Brooklyn Building Boom $3 Billion in new residential projects

Brooklyn is "enjoying" a huge development boom across the river from Chinatown in Flatbush according to a NY Post story from 2007 "The bulk will come in the form of at least 4,422 new residential units, much of which will be spread among high-rise towers reaching 40 stories high that will soon line the avenue.

We're talking about 2,063 market-rate rentals and 1,721 luxury condos, along with another 570 apartments and 68 condos created for low- and middle-income families.

And these projects will also bring 645,000 square feet of new retail and another 190,000 square feet of office space." NY Post By RICH CALDER June 25, 2007.

The NYC Dept. of Transportation would have us all believe that over four thousand new residential units in downtown Brooklyn will have no impact on traffic. Reports on the affects of closure on Park Row in Chinatown, and the presentations for the Chatham Square redesign have ignored the building boom in Brooklyn just over the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Ironically the same firm Phillip Habib and Assoc. is responsible for both Flatbush Ave. projects in Brooklyn AND Park Row and Chatham Square's projects in Manhattan's Chinatown.
CCRC wants to know why the City, DOT, and Habib have conspired to ignore all the traffic data regarding these new developments and their impact on the impending construction planned for Chatham Square.

What we DO know from Community Board 3's paid traffic engineer, Brian Ketchum is that traffic WILL back up on Flatbush Ave. (particularly at Tillary) as a result of years of construction at Chatham Square and the overlapping refurb. of the Brooklyn Bridge.

We've also learned that no community boards in Brooklyn even know about the construction slated to begin in July in Chinatown, they're not going to know what hit them once the traffic backs up.

We intend to inform them.

Councilman John Liu gets an earful:

CCRC has recently received a letter submitted to John Liu by citizens of Chinatown, it reads as follows:


Dear Councilman John Liu,

As Chairperson of the Council's Committee on Transportation, there is a struggle presently going on in Chinatown to halt/stop/delay the construction slated to begin in June 2009 regarding the reconfiguration of Chatham Square, you should not be sitting on the sidelines. Please voice your support for Chinatown at this time - don't let this 3 year / $50-million construction project start on schedule during this time of recession. It would mean more longtime Chinatown small businesses folding; after Chinatown has suffered 7 long years of parking placard abuse and 7 long years of Park Row Closure. $50-million of taxpayer money and 3 years of construction - all during a time of recession!! By now, it is common knowledge that Chinatown has had the slowest recovery of all neighborhoods since 9/11 (due to Park Row's closure and rampant parking permit abuse for 7 years - and these strained conditions exist even now!). $50-million would be better spent providing increased bus service to Chinatown - now that would be giant step toward economic recovery for Chinatown!

I recently spoke with traffic expert Brian Ketcham on 12/10/2008 at a Community Board 3 Transportation Committee meeting and asked Ketcham specfically if any Economic Impact Study, and, if a Pedestrian Safety Study were included in the proposed Chatham Square reconfiguration plan. Ketcham told me that these crucial studies were NOT included in the plan. As Councilman Gerson stated, the plan is "premature".

This is a partial (confirmed) list of Chinatown community organizations, electeds, etc. that oppose this Chatham Sq reconfiguraton / construction schedule,
(This list is growing rapidly larger day-by-day):
Those Against the Chatham Square reconfiguration plan and schedule:

Sheldon Silver - in public statements X2 occasions in the last 10 days
Alan Gerson - in public appearance and statements X2 occasions in the last 10 days
Daniel Squadron
Survey of Chinese newspapers and radio
Chatham Towers residential
Two Bridges
Hamilton Madison House
Immigration Social Services
Oliver Street Block Association
Mariner's Temple
Transfiguration Church
Community Board 1 - by unanimous vote
Transportation Committee of CB3 - voted 8 yes and 1 no (to withhold approval of Chatham Squar plan, 1 abstained
Chinatown Benevolent Association

This is a list of orgs, agencies and individuals that support the Chatham Square reconfiguraiton to occur on schedule:
Those For the Chatham Square reconfiguration proposal and schedule:
DOT
NYPD
Mayor's Office / LMDC/ DDC / DEP/utility companies
David Crane (CB3 Transp Committee)

As it stands now, Community Board 3 is not responding to the will and concerns of the local community, and CB3 is presently sitting on the fence, "withholding approval" for the Chatham Square reconfiguration plan. I urge you to please join the other electeds noted above (testimony attached) to stop the Chatham Square reconfiguration and construction.

Hopefully, you will not be like CB3 and sit on the fence for Chinatown. As Chairperson of the Council's Committee on Transportation, a few words from you would mean a lot for Chinatown.

Respectfully,
Life long Chinatown resident