Borough President Marty Markowitz, other elected officials and several community groups, demanded today that New York City close down the empty Brooklyn House of Detention. The City has spent over $30 million renovating this facility, and is about to spend another $16 million to complete the job, even though not one prisoner calls this jail home and New York City’s inmate population is at a fifteen year low.

“This is absolutely ridiculous to keep pouring millions of dollars into this empty jail. It is finally time to lock the door and through away the key to the House of Detention,” Borough President Markowitz said. “Experts have estimated that the City could bank at least $35 million by selling this valuable piece of property. When firehouses are being closed and teacher aides are being laid off from our severely overcrowded classrooms, selling these cells is a painless way to raise desperately needed dollars.”

Borough President Markowitz was joined by Congressman Major Owens, State Senator Martin Connor, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Councilmember David Yassky, and several community groups, including the Boerum Hill Association, Brooklyn Heights Association, Cobble Hill Association, the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association, and the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation.

Borough President Markowitz and the other elected officials also joined with the Atlantic Avenue LDC as it released its long awaited master plan for Atlantic Avenue.