Outdoor Street Seating Won’t Happen On Cortelyou, DOT Proposes Ditmas Park Bike Routes, Parade Ground Improvements & More Notes From CB 14’s May Meeting

Community Board 14 held its May meeting Monday night at Edward R. Murrow High School (1600 Avenue L). Here’s what happened this month:

• Board members announced that CB 14’s eighth annual youth conference at Brooklyn College was a huge success, with more than 600 children attending the event that put them in touch with more than 50 organizations representing career, college and internship opportunities. CB 14 Youth Committee Chairman thanked numerous people for their help with the conference, including CB 14 Chairman Alvin Berk, CB 14 District Manager Shawn Campbell,Community Associate Anya Hoyer, numerous other volunteers from the board, Brooklyn College staff, the 70th Precinct, the Flatbush Food Co-op for serving the food, and the parents and children who dropped by, among others.

• The city Department of Transportation has proposed implementing bike routes in the community (see the DOT’s recent presentation to CB 14 here), including on: Beverley Road from Ocean Avenue to Ocean Parkway, Argyle Road from Avenue H to Beverley Road, Rugby Road from Beverley to Avenue H, Stratford Road from Beverley to Caton Avenue, Westminster Road from Caton Avenue to Beverley, Caton Avenue from Stratford Road to Westminster Road, and the Parade Ground from Park Circle to Caton Avenue.

• In regards to the proposed bike routes,Transportation Committee Chairman Morris Sacks said “the problem arises at the Parade Ground — the Parks Department has it officially closed at night.” The DOT and CB 14 are working on getting an agreement from the Parks Department and NYPD to use this route, after which board members will vote on the DOT’s proposal.

• Morris Sacks also reported that two Cortelyou restaurants (which we later confirmed are Cafe Madeline and Bo Bo Kitchen) have withdrawn their application for the DOT’s Street Seats Program, which would have permitted them to install outdoor seating outside the eateries on Cortelyou Road from April to November. We spoke to Cafe Madeline’s owner, Adell, about it today and he told us: “We really loved the idea, and we had maybe over 1,000 people sign [a petition] in favor of it.” However, he said they learned just a couple of weeks ago that it “would be so much better to have the street seats on the side street rather than [Cortelyou], mainly for safety reasons. We thank the community and everybody who supported us.”

• Anthony Finkel, of the Flatbush Development Corporation, read a statement from the FDC and the Cortelyou Road Merchants Association at the meeting in regards to the Street Seats Program, saying: “We’d like to thank Community Board 14, Morris Sacks, and the transportation committee for taking the time to listen and consider the application for Street Seats on Cortelyou Road. Although it is both surprising and disappointing that the applicant withdrew their application, especially this far into the process, we hope that this hiccup does not deter CB14 from approving Street Seats on Cortelyou Road at a different location in the near future.”

• There will be an important Human Services Committee meeting tonight, Thursday, May 14, at 7pm at CB 14’s district office, located at 810 E. 16th Street. City Planner Johah Rogoff, from the city Department of City Planning, will present a report on the city’s controversial zoning amendment regarding affordable housing. Additionally, the new executive director of the Flatbush Nostrand Junction BID, who will discuss their application for a grant to help Junction businesses improve their facades.

• The Prospect Park Alliance is aiming to begin construction on improvements to the Parade Ground by next spring, the alliance told us earlier this week. The Alliance presented information about the plans to the Environmental Committee earlier this month, the committee’s chairman, Donald Loggins, noted at Monday’s meeting. The Alliance told us the improvements, which are being funded by Councilman Matheiu Eugene, include: improving  the grounds at the petanque area and adjacent grove, improving draingage on Ballfield 7, resurfacing and painting the volleyball court, transforming the netball court into an adult fitness area (which will include accessible equipment, a cushioned safety surface and room for group fitness classes), installing misting heads along the fence line of Field 5, and adding shade trees and seating between the volleyball and basketball courts and Field 4. The Alliance said the next step in the project is to present to the full community board. The design for the improvements is expected to be finalized by next fall, with construction launching next spring and lasting approximately one year.

• CB 14 Chairman Alvin Berk sent a letter to the city stating his stance against a bill sponsored by Councilman Danny Dromm, Introduction 585, which would institute a 12-year term limit for community board members. Currently, there are no term limits. “This is not a position I took solitarily,” Berk said. “It was a position shared by the city’s five borough presidents and community board chairs throughout the city. This is a solution in search of a problem.” Berk went on to say that it limits “the discretion of the borough president,” who is in charge of appointing members to community boards. The bill was introduced in December, there was a hearing on it at the end of April (you can find the hearing transcript here), and it has yet to be scheduled for a vote.

• Kori Petrovic, of GrowNYC, announced their youthmarket, which is sponsored by Councilman Jumaane Williams, will run from July 11 through November 21 at the Flatbush Junction (Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues). The market will take place from 8:30am-3:30pm every Saturday. “It was my pleasure to be able to endorse this and approve the permit because of the good experiences we’ve had with the market in past years,” District Manager Shawn Campbell said at the meeting.

• 44th Assembly District Leaders Jacob Gold and Lori Knipel announced they will hold a leadership networking reception tonight, Thursday, May 14, at 7pm at Signature Living (631 Foster Avenue). At the event, you’ll be able to hear city and local elected officials speak and meet civic leaders, neighborhood association presidents, community board chairs, and district managers. For more information, call 718-382-6900.

• A representative from Councilman Jumaane Williams’ office, Jacob Gold, said the Councilman’s free “Pursuit of Passion” youth summit will take place this Saturday, May 16 at the Brooklyn College Student Center at 2900 Bedford Avenue. All teens are welcome to attend the event, where they’ll be able to connect with professionals about career and education opportunities. For more information, contact Williams’ director of community outreach, Farah Louis, at 718-629-2900 or flouis@council.nyc.gov.

• Jenny Fischman, of Public Advocate Letitia James’ office, said anyone who knows someone who has suffered in a nail salon can call the Public Advocate’s office at 212-669-4662 to get help. The announcement follows the New York Times’ piece about manicurists being routinely underpaid and exploited.

• 70th Precinct Community Council President Ed Powell invited everyone to the council’s meeting on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30pm at 175 Lawrence Avenue. “This particular meeting you’re really, really gonna like,” Powell said. “The NYPD has arranged for the firearms training simulator to be there. You really get to experience what the cops experience.”

• District Manager Shawn Campbell noted there will be a blood drive the same day of the community council meeting — Wednesday, May 27 — at the 70th Precinct station house, located at 154 Lawrence Avenue.