Brooklyn Bridge Park affordable housing plan ruffles feathers

Neighbors unhappy with proposal that provides little public money for park operations

Rendering of proposed affordable housing structure at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Rendering of proposed affordable housing structure at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park neighbors are up in arms over a proposal to build a 16-story, 140-unit residential building within the park. The development, which may be used for affordable housing, would be built on one of five designated sites within the park’s interior that were set aside for construction of market-rate apartments that would help pay for park operations.

The proposed development would provide little to no subsidy for use toward the park. Some Residents Told The Wall Street Journal they think the building is superfluous and serves the needs of private housing, rather than those of public park land. Meanwhile, representatives of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp., a not-for-profit controlled by mayoral appointees that runs the park, told the Journal the area would benefit from a mixed income community that is a better representation of Brooklyn.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has expressed support for a compromise that would provide affordable housing as well as money toward park operations.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

By signing up, you agree to TheRealDeal Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Three of the five sites are being developed in the park, including a 108-unit luxury condominium that has set sales-price records for the area. But Regina Myer, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp., said that revenue from the two remaining sites is necessary to run the park.

No decisions have been made on the location of the development, or the number of affordable housing units that would be included in the plan. [WSJ]Sasha von Oldershausen