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    • image Statements of Community District Needs and Community Board BudgetRequ Fiscal Year 2021 image 11Â¥1: Published by: PLANNING February 2020 ,•'',' Brooklyn Community District 2 INTRODUCTION The annual Statements of Community District Needs (CD Needs Statements) and Community Board Budget Requests (Budget Requests) are Charter mandates that form an integral part of the City's budget process. Together, they are intended to support communities in their ongoing consultations with city agencies, elected officials and other key stakeholders and influence more informed decision making on a broad range of local planning and budget priorities. This report also provides a valuable public resource for neighborhood planning and research purposes, and may be used by a variety of audiences seeking information about New York City's diverse communities. HOW TO USE THIS REPORT This report represents the Statement of Community District Needs and Community Board Budget Requests for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. This report contains the formatted but otherwise unedited content provided by the community board, collected through an online form available to community boards from August to November, 2019. Community boards may provide substantive supplemental information together with their Statements and Budget Requests. This supporting material can be accessed by clicking on the links provided in the document or by copying and pasting them into a web browser, such as Chrome, Safari or Firefox. If you have questions about this report or suggestions for changes please contact: C DNEEDS_DL@planning.nyc.gov This report is broadly structured as follows: Overarching Community District Needs Sections 1 – 4 provide an overview of the community district and the top three pressing issues affecting this district overall as identified by the community board. Any narrative provided by the board supporting their selection of their top three pressing issues is included. Policy Area-Specific District Needs Section 5 is organized by seven distinct policy areas aligned with the service and program areas of city agencies. For each policy area, community boards selected the most important issue for their districts and could provide a supporting narrative. The policy area section also includes any agency-specific needs and a list of relevant budget requests submitted by the community board. If the community board submitted additional information outside of a specific policy area, it may be found in Section 6. Community Board Budget Requests The final section includes the two types of budget requests submitted to the City for the FY21 budget cycle; one list for capital and another for expense budget requests. For each budget request, community boards were able to provide a priority number, explanation, location, and supporters. OMB remains the definitive source on budget requests submitted to city agencies. D isclaimer This report represents the Statements of Community District Needs and Community Board Budget Requests of this Community District for Fiscal Year 2021. This report contains the formatted but otherwise unedited content provided by the community board. Budget Requests: Listed for informational purposes only. OMB remains the definitive source on budget requests and budget request responses. Budget Priorities: Priority numbers apply to expense and capital Budget requests from all policy areas. A complete list of expense and capital budget requests by this Board sorted by priority can be found in Section 7 of this document. Supporting Materials: Some community boards provided substantive supplemental information. This supportive material can be accessed by clicking on the links provided in the document or by copying and pasting the links provided in the Appendix into a browser. TABLE OF CONTENTS Community Board Information image Community District Profile and Land Use Map image Overview of Community District image Top Three Pressing Issues Overall image image image Summary of Community District Needs and Budget Requests Health Care and Human Services image image Youth, Education and Child Welfare Public Safety and Emergency Services image image image Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency Housing, Economic Development and Land Use Transportation Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities image Other Budget Requests image Summary of Prioritized Budget Requests image
      1. COMMUNITY BOARD INFORMATION Brooklyn Community Board 2 image Address: 350 Jay Street, 8 Floor Phone: 718-596-5410 Email: cb2k@nyc.rr.com Website: www.nyc.gov/brooklyncb2 Chair: Lenny Singletary District Manager: Robert Perris image
      2. COMMUNITY DISTRICT PROFILE AND LAND USE MAP image image
      3. OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY DISTRICT Community District 2 consists of Downtown Brooklyn, the residential and mixed-use neighborhoods around the downtown core, and the industrial park in the former Brooklyn Navy Yard. Downtown Brooklyn is the city's third largest central business district and the civic center for the most populous county in New York State. Most of the residential neighborhoods in the district were first developed in the nineteenth-century and primarily consist of rowhouses and low-scale commercial streets. There are also taller buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s as part of government housing programs and more recently through private development. These residential neighborhoods are Boerum Hill, Bridge Plaza, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The neighborhoods closer to the East River contain a mix of residential and commercial uses, including traditional and TAMI (tech, advertising, media and information) industry, in buildings developed during various periods in a variety of scales and styles. Dumbo, Fulton Ferry Landing and Vinegar Hill are the waterfront neighborhoods in the community. There are several specially-mapped districts within Community District 2. The community district is home to eight, and a portion of a ninth, business improvement districts. Ten historic districts are located here. Over 100 acres is mapped parkland. Community District 2 overlaps with parts of three congressional, two state senate, three assembly and three city council districts.
      4. TOP THREE PRESSING ISSUES OVERALL Brooklyn Community Board 2 image The three most pressing issues facing this Community Board are: Affordable housing The affordable housing crisis is a citywide issue and one that will be extremely difficult to resolve. The city is losing affordable units of housing faster than new units can be constructed. When Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his goal of building or preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing over 10 years, the NYU Furman Center commented that it will take a million new apartments to impact housing cost from the supply side. As neighborhoods in Brooklyn Community District 2 gentrify at a faster pace, the issue is increasingly acute here. Schools The Department of Education (DOE) seems unable to plan for localized growth in school population. It is understandable that the DOE does not want to construct expensive schools for which there is no need but its 'wait- and-see' approach, in combination with the long lead time necessary to site and construct a school, results in painful waits for additional capacity. The city rezoned Downtown Brooklyn in 2004 and the first school serving the neighborhood may be completed by the 20th anniversary of the land use changes. Other The "Triple Cantilever" section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, on the western edge of Brooklyn Heights, has outlived its engineered life. New York State Department of Transportation began in 2008 the environmental review and alternative analysis for the renovation or replacement of the structure but walked away from the project in 2011. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) has restarted the project and achieved some early success; $1.7 billion in funding and State approval for a design-build procurement process. However, a proposal to build a temporary highway at the same elevation as the Brooklyn Heights promenade, the highest of the three levels, was met with resounding opposition from the community and some local elected officials. Community Board 2 hopes that NYCDOT can find a workable solution for re-routing the 153,000 cars that use the highway daily and get the project schedule back on track. image
      5. SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY DISTRICT NEEDS AND BUDGET REQUESTS HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Health Care and Human Services Environmental health issues (noise, lead, respiratory illness, etc.) According to the New York City health department's 2018 Community Health Profile for (nominally) Fort Greene and Brooklyn Heights, the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was notably higher in Community District 2 than in Brooklyn or the city as a whole; 8.8, 7.8 and 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. The data was obtained in a 2016 DOHMH community air survey. This may be attributable in part to traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, which travels through the district, as well as arterials leading to and from the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. As a possible corollary, the health profile also reported a high rate of child asthma emergency room visits, 249 per 10,000 children between the ages of five and 17. By comparison, the figure for Brooklyn is 186 visits. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Health Care and Human Services Needs for Health Care and Facilities Brooklyn Community District 2 (CD2) is home to a large number of health care facilities, in some cases disproportionately so. This results in part from the extensive transportation network in the district, which makes it accessible to the rest of the borough. According to the register of "Selected Facilities and Program Sites" prepared by the Department of City Planning, there are 28 mental health service centers in CD2, 24 chemical dependency service centers and 20 residential programs for adults and families. In an analysis prepared in support of a board resolution passed in 2011, it was determined that 23 percent of the borough's beds for chemical dependency services then were located in CD2. Six Brooklyn community districts combined provided less than the number located here and five districts provided no beds at all. One-quarter of the out-patient substance abuse program sites in Brooklyn were located in CD2, making it the predominant host in 2011. Similarly, the district ranked first for the borough's out-patient substance abuse program sites. Community Board 2 (CB2) knows that health care facilities are not necessarily bad neighbors and how well a program is operated is the determining factor, not the services provided. The community board has in recent years not objected to the expansion and consolidation of existing services in the district or the relocation of facilities from elsewhere. However, saturation is always a concern for CB2. Needs for Older NYs The 2010 decennial census recorded 15,433 older adults residing in substantial concentrations in Brooklyn Community District 2. There are 13 residential developments where more than 30 percent of the residents, or approximately 3,700 people, are age 60 or older. Of these, seven met government guidelines for designation as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, or NORCs. In surveys conducted through Community Board 2, nearly all respondents indicated a desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible. More than half responded that they would welcome a nurse or social worker who will make regularly scheduled visits to their development. Needs for Homeless There has been a noticeable increase in street homelessness in Brooklyn Community District 2. Small groups of people without homes congregate in several locations, including Columbus Park, the plaza in front of Long Island University and at Fox Square. Telephone calls from the district office and community residents to 311 or directly to Street to Home, operated by a Department of Homeless Services contractor, do not seem to result in a reduction of the homeless population. This is attributable to a variety of explanations, including resistance from the individuals we hope to assist. However, the district office receives no follow-up reports from Street to Home and therefore we do not know what we might do differently. Capital Requests Related to Health Care and Human Services Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 7/22 DHS Upgrade existing The Department of Homeless Services-managed 39 Auburn facilities for the Auburn residence must be upgraded generally, Place homeless with expanded electrical system capacity and a code-compliant fire alarm system of particular concern. 11/22 DFTA Renovate or Paint the exterior and renovate the electrical 105 North upgrade a senior and fire alarm systems at the Willoughby (aka Portland center Whitman and Round Top) Senior Center. Avenue Expense Requests Related to Health Care and Human Services Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 1/25 DOHMH Create or promote Increased mental health support for teenagers programs to de- in schools. School programs will offer easy stigmatize mental access and ability to provide treatment prior to health problems crisis situation. and encourage treatment 2/25 DOHMH Reduce rat Increase funding for rodent management in populations parks and Greenstreets. [formerly Tracking Code 202201603E] 4/25 DHS Improve safety at The women's shelter at 200 Tillary Street is a 200 Tillary homeless shelters source of a high number of 911 calls. Street 5/25 DOHMH Reduce rat Large number of rodent sighting reports populations influenced the health department to select Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo to be indexed and monitored. However residents in Fort Greene and Boerum Hill are increasingly concerned about the growing rat populations. Restaurant owners and owners of large residential buildings should be encouraged to discard garbage in rodent proof containers. 12/25 DOHMH Provide more While levels of new infections are at record 295 Flatbush HIV/AIDS lows, rates remain high in Brooklyn, with CD2 Avenue information and having 33.1 new cases per 100,000 people. Extension services Educational campaigns need to target the demographic groups with the highest rates of new infection. 17/25 DOHMH Promote vaccinations and immunizations Increase the rates of vaccination for HPV and influenza. 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension 19/25 DFTA Enhance NORC At eight cooperative apartment buildings in programs and Community District 2 (Kingsview Homes, health services Willoughby Walk, St. James Tower, Ryerson Tower, Pratt Tower, Cadman Plaza North, Cadman Towers and 75 Henry Street), more than 50 percent of the residents are 60-years- old or older. 21/25 DFTA Enhance home care Many of the elderly are healthy but frail and services need assistance with errands and, maintenance of their homes. These adults are not provided for in existing programs. YOUTH, EDUCATION AND CHILD WELFARE Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Youth, Education and Child Welfare School and educational facilities (Capacity) Community District 2 overlaps with approximately half of Community School District 13 and also contains the northernmost portion of Community School District 15. Although there is unutilized capacity in some schools in CD2, it is often not where additional seats are needed. Community Board 2 urges the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority to employ a range of strategies for using capacity in an effective way. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Youth, Education and Child Welfare Needs for Youth Education The Department of Education and School Construction Authority need to construct a new school, or perhaps several schools, for the residents of Downtown Brooklyn. Needs for Youth and Child Welfare No comments image Capital Requests Related to Youth, Education and Child Welfare Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 2/22 SCA Provide a new or Construct a new elementary school in expand an existing Downtown Brooklyn. In the 15 years since the elementary school 2004 rezoning, thousands of units of housing had been built but there are still no new school facilities for the growing neighborhood. [formerly Tracking Code 202201501C] 6/22 SCA Provide a new or Construct additional elementary and expand an existing intermediate public schools to accommodate elementary school the increase in student population resulting from the development of Pacific Park, formerly known as Atlantic Yards. [formerly Tracking Code 202200804C] 9/22 SCA Provide technology Provide new or expanded science labs and upgrade technology facilities at district elementary and intermediate schools. 21/22 SCA Renovate or Renovate high school cafeterias to food court upgrade a high design to increase student participation in school meals. 22/22 SCA Renovate interior Brooklyn Technical High School with over 5,400 building component students produces more trash than can be handled within the building as designed. Additional indoor or outdoor storage, secured from vermin, needs to be constructed. Expense Requests Related to Youth, Education and Child Welfare Priority Agency Request Explanation Location image 3/25 DYCD Provide, expand, or enhance Cornerstone and Beacon programs (all ages, including young adults) Increase funding for after-school, Saturday and summer programs that are built on solid youth development principles, are evidence-based and offer a balance of sports, arts and academics within a strength-based perspective. [Formerly Tracking Code 202199704E] PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Public Safety and Emergency Services Other As it has in most of New York City, the rate of crime has been greatly reduced in Community District 2, which is patrolled by the 84th and 88th precincts, Police Service Area 3, Transit District 30 and to a lesser extent the 78th Precinct. Despite the overall reductions, there were several scary daytime shootings in Downtown Brooklyn last year and again in fall 2019. Perhaps the most alarming incident occurred on October 1, 2018 at 3:45 pm, while students were on the street, making their way from schools to their transportation home. On July 13, 2018, three people were injured, two of them bystanders. There were two other shootings last year, four in as many months. NYPD's Patrol Borough Brooklyn North deployed additional officers near the courts and throughout the central business district and a period of calm followed. However, there were recently two more shootings in just two weeks; on September 26 at the Metrotech Center academic/office park and on October 11 in the Jay Street-Metrotech subway station. According to the New York Daily News, CompStat data reports that shooting incidents have increased citywide, year-over-year, with 629 shootings last year and 660 through November 13, 2019. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Public Safety and Emergency Services Needs for Public Safety No comments Needs for Emergency Services No comments image Capital Requests Related to Public Safety and Emergency Services Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 14/22 NYPD Renovate or Renovate and expand the 88th Precinct House. 298 Classon upgrade existing The landmarked building is inadequate for Avenue precinct houses contemporary service delivery but is unlikely to be replaced. [formerly Tracking Code 202200702C] Expense Requests Related to Public Safety and Emergency Services Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 7/25 NYPD Assign additional Increase intersection control agents in traffic enforcement Community District 2, specifically at Flatbush officers Avenue and Nevins Street, Atlantic Avenue and Hicks Street, and Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues. [formerly Tracking Code 202200401E] 8/25 NYPD Assign additional Increase personnel and equipment at the 88th uniformed officers Precinct. The 88th Precinct Youth and Community Council determined that the 88th Precinct is understaffed in comparison to the neighboring 84th Precinct. [formerly Tracking Code 202200704E] 20/25 FDNY Expand funding for Hire additional FDNY inspectors to inspect new fire prevention and "high-rise" construction. [formerly Tracking life safety initiatives Code 202201604E] CORE INFRASTRUCTURE, CITY SERVICES AND RESILIENCY Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency Water pollution control Although the environmental impact occurs outside of Brooklyn Community District 2 (CD2), the community board is concerned about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) into the Gowanus Canal that result from occasional heavy rainfall in CD2. High Level Storm Sewers have been identified as an important mitigation for CSO in the canal. Community Board 2 urges the expeditious completion of SEK20067, the second phase of the "High Level Storm Sewer and Water Main on 3rd Avenue Project." image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency Needs for Water, Sewers, and Environmental Protection No comments Needs for Sanitation Services No comments image Capital Requests Related to Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency Priority Agency Request Explanation Location image 16/22 DSNY Provide new or upgrade existing sanitation garages or other sanitation infrastructure Construct a District 2 sanitation garage within the boundaries of Brooklyn Community District
      6. Co-locating the District 2 garage with another district results in delayed service and unnecessary vehicle exhaust emissions. Expense Requests Related to Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 13/25 DEP Clean catch basins Clean every catch basin in the district, particularly those located at the corners of Livingston Street and Bond Street, and Ashland Place and Lafayette Avenue. There is a lot of debris in these storm drains and on the corners noted here, there is always standing water during and for over 24 hours after a storm. 16/25 DSNY Increase Illegal dumping occurs consistently on enforcement of commercial streets. In some cases the illegal dumping laws perpetrator is obvious but current rules require a dumper to be caught in the act. The rules/law should be updated to include technological evidence. 25/25 DSNY Increase The sidewalk outside many restaurants is enforcement of covered with grease due to improper storage of dirty sidewalk/dirty trash and failure to clean after pick-up. This area/failure to clean action provides a feeding ground for rodents. area laws HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Housing, Economic Development and Land Use Affordable housing creation Clearly, the most important issue in Brooklyn Community District 2 and throughout the city is affordable housing. Community Board 2 (CB2) believes that the issue is even broader, a need for affordable communities. In its report, State of New York City's Housing and Neighborhoods in 2014, the NYU Furman Center ranked the district's median rent ninth highest in the city, at $2,995. That is a phenomenal $2,000 increase from a decade earlier. A survey conducted for Brooklyn Community Board 2 by the Center for Worker Education at City College found the issue to be the most pressing concern for respondents, regardless of income. The survey was taken in the census tracts where the three NYCHA developments are located and in adjacent tracts that had experienced considerable gentrification. Various programs and projects have produced and continue to generate new units of affordable housing. Community Board 2 would like the incentive programs to require a higher proportion of affordable units and for the income thresholds to be lower. The community board would also like to see more two- and three- bedroom apartments constructed so that families can stay in their homes as household size grows. Finally, CB2 encourages the City to put in place policies and programs that will contribute to affordable retail. The value of affordable housing is diminished when residents need to travel to another neighborhood to shop. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Housing, Economic Development and Land Use Needs for Land Use Almost all of Brooklyn Community District 2 has been rezoned in the past two decades, beginning with Vinegar Hill in 1997. For the most part, the land use actions have accomplished the intended goals but there have been two failures. Little affordable housing has been constructed in the areas where density bonuses were mapped to incentivize its development. The Downtown Brooklyn Development Plan, intended to strengthen the city's third central business district, has instead produced a high-rise, bedroom community. Needs for Housing No comments Needs for Economic Development Significant economic activity is and has been occurring in Brooklyn Community District 2 (CD2). Most of the neighborhoods are gentrifying and there is considerable investment in the commercial districts. CD2 is home to eight business improvement districts and part of a ninth, which is believed to be the highest number in any community district in the city. Office vacancy rates are lower than they have been in years. However, in this case a rising tide has not raised all ships. The unemployment rate in the three NYCHA developments is 29 percent, three times the rate (9.8%) of the district. The median household income in the Farragut, Ingersoll and Whitman houses is roughly $17,000. Three-quarters of the households there earn less than $35,000 and almost one-third manage somehow on less than $10,000. By comparison, the median income is for the district as a whole is approximately $83,000 and the households earning less than $35,000 constitute less than 30 percent of the total. Policies and programs need to be developed and executed so the residents with the greatest need benefit more from the economic vitality of Community District 2. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) has led the way in this regard. For example, at its newly developed Green Manufacturing Center, BNYDC obtained a 31 percent rate of MWBE contracting and 46 percent rate of MWBE hiring. The local contracting and hiring rates were 14 and 18 percent, respectively. Admittedly, as a public benefit corporation, the Navy Yard has more flexibility than a for- profit entity but it serves as an example of the kind of effort that we need to see more of in CD2. image Capital Requests Related to Housing, Economic Development and Land Use Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 1/22 NYCHA Install security Replace outdoor lights at the Farragut, Ingersoll cameras or make and Whitman houses, especially in the vicinity other safety of the building entrances. [formerly Tracking upgrades (Capital) Code 202201602C] 4/22 NYCHA Renovate or Renovate the Whitman Community Center at 149 North upgrade NYCHA the Whitman Houses. Oxford Walk community facilities or open space 5/22 NYCHA Renovate or Renovation of 75, 77, 99 and 110 Waverly upgrade NYCHA Avenue, which have been wholly or partially community facilities vacant for years. [formerly Tracking Code or open space 202201202C] Expense Requests Related to Housing, Economic Development and Land Use Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 11/25 EDC Expand tax incentive Provide incentives or tax abatements to create programs to help and maintain affordable commercial and retail neighborhood spaces for small businesses within the district. businesses construct or improve space 15/25 DCP Study land use and Revaluate the Downtown Brooklyn zoning to better Development Plan for possible follow-up land match current use use action to stimulate more commercial or future development. The Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood Development Plan was intended to make the needs city's third central business district more competitive in a regional market. Instead, it has resulted in residential construction. 18/25 SBS Provide or expand Increase the number of Small Business Services assistance to obtain compliance advisers to assist small businesses licenses and permits meet city regulations. 23/25 SBS Provide or expand Fund biannual business planning and operations business education courses tailored toward the development and to businesses and growth of small businesses within the district. entrepreneurs TRANSPORTATION Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Transportation and Mobility Other The "Triple Cantilever" section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), generally located between Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge, has out-lived its engineered life. After the state transportation department terminated its efforts to rehabilitate or renovate the structure, half a decade was lost to inaction. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) took the lead on the project in 2016, holding occasional public meetings to keep interested parties informed. At the meeting held on September 27, 2018, NYCDOT presented two alternatives for rebuilding the aging structure, both of which met with community opposition. Several people made public their own proposals for replacing the Triple Cantilever, which either recommended a different method of construction or an alternative design for the highway. In April 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an expert panel to review the project opportunities and constraints and the various alternatives. At the outset, the goal was to have the panel issue a report during the summer and for the formal environmental process to begin by the end of the year. To date, however, the panel has not released its findings and NYCDOT has conducted little community outreach. The current status of the project is concerning. If traffic needs to be re-routed from this section of the BQE, the impacts will be felt not just in Community District 2 but throughout the metropolitan region. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Transportation and Mobility Needs for Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure The transportation network in Brooklyn Community District 2 (CD2) is extensive and varied. The Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges convey, respectively, 105,679 and 85,484 vehicles between the two boroughs daily in 2016, the last year for which data was found. Depending on the weather, between 1,000 and 30,000 pedestrians cross the Brooklyn Bridge each day, many of them tourists. The East River crossings act as funnels for cyclists traveling to or from Manhattan and CD2 is well served by bike lanes. Citi Bike docking stations are distributed throughout the district, although the operator continues to struggle to balance the system. Thirteen subway and 11 bus lines move passengers through the district and beyond. According to the MTA, the Jay Street-Metrotech, Atlantic Avenue- Barclays Center, and Court Street-Borough Hall subway stations rank 23rd, 24th, and 27th respectively for average weekday ridership in the 420-station system. Atlantic Terminal serves as a hub for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and the Brooklyn-Queens E expressway is a resource for motorists to and from Queens and Long Island. Needs for Transit Services No comments image Capital Requests Related to Transportation and Mobility Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 12/22 DOT Install streetscape Extend the Flatbush Avenue streetscape Flatbush improvements improvements from DeKalb to Atlantic avenues. Avenue Extension would match the original geographic DeKalb scope of the project, which was truncated due Avenue to budget constraints. [formerly Tracking Code Atlantic 202201402C] Avenue 15/22 DOT Upgrade or create Development of a plaza on the triangle bounded new plazas by Flatbush, Atlantic and Fourth Avenues, known as Times Plaza. The plaza was expanded as part of traffic calming associated with the Barclays Center but is inhospitable and unattractive. [formerly Tracking Code 202201505C] 17/22 DOT Install streetscape Develop fully the Atlantic Avenue Gateway Atlantic improvements beneath the BQE at the foot of Atlantic Avenue. Avenue [formerly Tracking Code 202201502C] Furman Street Hicks Street 20/22 DOT Improve traffic and Install school zone speed camera at the Flatbush pedestrian safety, Manhattan-bound Flatbush Avenue Extension, Avenue including traffic between Willoughby Street and Myrtle Avenue. Extension calming (Capital) Willoughby Street Myrtle Avenue CS DOT Rehabilitate bridges Refurbish or replace the "Triple Cantilever" I-278 Atlantic section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, in Ave Brooklyn Brooklyn Heights. The "Triple Cantilever" section Bridge of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is older than its engineered life. Failure of the structure would negatively impact traffic in at least three counties. Although part of the BQE, the Department of Transportation considers the "Triple Cantilever" a bridge. [formerly Tracking Code 202201603C] Expense Requests Related to Transportation and Mobility Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 14/25 DOT Conduct traffic or Study the creation of (a) commuter van parking studies terminal(s) in Downtown Brooklyn and review current commuter van pick-up and drop-off locations. Licensed and illegal commuter vans are creating traffic congestion without structured stops. [formerly Tracking Code 202200801C] 22/25 DOT Conduct traffic or A traffic study of the intersection of Flatbush Flatbush parking studies Avenue and Nevins Street with the intention of Avenue improving pedestrian safety and vehicular Fulton Street traffic flow. Nevins Street 24/25 DOT Conduct traffic or Fund the study, modeling and implementation parking studies of traffic control strategies to address issues identified by Community Board 2 -- as part of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Study -- at Tillary Street & Flatbush Avenue and Schermerhorn Street & Flatbush Avenue. [formerly Tracking Code 202200502C] PARKS, CULTURAL AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES Brooklyn Community Board 2 image M ost Important Issue Related to Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities Other Every year, community boards across the city identify parks in the districts that they serve as needing renovation or reconstruction. The formal response to the great majority of these budget requests is, "Department of Parks and Recreation funds are insufficient for this project. We recommend this project be brought to the attention of your elected officials, i.e. Borough President and/or City Council member." It is not so much that the funds are insufficient as they are non-existent until an elected official makes a budget allocation for a specific capital project. This may not be the most equitable way to prioritize what parks are funded. The time may have come for the administration to provide Capital Budget funding directly to the parks department, which has for years prepared lists of its facilities that most need investment. If this is too radical a change, the City could perhaps start be establishing a fund for the largest municipal parks. The cost of renovating the larger parks (Fort Greene and Commodore Barry, for example in Community District 2) is too high for the borough president and council member to shoulder on their own, even in partnership. The result is often deferred maintenance and piecemeal renovation when it does occur. image image C ommunity District Needs Related to Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities Needs for Parks Like most of New York City, Brooklyn Community District 2 is unlikely to achieve the city's ideal of 2.5 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, even with the addition of Brooklyn Bridge Park. While parks and playgrounds are spread throughout the district, parkland is scarce in Boerum Hill and the southern portion of Clinton Hill. According to respondents to a survey conducted by the board, most of the district parks are in good condition. A majority of the almost 250 respondents stated that the bathrooms were open during posted hours at least some of the time. However, those who primarily use McLaughlin Park, Fort Greene Park and Underwood Playground said the bathrooms there are almost never open and when they are open, they are usually unclean. Users noted that there is never a parks employee on site, except at Fort Greene Park. Needs for Cultural Services Brooklyn Community District 2 is rich in organizations that provide access to visual, written and performing arts, in the "cultural district" centered on the Brooklyn Academy of Music and elsewhere. In a survey released by the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance, 32 of its members reported a total of 5,107,586 patrons--2,772,064 residing in Brooklyn--and $214 million in economic impact. Members of the Alliance work with school-based and non-school- based programs to serve 64,378 Brooklynites who might have otherwise been bared. Traditionally, high admission cost or lack of awareness of available cultural institutions has limited access to low-income families. Cool Culture, a local non-profit, helped 759 families residing in Community District 2 with children through age six to overcome these obstacles. Needs for Library Services The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has surpassed its traditional role of being a repository for books and a place for quiet study. Today you can access computers, have a snack at the café, participate in cultural or interactive events, receive advice on starting or expanding a business and more. While the services offered by the BPL and attendance continues to grow, their discretionary budget is subject to the annual threat of reduction. While the library system's budget is often restored, in whole or in part, but the negotiation is an unnecessary waste of time and energy. One service that the library provides but is not part of its mission or programming is as a destination for people, some without permanent housing, during the day. Community Board 2 believes that this ad hoc role of libraries be embraced and social workers be hired to help connect these patrons with the services they need beyond someplace to go during the hours when the libraries are open. Needs for Community Boards The Community Board 2 (CB2) district office is located on the eighth floor of a Downtown Brooklyn office building. On December 12, 2018, the community board voted 31-0-1 to submit a space request form for the relocation of its office to a more visible and community-friendly space. In response to the community board's application, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) sent an architect to survey the current office. The DCAS Porfolio Planning & Management group reported, "The inconvenience of having to pass through security is not seen to be reason alone to relocate, therefore PPM would not currently support any consideration to move this facility." CB2 asked DCAS to reconsider and the agency responded by saying some other tenants in the building also wish to relocate while other wish to increase the size of their office. This potentially presents a future opportunity for the community board to move but is highly tentative. Community Board 2 remains steadfast in its belief that it needs a more accessible district office. image Capital Requests Related to Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 3/22 DPR Reconstruct or Obtain additional funds for continuing phases of upgrade a park or renovation of Commodore Barry Park as per amenity (i.e. completed master plan. This is the only city- playground, outdoor owned athletic field in Community District 2 and athletic field) is used by large numbers of local residents and those from beyond the district. [formerly Tracking Code 202200006C] 8/22 DPR Reconstruct or Create a grading and drainage plan to address upgrade a park or erosion problems in Fort Greene Park. [formerly amenity (i.e. Tracking Code 202201601C] playground, outdoor athletic field) 10/22 DPR Reconstruct or Renovate Cadman Plaza Park north of the War upgrade a park or Memorial, including infrastructure and amenity (i.e. specifically water supply, to coordinate and playground, outdoor complement the design with that of the athletic field) completed southern section and Whitman Park where renovations have been completed. [formerly Tracking Code 202201001C] 13/22 DPR Provide a new or Fund the acquisition and construction of expanded park or additional park space throughout Community amenity (i.e. District 2 and in particular in the underserved playground, outdoor areas of Boerum Hill and eastern Clinton Hill. athletic field) [formerly Tracking Code 202200203C] 18/22 DPR Reconstruct or Refurbish the Fort Greene Park Tennis Courts upgrade a park or amenity (i.e. playground, outdoor athletic field) 19/22 DPR Reconstruct or Renovate the bathrooms at Oracle Playground. upgrade a park or amenity (i.e. playground, outdoor athletic field) CS DPR Provide a new, or Improve the conditions of the Brooklyn War new expansion to, a Memorial and restore the interior to usable building in a park space. Bring both the exterior and interior spaces into ADA Compliance. [formerly Tracking Code 202200604C] Expense Requests Related to Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 6/25 DPR Provide better park Fund full-time seasonal Playground Associates maintenance at the following locations: Fort Greene Park, McLaughlin Park, Pierrepont Playground, 16 Sycamores Park, Commodore Barry Park, Crispus Attucks Playground, Underwood Playground, Washington Hall Park, Parham Playground and JHS 113 Playground. [formerly Tracking Code 202200602E] 9/25 BPL Extend library hours Increase budgets for all district library personnel or expand and and supplies to retain qualified staff and enhance library maintain high-quality service throughout the programs week. Maintain extended library hours and expand library programs. [formerly Tracking Code 202200003E] 10/25 DPR Other park Open clean bathrooms during the posted hours. maintenance and Extend hours during the summer. safety requests
      7. OTHER BUDGET REQUESTS Other Capital Requests The Community Board did not submit any Budget Requests in this category. Other Expense Requests The Community Board did not submit any Budget Requests in this category.
      8. SUMMARY OF PRIORITIZED BUDGET REQUESTS Capital Budget Requests Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 1/22 NYCHA Install security Replace outdoor lights at the Farragut, Ingersoll cameras or make and Whitman houses, especially in the vicinity other safety of the building entrances. [formerly Tracking upgrades (Capital) Code 202201602C] 2/22 SCA Provide a new or Construct a new elementary school in expand an existing Downtown Brooklyn. In the 15 years since the elementary school 2004 rezoning, thousands of units of housing had been built but there are still no new school facilities for the growing neighborhood. [formerly Tracking Code 202201501C] 3/22 DPR Reconstruct or Obtain additional funds for continuing phases of upgrade a park or renovation of Commodore Barry Park as per amenity (i.e. completed master plan. This is the only city- playground, outdoor owned athletic field in Community District 2 and athletic field) is used by large numbers of local residents and those from beyond the district. [formerly Tracking Code 202200006C] 4/22 NYCHA Renovate or Renovate the Whitman Community Center at 149 North upgrade NYCHA the Whitman Houses. Oxford Walk community facilities or open space 5/22 NYCHA Renovate or Renovation of 75, 77, 99 and 110 Waverly upgrade NYCHA Avenue, which have been wholly or partially community facilities vacant for years. [formerly Tracking Code or open space 202201202C] 6/22 SCA Provide a new or Construct additional elementary and expand an existing intermediate public schools to accommodate elementary school the increase in student population resulting from the development of Pacific Park, formerly known as Atlantic Yards. [formerly Tracking Code 202200804C] 7/22 DHS Upgrade existing The Department of Homeless Services-managed 39 Auburn facilities for the Auburn residence must be upgraded generally, Place homeless with expanded electrical system capacity and a code-compliant fire alarm system of particular concern. 8/22 DPR Reconstruct or upgrade a park or Create a grading and drainage plan to address erosion problems in Fort Greene Park. [formerly amenity (i.e. Tracking Code 202201601C] playground, outdoor athletic field) 9/22 SCA Provide technology Provide new or expanded science labs and upgrade technology facilities at district elementary and intermediate schools. 10/22 DPR Reconstruct or Renovate Cadman Plaza Park north of the War upgrade a park or Memorial, including infrastructure and amenity (i.e. specifically water supply, to coordinate and playground, outdoor complement the design with that of the athletic field) completed southern section and Whitman Park where renovations have been completed. [formerly Tracking Code 202201001C] 11/22 DFTA Renovate or Paint the exterior and renovate the electrical 105 North upgrade a senior and fire alarm systems at the Willoughby (aka Portland center Whitman and Round Top) Senior Center. Avenue 12/22 DOT Install streetscape Extend the Flatbush Avenue streetscape Flatbush improvements improvements from DeKalb to Atlantic avenues. Avenue Extension would match the original geographic DeKalb scope of the project, which was truncated due Avenue to budget constraints. [formerly Tracking Code Atlantic 202201402C] Avenue 13/22 DPR Provide a new or Fund the acquisition and construction of expanded park or additional park space throughout Community amenity (i.e. District 2 and in particular in the underserved playground, outdoor areas of Boerum Hill and eastern Clinton Hill. athletic field) [formerly Tracking Code 202200203C] 14/22 NYPD Renovate or Renovate and expand the 88th Precinct House. 298 Classon upgrade existing The landmarked building is inadequate for Avenue precinct houses contemporary service delivery but is unlikely to be replaced. [formerly Tracking Code 202200702C] 15/22 DOT Upgrade or create Development of a plaza on the triangle bounded new plazas by Flatbush, Atlantic and Fourth Avenues, known as Times Plaza. The plaza was expanded as part of traffic calming associated with the Barclays Center but is inhospitable and unattractive. [formerly Tracking Code 202201505C] 16/22 DSNY Provide new or Construct a District 2 sanitation garage within upgrade existing the boundaries of Brooklyn Community District sanitation garages
      9. Co-locating the District 2 garage with another or other sanitation district results in delayed service and infrastructure unnecessary vehicle exhaust emissions. 17/22 DOT Install streetscape Develop fully the Atlantic Avenue Gateway Atlantic improvements beneath the BQE at the foot of Atlantic Avenue. Avenue [formerly Tracking Code 202201502C] Furman Street Hicks Street 18/22 DPR Reconstruct or Refurbish the Fort Greene Park Tennis Courts upgrade a park or amenity (i.e. playground, outdoor athletic field) 19/22 DPR Reconstruct or Renovate the bathrooms at Oracle Playground. upgrade a park or amenity (i.e. playground, outdoor athletic field) 20/22 DOT Improve traffic and Install school zone speed camera at the Flatbush pedestrian safety, Manhattan-bound Flatbush Avenue Extension, Avenue including traffic between Willoughby Street and Myrtle Avenue. Extension calming (Capital) Willoughby Street Myrtle Avenue 21/22 SCA Renovate or Renovate high school cafeterias to food court upgrade a high design to increase student participation in school meals. 22/22 SCA Renovate interior Brooklyn Technical High School with over 5,400 building component students produces more trash than can be handled within the building as designed. Additional indoor or outdoor storage, secured from vermin, needs to be constructed. CS DPR Provide a new, or Improve the conditions of the Brooklyn War new expansion to, a Memorial and restore the interior to usable building in a park space. Bring both the exterior and interior spaces into ADA Compliance. [formerly Tracking Code 202200604C] CS DOT Rehabilitate bridges Refurbish or replace the "Triple Cantilever" section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, in Brooklyn Heights. The "Triple Cantilever" section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is older than its engineered life. Failure of the structure would negatively impact traffic in at least three counties. Although part of the BQE, the Department of Transportation considers the "Triple Cantilever" a bridge. [formerly Tracking Code 202201603C] I-278 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn Bridge image Expense Budget Requests Priority Agency Request Explanation Location 1/25 DOHMH Create or promote Increased mental health support for teenagers programs to de- in schools. School programs will offer easy stigmatize mental access and ability to provide treatment prior to health problems crisis situation. and encourage treatment 2/25 DOHMH Reduce rat Increase funding for rodent management in populations parks and Greenstreets. [formerly Tracking Code 202201603E] 3/25 DYCD Provide, expand, or Increase funding for after-school, Saturday and enhance summer programs that are built on solid youth Cornerstone and development principles, are evidence-based and Beacon programs offer a balance of sports, arts and academics (all ages, including within a strength-based perspective. [Formerly young adults) Tracking Code 202199704E] 4/25 DHS Improve safety at The women's shelter at 200 Tillary Street is a 200 Tillary homeless shelters source of a high number of 911 calls. Street 5/25 DOHMH Reduce rat Large number of rodent sighting reports populations influenced the health department to select Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo to be indexed and monitored. However residents in Fort Greene and Boerum Hill are increasingly concerned about the growing rat populations. Restaurant owners and owners of large residential buildings should be encouraged to discard garbage in rodent proof containers. 6/25 DPR Provide better park Fund full-time seasonal Playground Associates maintenance at the following locations: Fort Greene Park, McLaughlin Park, Pierrepont Playground, 16 Sycamores Park, Commodore Barry Park, Crispus Attucks Playground, Underwood Playground, Washington Hall Park, Parham Playground and JHS 113 Playground. [formerly Tracking Code 202200602E] 7/25 NYPD Assign additional Increase intersection control agents in traffic enforcement Community District 2, specifically at Flatbush officers Avenue and Nevins Street, Atlantic Avenue and Hicks Street, and Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues. [formerly Tracking Code 202200401E] 8/25 NYPD Assign additional Increase personnel and equipment at the 88th uniformed officers Precinct. The 88th Precinct Youth and Community Council determined that the 88th Precinct is understaffed in comparison to the neighboring 84th Precinct. [formerly Tracking Code 202200704E] 9/25 BPL Extend library hours Increase budgets for all district library personnel or expand and and supplies to retain qualified staff and enhance library maintain high-quality service throughout the programs week. Maintain extended library hours and expand library programs. [formerly Tracking Code 202200003E] 10/25 DPR Other park Open clean bathrooms during the posted hours. maintenance and Extend hours during the summer. safety requests 11/25 EDC Expand tax incentive Provide incentives or tax abatements to create programs to help and maintain affordable commercial and retail neighborhood spaces for small businesses within the district. businesses construct or improve space 12/25 DOHMH Provide more While levels of new infections are at record 295 Flatbush HIV/AIDS lows, rates remain high in Brooklyn, with CD2 Avenue information and having 33.1 new cases per 100,000 people. Extension services Educational campaigns need to target the demographic groups with the highest rates of new infection. 13/25 DEP Clean catch basins Clean every catch basin in the district, particularly those located at the corners of Livingston Street and Bond Street, and Ashland Place and Lafayette Avenue. There is a lot of debris in these storm drains and on the corners noted here, there is always standing water during and for over 24 hours after a storm. 14/25 DOT Conduct traffic or Study the creation of (a) commuter van parking studies terminal(s) in Downtown Brooklyn and review current commuter van pick-up and drop-off locations. Licensed and illegal commuter vans are creating traffic congestion without structured stops. [formerly Tracking Code 202200801C] 15/25 DCP Study land use and Revaluate the Downtown Brooklyn zoning to better Development Plan for possible follow-up land match current use use action to stimulate more commercial or future development. The Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood Development Plan was intended to make the needs city's third central business district more competitive in a regional market. Instead, it has resulted in residential construction. 16/25 DSNY Increase Illegal dumping occurs consistently on enforcement of commercial streets. In some cases the illegal dumping laws perpetrator is obvious but current rules require a dumper to be caught in the act. The rules/law should be updated to include technological evidence. 17/25 DOHMH Promote Increase the rates of vaccination for HPV and 295 Flatbush vaccinations and influenza. Avenue immunizations Extension 18/25 SBS Provide or expand Increase the number of Small Business Services assistance to obtain compliance advisers to assist small businesses licenses and permits meet city regulations. 19/25 DFTA Enhance NORC At eight cooperative apartment buildings in programs and Community District 2 (Kingsview Homes, health services Willoughby Walk, St. James Tower, Ryerson Tower, Pratt Tower, Cadman Plaza North, Cadman Towers and 75 Henry Street), more than 50 percent of the residents are 60-years- old or older. 20/25 FDNY Expand funding for Hire additional FDNY inspectors to inspect new fire prevention and "high-rise" construction. [formerly Tracking life safety initiatives Code 202201604E] 21/25 DFTA Enhance home care Many of the elderly are healthy but frail and services need assistance with errands and, maintenance of their homes. These adults are not provided for in existing programs. 22/25 DOT Conduct traffic or A traffic study of the intersection of Flatbush Flatbush parking studies Avenue and Nevins Street with the intention of Avenue improving pedestrian safety and vehicular Fulton Street traffic flow. Nevins Street 23/25 SBS Provide or expand Fund biannual business planning and operations business education courses tailored toward the development and to businesses and growth of small businesses within the district. entrepreneurs 24/25 DOT Conduct traffic or parking studies Fund the study, modeling and implementation of traffic control strategies to address issues identified by Community Board 2 -- as part of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Study -- at Tillary Street & Flatbush Avenue and Schermerhorn Street & Flatbush Avenue. [formerly Tracking Code 202200502C] image 25/25 DSNY Increase enforcement of dirty sidewalk/dirty area/failure to clean area laws The sidewalk outside many restaurants is covered with grease due to improper storage of trash and failure to clean after pick-up. This action provides a feeding ground for rodents. image
Community District Needs Statement - FY21 - Brooklyn Community District 2 - Content