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The Armory on Bedford and Pacific — Brooklynian

The Armory on Bedford and Pacific

It seems the neighborhood has successfully fought the city's attempt to make this armory into one of the largest homeless intake centers.

The present plans are for it to remain a shelter and have the used space go to a recreation center or some type of public use.

...the city even has put some money on the table to make it happen.

DNA Info wrote: Hundreds sleep there each night, while the enormous drill hall is used for storage.

City officials and community advocates yearn to see that storage space opened up to the community, much like the EIghth Avenue Armory in neighboring Park Slope.

City Councilwoman Letitia James, Speaker Christine Quinn and Brooklyn Borough President Mary Markowitz have all thrown their weight behind the project.

Now, after years of advocacy and elbow grease, they may soon get their wish. Wednesday's request for proposals was put out jointly by the New York Economic City Development Corporation and the DHS.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120815/crown-heights/city-asks-developers-transform-crown-heights-huge-bedford-armory

Comments

  • If this is true it would be huge and welcome news. But I'm wondering if the DNA info reporter is right. The story links to a report on the Bedford Union armory. Did DHS issue an RFP for Bedford Atlantic or Bedford Union?

  • You are correct, the reporter links to the wrong armory

    However, they are correct about an RFP be issued for the Armory at Bedford and Pacific. Here is that RFP: http://www.nycedc.com/opportunity/bedford-atlantic-armory-rfp

    New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (the “City”) and the Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”) is seeking proposals (“Proposals”, each a “Proposal”) from qualified developers for the ground lease, development, and operation of approximately 50,000 square feet of available space within the historic 23rd Regiment (also known as “Bedford-Atlantic”) Armory (“Armory”). The Armory is located at 1322 Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Through this request for proposals (“RFP”) NYCEDC is seeking users or developers who (i) enhance the surrounding community’s access to the Drill Hall through potential neighborhood-serving uses, (ii) cause minimal impact to DHS’s active operation within the Armory Head House, (iii) ensure that future Drill Hall uses are community-serving, iv) create a financially feasible and economically viable project, (v) complete necessary capital improvements, and (vi) contemplate and preserve the historic character of the facility.

    NYCEDC plans to select a qualified developer or user on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: economic impact on New York City, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, the proposed project’s financial feasibility, demonstrated successful experience in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFP, and the proposed lease terms.

  • Better coverage:

    After all the hoopla about the intake center, all of a sudden, the city seemed to back off. The community, with Tish James in the forefront was ready with a lawsuit to stop it. Then the mayor offered the community center idea, but without adequate funding.

    Then the Dept of Homeless services got a new director, so the whole idea of shifting the intake center from Manhattan to here seems to have dissolved. I'm not sure of its official death, however. It could still pop back up.

    But the community sure welcomes this, provided it's not the mess that the Park Slope Armory center turned out to be, with endless years of building, followed by a long search for some organization qualified to run the place, before opening. And personally, I hope it's not just a track, some basketball courts and some misc. "community rooms." Not everyone runs or plays basketball, ya know. Please, please, please do this right.

    http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/08/14m-committed-to-convert-the-bed-stuy-armory/#disqus_thread

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