RATner Meeting

This notice just in from the Clinton Hill Society:

Bruce Ratner's Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Project

is NOT A DONE DEAL, unless we think it is!

The Fort Greene Association

The Society for Clinton Hill

Invite you to an important meeting about The Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Project

A review of its major features

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the BAY Project:

  • What it says
  • An Analysis by the Council on Brooklyn Neighborhoods
  • Discussion of how you can influence the process

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006, 7:00-9:00 pm

Queen of All Saints Church

Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt, enter on Vanderbilt

The Brooklyn Atlantic Yards proposal includes:

  • 16 Skyscrapers with as many as 60-stories casting their immense shadows over Fort Greene and Clinton Hill residences, streets, and our parks;
  • 20,000 seat arena with upwards of 250 events a year, its noise and garbage, sanitation trucks, parking, vehicular traffic, and subway congestion;
  • 18,000 new residents making this area the densest residential area in the entire United States.

Clinton Hill, Fort Greene and surrounding communities must respond to the ESDC Draft Environmental Impact Statement. It is our only opportunity to participate in the process and have our opinions heard.

On July 18th, The New York State Empire States Development Corporation released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Forest City Ratner Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Project Proposal. This means the clock of the 66 day response period is ticking. The official public hearing is Wednesday August 23, 4:30-8:30 at New York City Technical College, 285 Jay Street. This forum will be recorded and entries are included in the official public record. A second public Forum will be held September 12, 2006. Written comments are due September 22nd. These are our chances to weigh in on the Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Project Proposal. Come to the August 16th meeting co-sponsored by the Society for Clinton Hill and the Fort Greene Association to learn more about the project, the DEIS, and about how to respond.

My Little Section of the Nabe

Clinton Hill is blowing up! So much so that I've been enlisted to help cover my little section of the nabe - and since I live really close to Myrtle Avenue around Pratt I figure it'll be the first place I cover.

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I've been living in Clinton Hill long enough to remember the KFC being open next to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle Avenue. It's been closed now for a couple of years with the building being empty and abandoned until recently.

Last week I noticed a giant crane knocking the old KFC building down and there's been a flurry of construction activity ever since.

The site where KFC once stood.

Anyone know what's being built in it's place? I'm hoping for a CVS Pharmacy. This area sure could use one.

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A little further up at 559 Myrtle Avenue is Cafe Martino.

I'm not sure when this coffee shop opened but it seems pretty nice.

The menu has a decent selection of breakfast and lunch choices with a slight bent towards Latin America.

The hours are 7am to 7pm weekdays and 8am to 6pm on weekends.

A full food review coming soon.

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There's been a lots of recent residential construction activity too.

First, there's this monstrosity being built on the corner of Myrtle and Steuben.

And these 3 new developments on Grand.

Hmmm...didn't notice any places for parking. Let's hope they're smart enough to build it in.

I'll swing by and take updated construction photos as these building get closer to completion.

More to come.

Speculation

100_1707.jpg I was very sad to see Brother's Hardware go. It was local, with a friendly staff, and also enormous. No Home Depot, mind you, but perfect for all basic hardware needs, plus roach and ant baits (ew, yes, I need them).

The building's been empty for awhile, and it seems work's been going on inside. Construction permits reveal nothing. Jay bets it's a restaurant or bar, while Marina guesses coffee-shop-type-place.

Me? I'm not sure. It seems awfully big for a bar or coffee shop, or even a restaurant. What do we need the most?

  1. Book store (maybe selling a new-used combo? mmmm...)
  2. Flower shop/gardening center
  3. Clothing boutique (especially since Sodafine's moving to the 'Burg)
  4. Straightforward, good Italian restaurant
  5. Greek food
  6. Modern home furnishings store

What are you hoping for?