Lots of announcements from this week's Park Slope Neighbors Newsletter.
1) Don't forget: Please Join PSN's team for DDDB's October
17th Walk Don't Destroy 5
17th Walk Don't Destroy 5
Here's a reminder that our Park Slope Neighbors team for Develop
Don't Destroy Brooklyn's Walk Don't Destroy 5 walkathon is anxious to
have you join us in helping to raise funds for DDDB's legal effort
against Atlantic Yards.
Don't Destroy Brooklyn's Walk Don't Destroy 5 walkathon is anxious to
have you join us in helping to raise funds for DDDB's legal effort
against Atlantic Yards.
It's truly crunch time in the fight to stop Bruce Ratner from
building a basketball arena and acres of parking lots just across
Flatbush Avenue. New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals,
will hear the challenge to the project's use of eminent domain on
October 14th, and DDDB plans to bring additional lawsuits — but their
ability to do that depends on our collective fundraising
efforts.
building a basketball arena and acres of parking lots just across
Flatbush Avenue. New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals,
will hear the challenge to the project's use of eminent domain on
October 14th, and DDDB plans to bring additional lawsuits — but their
ability to do that depends on our collective fundraising
efforts.
Please sign up to walk with us on October 17th. If you're
already signed up, please reach out to as many people as you can to
sponsor your efforts. Every dollar is critical at this
juncture.
already signed up, please reach out to as many people as you can to
sponsor your efforts. Every dollar is critical at this
juncture.
To join the Park Slope Neighbors team or to make a general
donation in our name, please click here.
donation in our name, please click here.
To visit the Walk Don't Destroy 5 home page, click here.
If Forest City can be prevented from breaking ground and securing
the financing it needs by December 31st, it's very possible that the
Atlantic Yards project will be stopped once and for all. But
that will only be achieved if we raise the money needed to seal the
deal. Please help make that happen.
the financing it needs by December 31st, it's very possible that the
Atlantic Yards project will be stopped once and for all. But
that will only be achieved if we raise the money needed to seal the
deal. Please help make that happen.
2) Help Expand the Park Slope Historic District
The Park Slope Civic Council is looking for
people willing to serve as block captains to help further efforts to
expand the current Park Slope Historic District.
people willing to serve as block captains to help further efforts to
expand the current Park Slope Historic District.
If you'd like to help put a stop to the
proliferation of ugly, out-of-context new buildings and inappropriate
alterations to historic homes in Park Slope, this job's for
you.
proliferation of ugly, out-of-context new buildings and inappropriate
alterations to historic homes in Park Slope, this job's for
you.
The Park Slope Civic Council is leading the
effort to preserve the character and architectural heritage that
contributes so mightily to making Park Slope a great place to live.
The PSCC has submitted a plan to the NYC Landmarks Preservation
Commission that calls for expanding the historic district in stages,
and recently succeeded in getting the LPC to begin work on reviewing a
first phase that would add more than 700 buildings, largely in the
South Slope, to the existing historic district.
effort to preserve the character and architectural heritage that
contributes so mightily to making Park Slope a great place to live.
The PSCC has submitted a plan to the NYC Landmarks Preservation
Commission that calls for expanding the historic district in stages,
and recently succeeded in getting the LPC to begin work on reviewing a
first phase that would add more than 700 buildings, largely in the
South Slope, to the existing historic district.
The expansion area would extend between 7th
and 8th Avenues, from 4th Street to 15th Street, as well as
encompassing buildings on 7th Avenue from 15th Street to Berkeley
Place. This expansion would be contiguous with the existing historic
district.
and 8th Avenues, from 4th Street to 15th Street, as well as
encompassing buildings on 7th Avenue from 15th Street to Berkeley
Place. This expansion would be contiguous with the existing historic
district.
The Civic Council is seeking volunteers who
live in the proposed expansion area to be block captains. Block
captains will be tasked with discussing the proposed expansion with
their neighbors and answering their questions about what it means to
dwell in an historic district. Most importantly, they will
gather petition signatures from building owners to demonstrate to the
Landmarks Preservation Commission that there is broad community
support for this designation.
live in the proposed expansion area to be block captains. Block
captains will be tasked with discussing the proposed expansion with
their neighbors and answering their questions about what it means to
dwell in an historic district. Most importantly, they will
gather petition signatures from building owners to demonstrate to the
Landmarks Preservation Commission that there is broad community
support for this designation.
The PSCC will provide information, training
and outreach materials to all block captains. The outreach campaign
will launch in mid-October, and the goal is to complete the effort
early next year.
and outreach materials to all block captains. The outreach campaign
will launch in mid-October, and the goal is to complete the effort
early next year.
If you're interested in serving as a
Historic District Expansion block captain, please contact Stephanie
Doba, Chair of the Outreach Subcommittee, at sdoba@nyc.rr.com.
Historic District Expansion block captain, please contact Stephanie
Doba, Chair of the Outreach Subcommittee, at sdoba@nyc.rr.com.
To learn more about the effort to expand
the Park Slope Historic District, please visit www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org.
the Park Slope Historic District, please visit www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org.
3) Halloween Volunteers Needed
Speaking of the Park Slope Civic Council, the PSCC is also
looking for volunteers to help with this year's Halloween Parade.
Did you know that it's the largest children's parade in the entire
U.S.?
looking for volunteers to help with this year's Halloween Parade.
Did you know that it's the largest children's parade in the entire
U.S.?
The Civic Council, which organizes and runs the parade, is
seeking volunteers to carry giant puppets, help with crowd control,
and interact with the crowd in a fun, entertaining manner. You
can wear your own costume or inhabit one of the parade's Sun, Moon,
Mermaid or Sea Dragon outfits. This year's parade theme is
Spooky Seas, in case you want to get creative and tailor your own
maritime costume.
seeking volunteers to carry giant puppets, help with crowd control,
and interact with the crowd in a fun, entertaining manner. You
can wear your own costume or inhabit one of the parade's Sun, Moon,
Mermaid or Sea Dragon outfits. This year's parade theme is
Spooky Seas, in case you want to get creative and tailor your own
maritime costume.
If you're a high school student who needs to earn
community-service credit, the Halloween parade is a perfect way to
have fun while doing good.
community-service credit, the Halloween parade is a perfect way to
have fun while doing good.
If you're interested in helping out with the 2009 Park Slope
Halloween Parade, please send an email to halloween@parkslopeciviccouncil.org. Click here to see a slideshow of last year's parade.
Halloween Parade, please send an email to halloween@parkslopeciviccouncil.org. Click here to see a slideshow of last year's parade.
4) Community Forum Saturday on Planned Renovations to the Park
Slope Public Library
This Saturday, October 3rd, at 11 a.m., officials of the Brooklyn
Public Library will hold a community forum to explain plans for the
renovation of the Library's Park Slope branch, located at 431 6th
Avenue, between 8th and 9th Streets. The renovation plan calls
for the closing of the library for approximately two years, beginning
on October 30th.
Public Library will hold a community forum to explain plans for the
renovation of the Library's Park Slope branch, located at 431 6th
Avenue, between 8th and 9th Streets. The renovation plan calls
for the closing of the library for approximately two years, beginning
on October 30th.
The improvements to the Park Slope branch will include:
- A new ADA-compliant ramp, entry door, elevator and bathrooms
- new interior finishes, lighting and flooring
- an upgrade to the HVAC system
- and the installation of machines for self-checkout
There's little dispute that these upgrades are necessary, but a
good question for library officials would be why the work will require
the total closure of the branch for such a long period. It's an
important neighborhood resource, especially so when the economy is not
so hot.
good question for library officials would be why the work will require
the total closure of the branch for such a long period. It's an
important neighborhood resource, especially so when the economy is not
so hot.
The BPL says that Bookmobile service will be offered outside the
library on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while the
branch is closed, and that nearby branches will continue programs that
were being held at the Park Slope location.
library on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while the
branch is closed, and that nearby branches will continue programs that
were being held at the Park Slope location.
The community forum will take place at the Park Slope branch this
Saturday. To download a PDF with more information about the
meeting, and more details about the renovation plan, click here.
Saturday. To download a PDF with more information about the
meeting, and more details about the renovation plan, click here.
5) Democracy Forum and Film Screening, Monday, October 5th, 7
p.m. at Old First Church
p.m. at Old First Church
The three candidates running for the City Council in the 39th
District — Brad Lander (D, WF), Joe Nardiello (R) and David Pechefsky
(Green) — will lead a discussion on democracy Monday evening
following a free screening of the documentary film Please Vote For Me.
The film, about an election for class monitor in a third-grade
classroom in China, replete with intimidation, bribery and
vote-rigging, will serve as a jumping-off point for examining
democracy in New York City.
District — Brad Lander (D, WF), Joe Nardiello (R) and David Pechefsky
(Green) — will lead a discussion on democracy Monday evening
following a free screening of the documentary film Please Vote For Me.
The film, about an election for class monitor in a third-grade
classroom in China, replete with intimidation, bribery and
vote-rigging, will serve as a jumping-off point for examining
democracy in New York City.
The discussion and screening will take place this coming Monday,
October 5th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Old First Reformed Church,
at 7th Avenue and Carroll Street in Park Slope.
October 5th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Old First Reformed Church,
at 7th Avenue and Carroll Street in Park Slope.
Sincerely,
Eric McClure
Campaign Coordinator
Park Slope Neighbors