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To be delivered to: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City Council & Speaker Christine C. Quinn, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission & Chair Robert B. Tierney, New York City Department of City Planning & Chair Amanda M. Burden, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and 6 other targets (click here to see more)

We believe, and petition, that Admirals Row should be landmarked, rehabilitated, and become a unique and valuable resource, for Brooklyn, New York City, New York State, and the United States.

On January 27 2012 New York City took title to the Admirals Row property in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard. The 6 acre site, which was decommissioned in 1966, comprises ten historic mansions that housed senior officers since 1848, the last remaining U.S. Navy timber shed, built in 1838, plus a parade ground and tennis courts. The city’s plans to redevelop the site include a 75,000 sq.ft supermarket, 160,000 additional retail space, plus industrial space, plus parking. Under the current scheme only the timber shed and one of the mansions will be rehabilitated.

The development plans are excessive and should be reconsidered:

* Admirals Row qualifies as a landmark district, New York City, New York State, and the National Register of Historic Places.
* The 6 acre site, equivalent to 2.5 city blocks, has sufficient space to accommodate both preservation and development.
* There has been inadequate public process. The few public hearings were not publicized and poorly attended.
* The Uniform Land Use Procedure (ULURP) including 9 zoning variances, which allows for demolition of the site, was rushed through prior to tile transfer, again with insufficient public involvement.
* The site includes a number of old growth trees, only four to be saved in the current plan.
* The planned supermarket is of a scale way beyond local requirements, and will be the largest in the City.
* Planned parking provisions are insufficient.
* ALL the buildings, though dilapidated, are salvageable.
* Landmarking of the entire Admirals Row will preserve epochal architecture, provide a valuable local amenity, and establish a national heritage site.
* The cost of rehabilitation is minor compared to the overall development scheme.
* Steps should be taken immediately to prevent further deteriation.
* The NYC Landmarks Commission have never had the opportunity to review the status of the site.
* Admirals Row is qualifies for inclusion in the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.

To sign the petition, go to http://landmarkadmiralsrow.tk

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Admirals Row Longevity Party and Brownie BakeOff

Sat Dec 17 2011 – 7pm-11pm
Sun Dec 18 2011 – 3pm-7pm

Brooklyn’s Other Museum of Brooklyn
109 Hall Street,
Wallabout, Brooklyn
718 789 5218

Email Councilman Levin at slevin@council.nyc.gov

Subsequent to the hearing, Scott Witter sent the following letter which, among other things, points out to the Councilors that, since Admirals Row is federally owned, any such vote is meaningless.

BOMB City Council Letter

Nevertheless in their wisdom, or perhaps ignorance, on November 29 2011 the Committee voted to approve the zoning change.

Public can view the Draft Enviromental Assessment from April 24 – May 10, 2011:

• at the following Brooklyn Library locations; Walt Whitman Branch at 93 Saint Edwards St., Brooklyn, New York 11205 ((718) 935- 0244); Central Library at 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238; ((718) 230-2100); Business Library at 280 Cadman Plaza W. at Tillary St., Brooklyn, NY 11201;  ((718) 623-7000).
• Online at:  http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/business/buslinks/admiral/index.php
• A hard copy can be obtained from Major Harper (703) 607-7984
• A hard copy can be seen at Brooklyn’s Other Museum of Brooklyn.

Public can provide comments from 24 April 2011 until 11:59 pm, 10 May 2011.

• At the Public Meeting (see above)
• By email;  admiralsrowea@ng.army.mil
• By mail: Major Harper (ARNG-ILE), 111 South George Mason Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204

Comments should include:

• Landmark the entire Admirals Row
• The E.A. (Environmental Assessment) should be replaced by an E.I.S. (Environmental Impact Assessment) which is more exacting

Public notice was published in Brooklyn/ A Special Section of Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn Heights Press and Bay Ridge Eagle, Thursday, April 21, 2011, page 7.

Brooklyn’s Other Museum of Brooklyn is dedicated to the Landmarking of Admirals Row, open 7 – 9 pm. Every Tuesday night. 109 Hall Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205; (718 789 5218)

** The Admirals Row National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessment is the wimpy version that will rubber stamp the National Historic Preservation Act 106 Process findings which were compromised also using an environmental assessment which will guarantee the demolition of Admirals Row.  The Environmental Impact Statement will allow Admirals Row to be reviewed anew, with possible landmarking.

Patch notes that the City and Brooklyn Navy Yard are powerless to intervene until title transfer, meanwhile the city’s development plan is undermined by a corruption scandal involving the developer.

Patch quotes Navy Yard spokesman Shane Kavanagh, who urges that the National Guard transfer title immediately, and provide $2 million to “stabilize” the buildings already designated for preservation.

Patch’s correspondents had already noted on March 3 in a story – Pols Plead With National Guard to Save Part of Admiral’s Row – that Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Nydia Velazquez and Ed Towns pleas for immediate action to take action to prevent further deterioration are being stonewalled by the National Guard.

Scott’s Op-Ed places the blame squarely on Mayor Bloomberg. Scott says that if Bloomberg had landmarked the site five years ago – as he should have – the site would now be sold and developed. Instead the National Guard is happy to delay the process until they can declare the buildings beyond repair. A slow motion tragedy taking place before our own eyes – robbing the Brooklyn and the Nation of its rightful heritage!