New CHA executive board begins June 16th

Jeff Strabone receives a Cobble Hill Hero award for his ongoing fight to Save LICH

If you missed our Cobble Hill Association Spring General Meeting last month, you unfortunately missed some wonderful insights from our new neighbor, the Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. She spoke about the agency at large, the Mayor's Vision Zero safety plan, and took note of local needs in our vicinity on Atlantic Avenue, Court Street, Hicks Street, and more.

In addition, Cobble Hill Hero awards were given out to Jeff Strabone for leading the long fight to Save LICH as well as to DOT's Chris Hrones and the CHA's Dave 'Paco' Abraham for tireless efforts to improve pedestrian safety throughout the neighborhood. Lastly, a new slate of executive board officers were approved by the membership and are listed below.

Monday, June 16th will be the new board's first meeting and will cover many topics. Though the meeting itself is for CHA officers, we welcome residents' concerns and will block out some time for public input if necessary - but please first contact us at cobblehillassociation@gmail.com to be put on the agenda.

2014-2016 Cobble Hill Association Executive Board

Recording Secretary - Jerry Armer
Corresponding Secretary - Jeff Strabone
Membership Secretary - Laurel Burr

Treasurer - Rich Petersen

2nd Vice President - Daniel Arbeeny

1st Vice President - Roy Sloane

President - Dave 'Paco' Abraham

DOT's Chris Hrones & the CHA's Dave 'Paco' Abraham show off their awards for improving pedestrian safety. 

LICH Rally: Tuesday at 9 am on the Courthouse steps

Tuesday may be our very last hope. With SUNY having executed Peebles just days after our settlement with them, it seems very clear that misconduct continues to occur. We need to stand together in this next fight, which may be our last. Thanks to our sleuth extraordinaire, Barbara Gartner, our motion is strengthened by important new evidence. We need all community members and elected officials to stand with us Tuesday morning at 9:00 am. We will gather on the steps of the courthouse. I believe Peebles, Prime Health and BHP representatives will stand with us together to decry SUNY’s manipulation of this process, effectively denying us the benefit of our original settlement. Please gather with us in force to make Albany understand clearly that Brooklyn will long remember this treachery. Our motion will be heard at 10 am.

Date: Tuesday, June 3rd
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: New York State Supreme Courthouse at 360 Adams Street.

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

Cobble Hill Park is our neighborhood gem, but sparkles even brighter with volunteers's weekly elbow grease. Join us for some morning park-keeping!

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. 

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

Keep Cobble Hill Park looking its summer best. Join us for pruning, planting, and more.

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.

Spring General Meeting Tuesday, May 20th

Tomorrow night, Tuesday May 20th, please join your neighbors....

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

Help us keep Cobble Hill Park looking it's most perfect. Whether you're a master of horticulture or don't know a weed from a willow tree, we can still use your help.  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. 

Your Turn to "Put Your Money Where Your Map Is"

Last week, Community Board 6 unveiled a new online map that allows residents to offer their ideas for local capital improvements related to buildings, roadways and open space. With an easy-to-use interface and no deadlines for ideas, submitting projects has never been easier. Users can also support and comment on existing priorities as well as find useful links for contacting city agencies regarding other, smaller projects not suitable for capital dollars.

Users have already mapped several needs within our own Cobble Hill area. They include the need for the CHA led initiative to "Fix the Ditch," a desire for a traffic signal on Columbia Street at Congress, and more. Take a look at the map at this link - http://www.bkcb6budget.org/ - and read more about it's creation at the Friends of CB6 website.  

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.