area, Atlantic Avenue, between the BQEEastbound Entrance ramps and the dead end at the Brooklyn Bridge Park andColumbia Street, between Atlantic Avenue and Congress Street will be closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic from approximately 8:00 am, through 3:30 pm.

2. Court Street Festival - Court Street, between Union Street and W. 9th Streetwill be closed to vehicular traffic for the street fair from approximately 8:00 am, through 8:00 pm, to accommodate set-up and clean-up.  Additionally, all side streets leading into the festival route on Court Street, from Smith Street and from Clinton Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic.  The B57 Bus that runs southbound on Court Street will be re-routed via a left turn off Court Street onto Union Street, a right turn onto 3rd Avenue, a right turn onto W. 9th Street, a left turn back onto Court Street and then will continue onto it's regular route.  It will make all the corresponding stops along 3rd Avenue. 

Please plan ahead accordingly and allow extra time if you intend on drivingthis Sunday in the affected areas.

Cobble Hill CSA opens 2014 registration

Just in from the CSA....

Cobble Hill CSA opens registration to new members for the 2014 season, which will run from June 3-December 9. 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, 2014 marks the 19th year of the CSA partnership with Green Thumb Organic Farm. In a CSA, 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 and to support local family farms that use sustainable growing practices.

What: New Member Registration Now Open for Cobble Hill CSA. Visit cobblehillcsa.org for more information about joining the CSA and for a link to online registration. See video below about Green Thumb Organic Farm and Farmer Bill Halsey.
When: CSA distributions will happen Tuesdays from 4 to 8pm from June 3rd - December 9th.
Where: Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane Street, between Clinton & Court Streets, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

For more information:
Members of the public can contact Martha Rowen, Cobble Hill CSA Webmaster, at Martha@cobblehillcsa.org
Members of the press can contact Amy Blankstein, CSA Marketing Coordinator, at ablankstein@verizon.net 718.781.5093

Winning bids are raising questions

While our community continues to keep LICH a fully functioning hospital that properly meets the needs of our neighborhood, SUNY has put in writing the "the scheduled closure of the hospital on May 22.” Fortunately, a long battle with the support of civic groups and local electeds resulted in a new evaluation of proposals to redevelop the hospital and property and a winning bid was selected just weeks ago. Unfortunately, it now looks like that evaluation was entirely arbitrary. 

Read Dan Goldberg's investigation of the topic at the link below from Capital New York.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/04/8544330/odd-math-behind-lich-bidding-process

Cobble Hill Plant Sale - Saturday May 3rd

Spring is in the air, buds are on the trees, and the Cobble Hill Tree Fund is holding its annual plant sale next Saturday at Cobble Hill Park. Stock up for the season, teach your kids to identify plants, and support a great cause in the community. See details on the flyer below or contact chtf@cobblehilltreefund.org for more info.

Become a Leader of the Cobble Hill Association

Since its inception over fifty years ago, the Cobble Hill Association has been a strong , effective community organization that works with local residents and elected officials to ensure the highest quality of life in Cobble Hill. From creating and maintaining our coveted Cobble Hill park to preserving the historic character of our brownstone buildings and fighting for needed health care services, the Cobble Hill Association unites the neighborhood and now welcomes your fresh ideas with an open call for nominations to form its new Executive Board of officers for the 2014 - 2016 term.

The Cobble Hill Association's Nominating Committee invites all interested residents to join an open meeting on Monday, April 28th at 8:00 pm in the Cobble Hill Community Room at 250 Baltic Street, just off Court Street. 

Come with questions and ideas, so that the committee can discuss your potential for filling one of the seven positions on the executive board.

President -- leads meetings and represents the CHA in an official capacity at civic meetings, hearings, etc.
First VP -- serves as chief of staff for President
Second VP -- heads up events and social activities
Treasurer -- controls the CHA's finances
Recording Secretary -- keeps meeting minutes
Corresponding Secretary -- responsible for the general correspondence and the meeting notices of the organization
Membership Secretary -- encourages new members, & maintain database of existing membership

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about becoming a leader of the Cobble Hill Association's executive board, please send them to: CobbleHillAssociation@gmail.com

Demystifying Landmarks, Tuesday 4/29

A friend at the Brooklyn Historical Society just shared news of this upcoming event. One week from today, you can attend "Demystifying Landmarks: A Panel Discussion at Brooklyn Historical Society." It's a topic that comes up often in our own Cobble Hill historic district so why not brush up on the ins and outs of the zoning designation that characterizes so much of Brownstone Brooklyn.

Tue, Apr 29, 6:30pm
$5/Free for BHS Members
Reserve tickets>>
You own a brownstone or live in a landmarked district, but what happens when you want to make a repair or change? Learn about what the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission does, what your neighborhood association can do, the research resources Brooklyn Historical Society can provide, and your neighbors’ experiences. Panelists include Tom van den Bout, architect and former Brooklyn Heights Association President, William Neeley, Jr., Deputy Director of Preservation at NYC Landmarks, Elizabeth Call, Head of Reference and User Services at BHS, as well Prospect Heights homeowner Leslie Feder and a local building manager. This panel will give attendees practical tips on how to navigate a construction or renovation project through the Landmarks approval process.

Senator Squadron 6th Annual Community Convention - 4/27

Each year, local State Senator Dan Squadron hosts a community convention seeking input from his constituents on nearly evEry category under the sun. This year he'll have sections devoted to arts and culture, zoning & neighborhood preservation, civil rights / economic & social justice, parks, transportation, campaign finance, public & affordable housing, economic development, education, disaster relief, hospitals and healthcare, and more. In addition, the Sixth Annual 26th Senate District Community Convention featuring keynote speaker Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Come out and make your voice heard on all of the legislative and community priorities that shape our district and our state.

Sixth Annual 26th Senate District Community Convention
Sunday, April 27, 2014

2:00PM to 5:00PM

Seward Park Educational Campus
350 Grand Street (between Ludlow and Essex Streets)
New York, NY 10002

RSVP at the link below.

http://www.nysenate.gov/webform/rsvp-senator-squadrons-sixth-annual-community-convention-sunday-april-27th

Vote this weekend - Participatory Budgeting

Our area's City Councilman, Brad Lander, sent out the below reminder that this is a big weekend to help decide which of many great ideas should get funding prioritization from his office.

This is the big weekend for Participatory Budgeting, and we want you to take part by voting on how $1 million of City funds will be spent in this neighborhood. Voting is Saturday and Sunday.

Vote Dates Saturday, April 6, 10 AM - 7 PM Carroll Gardens Library 396 Clinton St (at Union St) PS 230 Lower School425 McDonald Ave (between Church Ave & Albemarle Rd) Old Stone House 336 3rd St (Washington Park) Sunday, April 7, 10 AM - 5 PM Beth Jacob Day Care  1363 46th St (at 14th Ave) Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace 1224 Prospect Ave (at Vanderbilt St) Park Slope Armory YMCA 361 15th Street (between 7th and 8th Ave) Carroll Park House Carroll St and Smith St

Can we count on you? Pledge to vote as part of participatory budgeting.

Any district resident can vote, ages 16 and up.

There are 13 items on the ballot – read and watch videos about all of them here – covering many of the needs of our neighborhoods. You can vote on improvements for district schools, upgrades to our parks and projects to green our environment and make it easier and safer to get around the district.

We just wrapped up early voting at my office. It’s been very exciting to watch people stream in, sit down with their ballots, and consider carefully what they want to vote for.

Participatory budgeting truly is a community driven process and we are about to complete the third year. From the start, your neighbors have taken ownership of participatory budgeting, coming to brainstorming meetings, joining participatory budgeting committees, and helping spread the word about the vote. They did so much more than our office ever could have—and it is satisfying to know that the winning projects truly reflect the community's needs and interests.

Now it is your turn to get involved. Participating is important, but it's also easy and fun.

Hope to see you at the vote.

Brad