Please excuse this foray into Fort Greene. I hate when neighborhood blogs cover things outside of their area, but this is too juicy.
The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that one man is outraged over a plan requested by neighbors and business owners to restrict turning for one block in Fort Greene. MENSA candidate Joe Napoli:
““This isn’t Amsterdam — we need our street!” said longtime resident Joe Napoli. “There’s already a war here between bikers, drivers and people who never even go near a car.””
The irony of this quote, and one that the Brooklyn paper did not point out, is that the majority of Brooklynites don’t even own a car, let alone use one on a daily basis for commuting. But this is the typical driver mentality, to assume that everyone is like him.
“But some neighbors are devastated that they’ll lose their speedy route to Fulton Street from the one-way, southbound S. Elliott Place. Instead, they would be forced to turn left on Lafayette Avenue and travel one block until they reach S. Portland Avenue, where they can turn right and reach Fulton Street.”
What does it take to drive an extra block? 5 seconds? 10 seconds? If you throw in occasionally waiting for a light, what is the maximum time Joe Napoli could be waiting? An average of 15 seconds? But no, Joe Napoli has declared war, and the Brooklyn Paper is all too happy to report on it.
“The Fulton Area Business Alliance, which started pushing for the plaza plans nearly two years ago, says eliminating the roadway would turn the dreary open space into a pedestrian hub, bringing new life to a dead and forgotten piece of land.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to transform an underutilized space,” said Phillip Kellogg, director of the business group. “If somebody doesn’t want to sit in it, they don’t have to. The beauty is that it’s there for people to use.””
Kudos to the Fulton Area Business Alliance for being progressive (most business alliances screw themselves by demanding parking, parking and more parking) and seeking out this change to enhance a pedestrian plaza. This is a democratic process that came from a business group, that went through community approvals and is coming to fruition, an investment in the community that will cost very little but bring big returns. That is what the Brooklyn paper should be reporting. Instead…cars cars cars.
The Red Hook Star-Revue Scooped the New York Times on Customs leaving the port
Some disingenuous whining from Cobble Hill about the modification of a home in the historic district:
“The backyard renovations wouldn’t be visible from the street and the rooftop work would only make one section of the building six feet taller than its neighbors — but that’s enough to trigger an upward-sprouting, light-hogging development trend that could forever change the look of the block, some Cobble Hill residents fear.
“It could cause a domino effect,” said Jeff Strabone of the Cobble Hill Association.”
Nevermind that the character of the neighborhood is what is visible from the streetscape (thus the ability to modify interiors of properties, but not exteriors)!
But CB6’s own Glenn Kelly delivers a rational quote to the Brooklyn paper, explaining why that argument is BS:
““The building was badly in need of a renovation,” said Glenn Kelly of Community Board 6, adding the revamp will likely be an aesthetic upgrade. “The owners are well within their rights.””
Boom