There is STILL NO VOTE by the City Council on 38 Water Street. Following the direction of Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Tony Avella's Zoning Subcommittee has twice laid over its vote on the issue. We now expect the Committee (both Zoning and Land Use) to vote next Wednesday, October 13, before a meeting of the full City Council the same afternoon. The full Council will then vote, determining the outcome. We and our neighbors along the waterfront are doing our best to keep up community pressure and we're getting help from Marty Markowitz, Joan Millman, Senator Connor, David Yassky, Community Board 2, the Municipal Art Society and the Historic Districts Council.
By all means, if you have not yet called or sent a message to Speaker Miller, now is the time. Please tell your next door neighbor. Email Miller@council.nyc.ny.us or call 212-788- 8847 to let him know that opposition to 38 Water Street rezoning is widespread and intense on the Brooklyn side of the Bridge. Be sure he knows that you know his influence is being felt throughout the City Council. He especially needs to hear that DUMBO will remember how he votes on this issue, and that we would celebrate a decision to support the community.
Contact Shari Hyman at shari@dumbo-dna.org for other ways you can help.
Both the Borough President and the City Planning Commission have held public hearings on 85 Jay since our last newsletter. Following his public hearing in early September, Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz delivered a strong recommendation for the community: disapproval unless the bulk and parking of the 85 Jay development be reduced by 40%, that towers on Jay Street be no taller than 120 feet (M1-2/R8A) with a height limit of 70 feet (M1-2/R6A) for the rest of the project, and condemning the lack of retail. You can download his recommendation here.
members, DNA, Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association, dumbo arts center, Borough President Markowitz, Council Members Tish James and David Yassky, State Senator Martin Connor, Congressman Ed Townes, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and District Leader Jo Anne Simon all testified or submitted written statements in opposition to the rezoning. (You can download our testimony here.) We anticipate CPC's vote will take place on October 20. In spite of strong opposition, we are not optimistic about the outcome of this vote and are preparing to lobby the City Council in the final, and decisive, stage of ULURP. We will need all your help going forward: letters, e-mails, faxes, testimony at the public hearing, etc. We will be in touch with you on exactly what to do and when to do it. In the meantime, if you would like to be more involved, please contact Christy Nyberg at christy@dumbo-dna.org.
Join us in celebrating Halloween with our neighborhood's very own parade followed by a free party at Bubby's. Kids should come in costume, but if you don't have a child, feel free to dress up your dog or just come to watch. Meet on Sunday, October 31 at 3:30 p.m. outside Bubby's. After a parade through the neighborhood, we will return to Bubby's for a party on the mezzanine level. Please e-mail Marisa at marisa@dumbo-dna.org for more information or if you'd like to help. We look forward to seeing everyone there! The parade is presented by DNA and supported by Bubby's DUMBO.
Mark your calendars for DNA's 2004 Annual Meeting on Monday, November 22. Borough President Marty Markowitz will be our featured speaker, addressing "Brooklyn's Future." Please join us to hear about neighborhood issues and what DNA has been doing over the past year. We look forward to your questions and input, and will be sending you more information shortly.
(dac)'s 2004 dumbo art under the bridge festival will be held October 15-17. This three-day celebration of fine arts and performance is in its eighth year and promises to be better than ever. See www.dumboartscenter.org/festival for more information and a complete schedule.
PS8 will be holding it's first Open House of the school year for prospective parents on Thursday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m. Principal Seth Phillips, Instructional Specialist Olivia Ellis and members of the PTA will be on hand to answer questions and lead school tours. See www.ps8pta.org or e-mail Chris Klass at chris@dumbo-dna.org for more information.
Please consider becoming a member of the DUMBO Neighborhood Association. We're a community-based, volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life in this special neighborhood. Membership is a reasonable $25 per year, although we'd love more if you can spare it. You can click here to join. If you're on our mailing list and receive our e-newsletters, but have not signed up as a member, please take that extra step today. We could use your support. Steering Committee meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month and you're always welcome. Email nancy@dumbo-dna.org if you'd like to attend.
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