On Monday, September 19, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, City Council Members David Yassky and Bill de Blasio, State Senator Martin Connor, Assembly Member Joan Millman, and Congress Member Nydia Velázquez announced a set of proposed changes to plans for Brooklyn Bridge Park that they believe will move the park from the planning stage to construction. With the goal of supporting the environmental impact statement for Brooklyn Bridge Park so that the necessary properties can be transferred and the construction begun, they will work together with the City and State to incorporate the following changes to the plan: providing interim park improvements and access near Atlantic Avenue; reducing the height of the residential building on the upland of Pier 6 to twenty stories or less; preserving the full Con Edison site as parkland; developing residential projects, if feasible, elsewhere in DUMBO, in lieu of the Con Edison site; providing active indoor and outdoor recreation facilities; developing a middle school for Region 8; developing a ferry terminal at Atlantic Avenue with accessory commercial activity; designing a more inviting park entrance from Atlantic Avenue; improving access to the northern end of the park; enhancing pedestrian access to Fulton Ferry Landing on Old Fulton Street; providing public security instead of relying on a private security company; and considering adaptive reuse options for the Purchase Building.

“Community input must be the foundation of any great public project such as Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz. “After many years of community input, we believe it is our responsibility, as elected officials, to see that the park finally gets built for Brooklynites and all New Yorkers to enjoy. That is why we are here today, speaking with one voice.”