A History of Brooklyn Bridge Park

by Nancy Webster

  Baker, Mark, 80, 95, 97, 109, 111–13, 119, 144–45, 148

  Bargemusic, 21

  Barlow, Lisa, 119

  Barnes, Julian E., 138–39

  Barwick, Kent, 38, 119

  Battery Park City Park (Manhattan), 43, 97, 193

  Bay Area Economics (consulting firm), 177

  Bay Street Landing (Staten Island), 43

  Bellamy, Carol, 41, 54

  Benepe, Adrian, 6, 148, 156, 161, 176, 176, 201

  Berman, Herb, 134

  Beyer Blinder Belle (architectural firm), 51–52, 60

  Bland, Fred, 29–30, 43, 54, 114–16

  Bloom, Olga, 21

  Bloomberg, Michael, 147, 176; and city development, role of, 1, 160–61, 170–72, 174, 179–80; and community involvement, 147–48, 201; and park funding, 165, 171–73, 177–78, 194

  Board of Estimate, 18, 52, 63

  Boerum Hill, 53

  Borrone, Lillian C., 104, 127

  Bowe, Nancy, 158, 167

  Bowles, Paul and Jane, 13

  Brezenoff, Stanley, 81, 89

  Bridge, The (Crane), 15

  Britten, Benjamin, 13

  Brookhart, Barbara, 110

  Brooklyn: arts and entertainment in, 21, 159, 179–80, 189–91, 195; government of, 96, 134, 142, 148–49; history of, 2–15; real-estate development in, 27, 63, 76–77, 96–97, 110; recreational resources in, 4, 47, 51, 56, 66, 193, 201, 203; and scenic-view protection, 2–3, 18, 27–29, 32–36, 44–46, 55–56, 60, 66, 80–81, 86–87, 90–91, 193, 195; waterfront and shipping industry in, 2–17, 14, 17, 19, 24–26, 28–29, 32, 51, 191, 203. See also specific neighborhoods

  Brooklyn Academy of Music, 179

  Brooklyn Bridge, 11–15, 73, 86, 91, 120, 183. See also Brooklyn Bridge Park: and inter-bridge area

  Brooklyn Bridge Park: and inter-bridge area, 111–13, 120–24, 135, 144, 167; Community Advisory Council of, 173, 202; programmed activities in, and use of, 137–38, 149, 159–60, 165–67, 189, 189–91. See also Harbor Park

  DESIGN OF: 183, 188; awards and recognition for, 192; Brooklyn Bridge Park Illustrative Master Plan, 127–28, 129, 136, 139–42, 140, 141, 146–47, 151–58, 173, 180; and Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Corporation, 111–13, 117, 120–22, 132–39; General Project Plan, 153–58, 162, 166, 168, 184, 193; Harbor Park as model for, 58–61; hybrid model for, 67, 68, 69; landscape design, 2, 128–30, 152–53, 182, 184, 186, 188, 188–89, 191–92; and Memorandum of Understanding, 146, 147, 149–52; process and proposals for, 43, 47–49, 52–53, 80, 90–92, 157–66, 198–200

  FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF: and budget planning, 152, 154, 161, 165, 173–74; and housing and commercial development, 4, 51–62, 75, 79, 82, 89–92, 100, 153–57, 162, 176–78, 193–94; and hybrid and pure park concepts, 47–48, 150; and Memorandum of Understanding, 152–58; and Port Authority development proposals, 34–36, 43, 47–57, 60–62, 70, 89; public discussion of, 5–7, 21, 48, 82–83, 118, 130–31; success in, 4–6, 193–94

  FUNDING OF: from Brooklyn government, 134–35, 143–44; from New York City, 6, 113, 133–34, 165, 170–72, 174, 177–78, 192–94; from New York State, 100–101, 106, 110, 123, 169–72; from private investors, 85, 181, 187, 193; need for public, 5–6, 107, 111, 133–36, 142–46, 149–51, 153–55, 161; role of planning organizations in, 80–83, 134, 142–49. See also commercial development; housing, development of

  PIERS OF: Pier 1, 1, 141, 174–76, 175, 176, 183, 184, 188, 189, 193, 195; Pier 2, 172, 177, 182, 184, 185, 190, 195; Pier 3, 103–4, 115, 184, 194–95; Pier 4, 145, 149, 196, 196; Pier 5, 27, 160, 160, 182, 184, 196, 197, 198; Pier 6, 152, 154, 165, 173, 177–80, 182–84, 192–93, 199, 202

  PLANNING STUDIES FOR: “Comprehensive Waterfront Plan,” 93; Development Concepts for the Brooklyn Piers, 31–32, 35–39, 42–43; Economic Viability Study, 71, 110; of environmental impact, 100–101, 135, 152–53, 157, 163; Future of the Piers, 42–49, 55, 67, 68, 69, 200; “Harbor Park,” 58–59; “Warehouse Re-use,” 82–85, 84, 87

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition: community involvement in, 3–7, 74, 118, 128–34; funding of, 98, 102, 110–12, 115, 118–20, 123, 135–36, 142; and government support for park, 95–97, 106–9, 111–12, 124–26, 132–34; leadership and mission of, 3–6, 70–82, 88, 90–92, 97–98, 100–101, 104–5, 113–20; and planning and housing debate, 76–77, 79–80, 82, 89, 93, 147, 154

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 133; and construction and programming, 151, 159–60, 165–66, 174–76, 187, 189, 191; leadership and mission of, 75, 149–50, 194, 201; and planning and housing debate, 154–57, 161–63

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBP Corporation), 133; Committee on Alternatives to Housing (CAH) of, 173, 176–78; and construction and programming, 174–81, 189–91; leadership and mission of, 172–76, 194; and planning and housing debate, 176–78, 192–93

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, 156, 162, 166

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation: and design and construction, 146–47, 149–52, 161–65; leadership and mission of, 6–7, 146–47, 162; and public planning, 157–58, 165–66

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Illustrative Master Plan (Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler), 127–28, 129, 136, 139–42, 140, 141, 146–47, 151–58, 173, 180

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Plaza, 194–95

  Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Festival, 137–38, 149, 159, 167, 189

  Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, 106

  Brooklyn Heights: community involvement in, 41–42, 45, 49, 70–74, 86–87, 90, 118–19, 121–22; development of, 11, 15–16, 25–27; history and historic preservation of, 8, 10–16, 26–38, 162; and park planning process, 18, 28–38, 42–45, 50–51, 54, 60–62, 66–74, 79, 85

  Brooklyn Heights Association (BHA): community involvement in, 40–41, 118; and housing and commercial development, 16, 167–68, 179; organization and leadership of, 3, 5, 106, 108, 116; and park planning process, 25–30, 38–39, 63–65, 79, 93; Piers Committee of, 3, 40–67, 70, 72, 79, 193, 200; Waterfront Committee of, 5, 28–38, 40–43, 70, 114

  Brooklyn Heights Paper, 35

  Brooklyn Heights Press & Cobble Hill News, 36, 47, 121

  Brooklyn Heights Promenade, 16, 27, 44, 56, 60, 77, 91, 145, 193

  Brooklyn Navy Yard, 53, 203

  Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, 15–17, 25

  Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Corporation (LDC): community involvement in, 120–21, 126–31, 136, 139, 151, 159; design and financial responsibilities of, 117, 120, 125–36, 139–42, 146, 155–56; funding of, 105–10, 139, 149; organization and leadership of, 105–12, 115–18, 124–25, 201–2; and public planning, 127–30, 139

  Brooklyn Waterfront Task Force, 106–7

  Brooks, Greg, 105–6, 136

  Bryant, William Cullen, 66

  Buckhurst Fish Hutton Katz (BFHK; planning and design firm), 43, 47, 55–56, 58, 68, 69, 200

  Bush Terminal Piers Park (Brooklyn), 203

  Bushwick Inlet Park (Brooklyn), 203

  Buttenwieser, Ann, 159

  Butzel, Albert, 119, 123–24, 135–36, 142, 152

  Campbell, Robert, 38–39

  “Camperdown Elm” (Moore), 66–67

  Capote, Truman, 15

  Carey, Hugh, 207n.27

  Caro, Robert, 64–65

  Carr, Lynch, Hack and Sandell (urban-design firm), 81

  Carroll Gardens, 70

  Central Park (Manhattan), 4, 65–67, 193, 200–201

  Central Park Conservancy, 119, 130

  charrettes (public planning meetings), 128–31, 136, 138, 150–51, 201

  Childs, David M., 38

  Citizens Budget Commission, 203

  City Planning Commission, 52–53

  Clark, Michael, 82, 87

  Clayton, Denise, 54

  Clinton Hill, 53

  Coady, Pat, 28

  Coalition for a Harbor Park on Brooklyn Piers 1–6, 73

  Cobble Hill, 53, 81, 87, 107, 130, 155, 176–78

  Cobble Hill Association, 70, 93, 105 />
  Cohen, Arthur G., 76–78

  Coles, Tony, 134, 136

  Coming of Age (benefit), 110

  commercial development, 71; community opposition to, 2–3, 5–7, 21, 34–35, 45, 50–51; and hybrid park plans, 47–48; limitations on, 56, 146–47, 152–55; Port Authority and city proposals for, 43, 48–57, 60–62, 70, 82, 89, 91–92, 154–57; and private investors, 96–97; and public planning, 5–7, 21, 34–35, 45, 48, 50–51, 82–83, 88–92, 118, 130–31. See also Brooklyn Bridge Park: financial sustainability of; housing, development of

  Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation and Industry (State Assembly), 101–2

  Community Board 6 (CB6), 41, 70, 80, 106, 126

  Community Board 2 (CB2): and commercial development, 3, 52–55, 57–58, 63, 79–81, 200; Piers Subcommittee of, 41, 52–61, 70, 72, 79–80, 98, 102; and planning process, 60–61, 67–68, 102, 106, 126

  Community Conservation and Improvement Council, 66

  community involvement: and Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition, 3–7, 74, 118, 128–34, 137–38; in Brooklyn Heights, 40–42, 45, 49, 70–74, 86–87, 90, 118–19, 121–22; and Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Corporation, 120–21, 126–31, 136, 139, 151, 159; and charrettes, 128–31, 136, 138, 150–51, 201; in housing debate, 16, 30, 44–45, 56–57, 72, 79, 93, 154–58; importance of, 6, 100, 194, 200–201, 203; and opposition to commercial development, 2–3, 5–7, 21, 34–35, 45, 50–51; and volunteer service, 2, 145, 187–91, 203

  Community School Districts, 47, 137

  “Comprehensive Waterfront Plan” (Department of City Planning), 93

  Connor, Martin, 147; and Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition, 61, 75, 104, 116; and park funding, 50–51, 93, 102, 104–7, 125, 143–44, 148

  Consolidated Edison, 18–19, 182

  containerization, 16–17, 19, 24–26, 51. See also maritime industry

  Copin, Jessica, 169–70

  Crane, Benjamin, 44–45, 47, 150, 198

  Crane, Hart, 15

  Crane, Kate, 138

  Crane, Michael, 167

  Cravath, Swaine & Moore (law firm), 104–5

  “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” (Whitman), 1, 10

  Cuite, Thomas, 23

  Cuomo, Mario, 76–77, 88, 98–101

  Curll, Joyce, 28

  Dadey, Dick, 119, 128, 131, 134, 147, 152–53

  Daly, Eileen, 60

  Damon, Candace, 127, 130–31, 201

  Davidson, Peter, 119, 171–73, 176

  Davis, Roselle, 65–66

  de Blasio, Bill, 176, 192–94

  Democratic General Committee, 64

  Democratic Task Force on Waterfront Development, 50–52

  Department of City Planning, 31–33, 36, 52, 60–61, 63, 109, 112

  Department of Economic Development (New York State), 98, 101–2

  Department of Environmental Conservation (New York City), 194

  Department of General Services (New York City), 23

  Department of Parks and Recreation (New York City), 148, 149

  Department of Ports and Terminals (New York City), 19, 21–23, 30–31

  Development Concepts for the Brooklyn Piers (Halcyon), 31–33, 35–39, 42–43

  Diario, El, 119

  DiBrienza, Stephen, 85, 104–5

  Dinkins, David, 76

  Doctoroff, Daniel, 146, 147, 154, 165, 172

  Dongan, Thomas, 13

  Dongan Charter of the City of New York (1686), 13

  “Draft Report on Alternatives to Housing” (Committee on Alternatives to Housing), 177

  Drake, Susannah, 165–66

  Dugan, Eileen C., 50–51, 61, 75, 90, 93, 98, 99, 101–2, 104–7

  Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), 17, 103, 113, 135, 140, 153, 176–78

  Dumbo Neighborhood Association (DNA), 167–68

  Dunlap, David, 61, 76

  East River, 7, 22, 192

  Economic Development Corporation (EDC), 96–97

  Economic Viability Study: Piers Sector, Brooklyn Bridge Park (Praedium Group), 71, 110

  education: environmental, 184, 189–91, 191, 194; and park programs and events, 2, 4, 91, 106, 133, 137, 191

  Education Advisory Council, 137

  Eliasson, Olafur, 165

  Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park, 21, 86, 102–3, 120, 144, 148, 180–82, 181, 190

  Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), 106–7, 136, 153, 156–57, 162, 169–73, 193. See also Urban Development Corporation

  Empire Stores, 11, 11, 18–19, 28, 179, 192, 195

  Environmental Education Center, 184, 194

  environmental impact: of noise and air pollution, 2, 92, 182, 195, 198; and park planning, 4–5, 39, 46, 100–101, 135, 142, 152–53, 157, 163; and sound-attenuating hills, 2, 182, 195, 198

  Faneuil Hall (Boston), 22

  Farber, E. C., 19

  Favuzzi, Maria, 63, 70–71, 74–75, 78, 80, 112, 116

  ferry service, 8–12, 17, 43, 192, 198

  Fife, Barbara J., 38

  financial crisis (2008), 4, 169–70

  financial recession (1973–1975), 22

  Fisher, Kenneth, 6, 87, 104–5, 108, 116, 121, 134–35, 148

  Fisherman’s Wharf (San Francisco), 22

  Fort Greene, 53

  Fox, Tom, 72–75, 77–78, 80–83, 86–88, 97, 113, 116, 200

  Francis, Judi, 156–57, 166, 178

  Fulton, Robert, 195

  Fulton Ferry, 10, 21, 53, 107, 111, 134

  Fulton Ferry Landing (Brooklyn), 2, 14, 17–19, 50, 74–75, 86, 93, 133, 195

  Fulton Ferry Landing Association, 93, 108, 167, 179

  Future of the Piers: Planning and Design Criteria for Brooklyn Piers 1–6 (Buckhurst Fish Hutton Katz), 42–49, 55, 67, 68, 69, 200

  Gallent, Martin, 34

  Gargano, Charles, 136, 147, 148

  Garrity, Tracey, 39

  Gelber, Marilyn, 78, 86, 88

  General Project Plan, 153–58, 162, 166, 168, 184, 193

  Gindroz, Ray, 120

  Giuliani, Rudolph, 103, 121, 123, 134, 139, 143–44

  Glen, Alicia, 193

  Golden, Howard, 84, 96; and commercial development, 23, 77, 79, 103, 105, 108–9; and park funding, 134–35, 143–44; and park oversight authority, 82–87, 90, 95–96, 100, 105–6, 108–9; and political support for park, 75, 88–90, 116, 134–35, 147–48

  Goldmark, Peter C., 24

  Green Guerillas, 72, 75

  Greenwich Village, 12–13

  Griesa, Thomas P., 207n.27

  Gutman, Hank, 156, 159

  Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick), 13

  Hack, Gary, 81–82, 85

  Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler (HR&A; consulting firm), 127–28, 139, 154, 201

  Hand, Scott, 27–29, 36–43, 46, 55–58, 63–67, 74–75, 79, 200

  Harbor Park, 58–61, 59, 63, 70–73, 71, 74, 102

  “Harbor Park: A Maritime and Public Use Development on the Brooklyn Piers” (Schnadelbach Partnership), 58–60

  Harbor Place (Baltimore), 22

  Harlem, 34, 66

  Harris, Patricia, 161, 163

  Hasty, John Dozier, 41

  Heckscher, Morrison, 200

  Heilbron, Susan M., 23

  High Line (Manhattan), 4–5

  historic preservation, 18–19, 28, 46, 66, 90, 162

  Holt, Dennis, 138–39

  Hooglandt, Cornelis Dircksen, 8

  housing, development of: affordable, 192–93; and financial sustainability of park, 79, 82, 89–92, 100, 154–55, 162, 167–68, 176–78, 193–94; government proposals for, 3–4, 32–33, 44–46, 52–61, 81–82, 193–94; mixed-use and hybrid plans for, 46–47, 55–56, 58, 67, 76–77, 79–80, 88–89, 200; opposition to, 16, 30, 44–45, 56–57, 72, 79, 93, 154–58, 162, 173, 176–79, 192–93, 200

  Howard, Mary, 134

  Hudson, Henry, 7–8

  Hudson River, 8, 22, 66, 72, 207n.27

  Hudson River Park (Manhattan), 75, 97, 113, 123–24, 155, 188, 193
, 202

  Hughes, Hubbard & Reed (law firm), 27

  Hurricane Sandy, 4, 186–88

  Hutton, Ernest, 43, 45–46

  “In Brooklyn Heights, a Spotlight on 87 Neglected Acres” (Lyons), 33

  International Longshoremen’s Association, 23, 107

  James, Henry, 66

  Jane’s Carousel, 181, 181, 186–87, 187, 195

  Janner, Irene, 47–49, 54, 56–57, 115

  Jehovah’s Witnesses. See Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

  jobs, creation of, 2, 21–22, 31, 34, 55, 88, 90–92, 110

  Kennedy, Robert F., Jr., 121

  Klein, Jennifer, 174

  Kleiner, Theodore, 33

  Knipel, Lawrence, 156

  Koch, Edward, 3, 22–23, 31, 48–49, 207n.27

  Koval, Marianna, 119–26, 132–39, 142–45, 147–51, 154–61, 164, 166–67, 203

  Kramer, David, 159–60, 176

  Krogius, Henrik, 41–42, 60, 116

  Laird, Joshua, 123, 146

  Lander, Brad, 176, 177

  Landmarks Conservancy, 41, 179

  Landmarks Preservation Commission, 18–19, 162

  Landmarks Preservation Law (1965), 28

  land use, 30, 39, 52, 163, 179–80

  LaRocco, Philip, 31–32, 43, 47, 54–55

  League of Conservation Voters, 121

  Leaves of Grass (Whitman), 10

  Lenape Nation, 7, 192. See also Native Americans

  Leone, Sebastian, 19

  Leventer, Wendy, 152–53, 158, 162–63

  Levin, Steve, 177, 179

  Lhota, Joe, 134

  Liberty State Park (New Jersey), 50

  Lieber, Robert, 171–73, 176

  Liebman, Ted, 38, 42–43, 58, 82, 88

  Lila, Bianca, 119

  Lipper, Kenneth, 102

  Logue, Edward J., 38

  Lyons, Richard D., 33

  Mailer, Norman, 34–35, 41

  Main Street lot, 20, 148

  Main Street Playground, 148, 149, 186

  Manhattan Bridge, 17, 111–13, 181, 191. See also Brooklyn Bridge Park: and inter-bridge area

  Manhattan Bridge Anchorage, 194

  Manheim, Anthony, 96, 150; and Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition, 70, 75–76, 78–88, 101, 105–7, 109–11, 113–17; and government plans for piers, 25–37, 95–99, 104–10; leadership role of, 6, 40, 150, 198, 200; and mixed-use development and housing debate, 67, 99–100, 104, 156–57; and Piers Committee, 38, 40–43, 53–57, 61, 67