Impact of the Dock Street Development on the surrounding neighborhoodTwo Trees Management Company has proposed to build an 18 story rental tower on the parcel of land bounded by Front, Dock and Water Streets, immediately adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge. The surrounding Neighborhood Associations, including DNA, are officially opposed to the current Two Trees proposal, which would block views from and of the landmark Brooklyn Bridge, create a fortress at a major entry point into our neighborhood, and is massively out-of-scale with the adjacent buildings and streetscape. This tall, high-density rental tower would be completely incompatible with the low-level underbridge area and Water Street streetscape, and would create an imposing barrier at the entrance of the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. Two Trees has sent out pamphlets emphasizing the proposed school in an attempt to bolster public support.The proposal to include a middle school in the rental tower is entirely inappropriate for the building parcel, would encourage even more vehicular traffic into an existing chokepoint in the neighborhood, and would provide little meaningful relief for DUMBO families seeking educational alternatives for their children. This proposed public school, if built, would be open for all eligible students in district 13, which stretches from our waterfront area down through Boerum Hill and out to Bushwick. There is no guarantee that this school will have places for neighborhood children. So in fact, our neighborhood may be more crowded with pedestrian and vehicular traffic of commuting students while local families fight this congestion to get their kids off to another school elsewhere in the city. Additionally, the proposed rental tower would include a 400-car parking garage, which would invite even more vehicular traffic, from tenants of the massive new building as well as visitors to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park, into our neighborhood. In order to build its rental tower, Two Trees must first obtain a zoning change from the New York City Council. Two Trees sought a zoning change to build a sixteen-story tower on roughly the same parcel in 2004, but that plan failed after neighborhood residents joined together to express our objections to City officials. Over the next few months, DNA will be leading a vigorous effort to oppose Two Trees’ proposal. But you can help now by calling City representatives to express your concerns. Our local officials were essential in helping to defeat Two Trees’ earlier misguided proposal. Please help us do so again: Marty Markowitz David Yassky Tony Avella Thank you for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to join DNA in the fight to preserve our neighborhood, please click here |