Apartment buildings to come to Jamaica Bay?

[isa...@aol.com]

Think that you'll never see apartments buildings within the Jamaica Bay Unit of NPS? Think again. 

Sandy Hook, NJ is also part of the National Parks Service. It has public beaches,  historic Fort Hancock and a beautiful stretch called Officers Row, which was part of  the town where the military personnel assigned to the Fort lived. If you take the ferry out to Sandy Hook, you are within walking distance of Officers Row. One year I was out there and they had one of the houses opened and set up as a museum to show what day to day life was like in one of those homes. 

Well, guess what: NPS wants to build apartment houses there and a bodega and a gas station, etc, etc, because they need the money: 

https://tworivertimes.com/fort-hancock-plans-stir-strong-emotions-in-community/

Don't think this can't happen here. People are cowed into thinking these things are a "done deal" . Then all a developer has to do is fund a favorite project or two and things move forward with ease. 

Think that you can't get apartment buildings in JB? Think again. Remember when NPS gleefully traded one of the historic hangers at Floyd Bennet to the Williams Company, which built a gas metering station inside of one. In return, Williams spruced up the outside of the hanger. So  basically, a historic building was traded away for some paint and wallboard. 

The Aviator Sports Complex is another example of how parkland can be used, in this case for recreational use. NPS gets some money and the public gets some use.  In past years, some of the buildings at Floyd Bennet were used for educational purposes. The NYPD Aviation Unit is based there as well and I think the Sanitation Dept. still has a training unit there. Plus there are community gardens and a campground. 

If this moves forward in NJ, it can happen at any NPS property. 

"...U.S. Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr. (D-6), who has been involved with Sandy Hook for years, spoke out strongly against the plans submitted by SDI. He called Stillman’s proposal “the tipping point” that makes residential functions the primary use of the area and could lead to further development down the road...."



“Instead of giving away our national heritage to private developers, we need to look at other alternatives that will help renovate Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook. We need to balance the interests of the public.” “The wholesale conversion of public lands and facilities to private residential use would alter the nature of Sandy Hook and would be antithetical to the National Park Service’s founding values and mission. Sandy Hook serves as an important place for my constituents and all who visit to learn about our nation’s military history, recreate and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings,” Pallone said.....



"...Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, called Stillman’s proposal “outrageous,” “inorganic” and “artificial.” He said the project is “another example of our government giving away public land for private purposes.”

He added that the group’s biggest concern is if all of the buildings are leased out, public access could begin to be restricted. “Not everyone can afford to go to Yosemite National Park, but we can go to Sandy Hook.”...

[Alexander Betser]

I hear concerns about public access, aesthetics and NPS core values. 

Can public access be spelled out in land use agreement?

When money is involved aesthetics steps aside for good. 

Core values? Even more ephemeral and volatile thing than aesthetics when money is involved. 

Any kind of conflict can be solved by getting down to specifics, narrowing down demands and creativity of making lemonade when life gives you lemons. My personal take on "to build or not to build" is to build for harmony and give back features that have been taken over by development (unless those features are a barren land). 

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[Daniel Mundy]

interesting Ida.. i find i agree with Congressman Pallone. This is an important National Park and in my view i cant see how creating apartments out of these historic structures is in line with the main purpose of the National Parks Service

dan

 

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From: jamai...@googlegroups.com <jamai...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Alexander Betser <alex....@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2020 1:17 PM
To: jamai...@googlegroups.com <jamai...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Jamaica Bay] Apartment buildings to come to Jamaica Bay?

 

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[Bill Woodroffe]

Funny. Gateway was established when apartments were half built in Breezy Point. They had to be torn down. I guess when money talks and parks jump.

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