This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION - Page 2 — Brooklynian

The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

24567…23

Comments

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    The plan to transform the big armory in the Bronx into an ice rink remains on track: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20131210/kingsbridge/city-council-approves-kingsbridge-ice-skating-rink

    I suspect that we will know what will become of "our armory" at Union and Bedford in the early Spring 2014.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2014
    A little birdie tells me that Youngwoo was among the entities who checked out the Armory at Bedford and Union.It is presently pursuing a similar size space in The Bronx: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/02/05/youngwoo-delivers-plan-to-turn-bronx-post-office-into-market/

    I wouldn't mind it if their Bronx deal fell thru and they ended up here.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited February 2014
    While originally scheduled to occur on January 23rd, the deadline for bidders to submit proposals for the funding available from the Boro Presidents office and NYC EDC, was pushed back to this Thursday (Feb 27th).

    There is no exact timeline for when we will learn what the armory will become; the length of the review process depends on the volume and nature of responses received.

    tick, tick, tick....
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2014
    I've put some thought into it, and this site should be added to the list of big developments in western Crown Heights that I follow closely:

    http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44634/links-to-the-big-16-developments-in-western-crown-heights#Item_1
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2014
    This group is the very definition of Johnny come lately:

    "SIGN the PETITION! BEDFORD UNION ARMORY will be handed off to developers with NO community input UNLESS we act NOW! JOIN US to demand the Request for Proposals (RFP) be WITHDRAWN and rewritten to ensure Crown Heights residents and the greater Brooklyn community can benefit from its renovation. Let Boro President Eric Adams, Council Member Laurie Cumbo and our other elected and city officials know we WANT the ARMORY to be of, for, & by the community!!! Sign the petition at



    They fail to understand that just because they are confident that they will not like the outcome of the RFP, that they can not stop the process.

    Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

  • grwd
    grwd
    The other night during dinner, my wife and I figured out what the armory should be:
    A giant indoor aquarium, like these ones: http://www.touropia.com/largest-aquariums-in-the-world/

    There would be a restaurant inside, as well, so you could dine underwater.

    I do admit that we may be a little late. Also, we have little to no experience in operating large-scale indoor aquariums, nor do we have access to capital funding necessary to pull it off.

    That being said, how do we get an aquarium?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014
    I do hope it would be a seafood restaurant.

    ...that way, we could freak out the third graders on field trip:   "I'll have the Finding Nemo Fish and Chips."
     
    Finding-nemo-dory-marlin
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    NYS EDC and the Mayor's Office are reportedly arguing over this site, with each accusing the other of not being transparent, not having the jurisdiction, etc.

    In such situations, there is rarely someone that is able to intervene and say, "you two grow up and get along, or no one is getting pizza".

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014
    This group is trying to build popular support, with the hope that it will influence the NYS ESDC:

    10336728_842701069090936_4721967138708765328_n
    Um, they evaluate your proposal to see if it meets their needs.   This isn't about how many people like it.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Are the proposals available for the public to read anywhere?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    I don't believe so.

    The individual bidders (ie organizations) are free to share what they proposed, but are under no obligation to so. Many bidders try to keep the fact they submitted a bid confidential for a variety of reasons.

    The org presenting on June 3 will likely say what they believe they know about the other bidders and their concepts, in order to make their own bid sound superior to those in attendance.

    Once the contract is awarded, EDC will likely make a statement about what type of proposals it considered and list the various orgs that applied, in order to show that the process was thorough and fair.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    It isn't clear to me that the "Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights" has a list of similar projects that it has accomplished.

    In these situations, funders are looking for a substantional Organizational CV.

    Merely living close to the project isn't going to be enough.

    If I attend on June 3rd, I may ask questions re: same.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014
    This flyer indicates the bid was submitted in conjunction with Steiner Studios. Depending upon their size, that could help

    image
  • Dawndew
    Dawndew
    I hope to attend. It would be great if the side windows were not all bricked up or appearing so. a couple small shops on the sides would make this monument more welcoming and less like a stone mausoleum to the community on the side streets..
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I have heard the parts of the building that used to be horse stables were proposed by on bidder to become affordable housing.

    Affordable housing earns a proposal points in the present climate.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    I'd so love it if a Y with a pool moved in...we need rec space!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I fear this meeting tonight will be nothing but politicians grandstanding and people shouting.
  • lilern
    lilern
    I hope not - I am definitely attending so hopefully something productive will come of it.  I must admit - when I did see the list of all the co-hosts in attendance I thought the same thing may happen.  I am curious to see what Steiner Studios has proposed that will benefit both them and the community.  
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    About 100 people here. This is the portion in front of me, on the left.

    image
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    The actual proposals were submitted by Steiner and other organizations.

    The speaker (F. Richard Hurley Esq.) believes at least 6 proposals were submitted. However, the bidders can't talk about their proposals until after the award.

    This new "association of associations" is seemingly partial to Steiner, and let them use their name in the proposal.

    If Steiner gets the award, he wants to make sure that most of the jobs go to local residents, and that "the community" has ongoing input and control.

    He believes Steiner has a good shot at getting the award, but is afraid that Steiner will not follow thru on their assurances to him (and "the community").

    If Steiner doesn't get the award, he wants to have similar "influence" over the bidder that does win. He wants EDC to mandate the winner abide by whatever demands this coalition creates.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    This mtg is basically a way to figure out how they would go about that, and he is telling people to accept that the RFP isn't going to be withdrawn.

    This is not the same as the group referenced above on March 28th.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    The Steiner proposal (and several others) reportedly involve demolishing what was the armory parking garage and building an apartment building with market and affordable units.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Some people (ie the March 28 people) fear that competing proposals involved the bidder literally buying it from the city, with few or zero conditions.

    I do not believe the city has this ability.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    These are the folks in front of me, to my right

    image
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    This part of the armory would be torn down and replaced with a mid rise apt building:

    image
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    So...did they say anything about what kind of facilities will be available for the public? I'd be totally cool with housing in place of the garage and cool community stuff in the giant drill space! I dream of a pool...the closest pools to CH are in Bed Stuy and it would be so nice to be able to just walk to a pool...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    No one knows which proposal will win, but I doubt any of them proposed a pool. Pools are very expensive to run, and have lots of liability attached.

    The bidders are not allowed to speak until the award is made.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    :(
  • lilern
    lilern
    but correct if I am wrong - i was there last night as well (actually very close to you based on your pics). Laurie Cumbo did say that at some point BEFORE the award is made there would be a public meeting where the community could see the different proposals - of course to keep the identity of the developers secret those would not be included in this public forum but nonetheless we would see these six BEFORE the award and that public viewing is supposed to happen next month. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Yes. It seemed to me the purpose of said mtg would be for ESDC to be able to state that "we had a fair process".

    I am not under the impression this future mtg would influence which bid receives the award.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories