Transmitter Park Developer Wants To Make The Park Its Front Yard

GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN — Should a private developer be able to build a private entrance spilling out into a public park? Several Greenpoint community members certainly don't think so. Residents plan to speak out at a meeting Tuesday against an amendment to a zoning law that would allow the developer of new construction near the public Transmitter Park to build a lobby entrance facing the park, they said.

The developer of 13-15 Greenpoint Ave., Bradford N Swett Real Estate, requested city approval to build a "fishbowl" lobby with an entrance spilling out into Transmitter Park, which would require a change in zoning laws. Greenpoint's community board will be voting on whether to approve the developer's request as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process.

Here is the developer's proposal after the text amendment is completed:

Here is the developer's design as the law currently allows:

The entrance to the development would have residents walking right onto the park, as opposed to onto Kent Avenue. Community members argued that an entrance spilling out directly into a public park would essentially be the public paying for a private development's amenities. Tax payers should not pay for a "no-strings attached world-class front yard for a private development," and the community would not benefit from the construction change, they said. They also argued the development would "degrade the park" and that the developer should maintain and improve the park if it is going to build near it.

The issue was set to be presented at Tuesday's meeting as part of the Land Use Committee's reports. The Land Use Committee of the community board previously voted to recommend approval of the zoning law amendment.

Photo via NYC Parks Department