Greenfield Against Cutting Parking At Bay Pkwy Development
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle is reporting that there was an additional hearing last week on a proposed reduction in the number of parking spaces at a 9 story medical facility being built on Bay Parkway and 60th Street.
The developer of the property is asking the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) to allow the number of proposed indoor parking spots to almost be cut in half – from 235 to 120.
At the hearing, Councilman David Greenfield spoke out against reducing the amount of parking. His words echoed the opinion of many constituents,who say that less parking would negatively impact the quality of life for neighborhood residents.
From the Eagle:
“It’s a fact of life in that neighborhood that residents need to circle the block several times to find a legal parking spot at any time of the day,” Greenfield explained. “A medical facility by its very nature attracts hundreds of patients at all hours. Many of these patients can only get around by car or ambulance. Taking away parking from a facility like that is reckless.”
On Saturday, the large Orthodox population can’t move their cars, and on Sunday, members of the sizeable Catholic parish use their cars to attend services.
“60th Street is the major thoroughfare that connects Flatbush and two hospitals — Maimonides and Lutheran,” Greenfield said. “What’s more, the 66th Police Precinct uses the street as the main thoroughfare between Boro Park and Flatbush. By reducing parking on 60th Street, the developer will likely create a situation of double and triple-parked cars that will slow down emergency vehicles and put lives at risk.”
Bensonhurst Bean had reported on an earlier hearing that brought out parishioners from Saint Athanasius – which sits across the street from the development – who spoke out in protest against the developer’s desire to take away indoor parking spaces from the building – named the Calko Medical Center.
City Councilman David G. Greenfield represents the 44th Council District, which includes Borough Park as well as parts of Midwood and Bensonhurst.
