Environmental Science and Technology of NYC

Brooklyn Bridge: The Real ‘View From the Bridge’.

Brooklyn Bridge Park rests as the crown jewel of the borough, sitting atop the beautiful Brooklyn Heights. Google Images.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85 acre park beside the Brooklyn Bridge. The first segment, Pier 1 has been open to the public since March 2010. The park will extend down to Pier 6 which will house a ferry dock and playgrounds for children.

Pier 1 has been deemed a huge success by its planners. “All our hard work has clearly paid off,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “There are few places in the city, even in the world, where you’ll find a setting like this one on Pier 1.” http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/brooklyn-bridge-park-opens-slightly/

Park-goers have access to many healthy and fun activities at the Brooklyn Bridge Park, like yoga under the Bridge. Google Images.

What sort of atmosphere does the Brooklyn Bridge Park appear to Promote? And how is it connected with its surrounding neighborhood? Let’s take a look at the park’s individual features in an attempt to explain just why the park has been build where and how it has.

The completion of Pier 6 was met with equal excitement. “This park is amazing. It brings a whole new dynamic to all of the families of the area,” said George Psarras, of Cobble Hill, after cooling off with his 5-year-old daughter Ariana in a funky, water-play area that features climbing rocks and dome-like sprinklers. http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/brookl/brooklyn_bridge_park_pier_opens_e8758HGUI4AQxP23uQDRSN

A rendering of the Brooklyn Bridge Park from urbanstrageties.com.

NYC & Company along with New York Water Taxi, will launch a ferry service Brooklyn Bridge Park and Manhattan. “Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island are two of New York City’s most spectacular public spaces that are reconnecting New Yorkers and visitors from around the world to our waterfront,” said Bloomberg . http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/brooklyn/brooklyn_bridge_park_pier_opens_e8758HGUI4AQxP23uQDRSN

The park is planned to host tennis courts, running and cyclist lanes, sand volley-ball courts, a restaurant consession, and an outdoor roof deck.

The  new park goes beyond being simply a recreational facility. ” Not only will they both provide new opportunities for recreation, they will also host an array of arts and cultural programs. It will be an exciting summer for the two destinations, and it’s just the start of what’s to come for both.”http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/brooklyn/brooklyn_bridge_park_pier_opens_e8758HGUI4AQxP23uQDRSN

Is it really for all New Yorkers?

Why Here? – Social Explorer

Why has this area been chosen for park placement?

As already mentioned the views of Lower Manhattan are extremely desirable for home buyers. Also, the proximity of the neighborhood to Manhattan drives up demand. The average household income of the neighborhood around Brooklyn Bridge Park is approximately $130,750 in 1999 dollars. Accounting for inflation that number today is $167,360. The average income in Kings County in 1999 was $32,125, which is around $41,120.

Looking at race, whites make up the majority of the population in the neighborhood, at around 76%.  The population is well educated; 59.22% of those ages 25 and up having graduated with a bachelors degree. Unemployment was at 3.56%, significantly lower than the city’s average of 6.6%.

Of importance is the financially utilitarian aspect of the park. Parts of the park will be home to residential and commercial buildings, which through maintenance would provide funding for the park. Park construction is estimated  to cost around $350 million by the time of its expected completion in 2013.

Thanks to the recent park construction, home buyers have rediscovered the small area know as the Columbia Street- Waterfront District. Offering views of lower Manhattan, the site of the Brooklyn Bridge Park has been a longtime favorite for developers. “This particular location — we’ve liked it since Day 1,” said Louis V. Greco, the general manager of the development company SDS, which bought two parcels in the neighborhood in 2008. “That’s because of the views of Lower Manhattan, obviously, and there’s just so much going on down there now.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/realestate/24posting.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=brooklyn%20bridge%20park&st=cse

The area, once categorized as a hipster neighborhood, is seeing an influx of young families. “When my family first moved to the area in 2005, there was a big kind of hipster element to it,” said Tina Fallon, an agent with the brokerage Realy Collective, whose office is on Columbia Street. “What we’re seeing now is an increasing number of people who are interested in what are called family-size apartments.” Clearly the park’s presence is affecting the real estate in the area for the better.

Albeit the tightened market, rent rates near the park are picking up. “The market is back quite a bit,” Mr. Galeano said, estimating that a two-bedroom apartment rents on average for about $2,200 a month. “It’s not quite the level it was before the recession, but we’re seeing a lot of activity.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/realestate/24posting.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=brooklyn%20bridge%20park&st=cse

The park is a success, and real-estate values are soaring in Brooklyn Heights.