We're heartened to see that all our posting at the NAG blog has not gone and wandered off unnoticed into virtual space. State Assembly Member Joe Lentol wrote in to respond to
our post on the MTA site at 65 Commercial Street.Dear NAG:
I am really excited to see people starting to talk about the 65 Commercial Street site. In recent months, I have been working hard to push the MTA and the city to do something about this issue and it is always helpful when you can go back to them and show that the community is becoming concerned as well. Below you can see my most recent letter to the Chairman Hemmerdinger. Since sending this letter, I hosted a meeting at my office for the MTA Director of Governmental Affairs and several members of our community.
Two important developments came out of that meeting. First, the MTA agreed that since they are unable to find one big site to move into, that they would divide their facility and look for two smaller sites for relocation. Their willingness to split their facility, gives them much more flexibility.
Since that meeting, the MTA has written me and told me that they have actually identified two smaller sites that look promising. They are currently doing a more in-depth analysis to see if these new site will allow the MTA to vacate the facility in Greenpoint. While I know better than to get my hopes up, I am cautiously optimistic that the flexibility established at the meeting in my office will pay off.
Post continues...
Regardless of whether these sites will work, I hope the MTA now understands just how committed this community is to having a park and not a storage facility at 65 Commercial Street. I look forward to working with them and this community to ensure that we get the open space we deserve. It was great to see the issue mentioned on your new blog and I will be sure to point out the community support in my next communication with the MTA about the park. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely
Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol
50th District, Brooklyn
May 6, 2008
Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger
Metropolitan Transit Authority
347 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Dear Chairman Hemmerdinger:
I am writing to you about an issue I consider to be of utmost importance. As you may know, when the city rezoned the Greenpoint waterfront, there was an agreement between the MTA and the New York City Parks Department regarding the MTA property at 65 Commercial Street. In April of 2005 the MTA committed to actively seek out an alternative site for their facility and to move from 65 Commercial Street. The plan for the space is to become a desperately needed park for the community. Enclosed, please find copies of letters regarding this, as well as the waterfront rezoning points of agreement between the MTA and New York City Parks Department.
Greenpoint is a rapidly growing neighborhood and according to NYC Parks Dept. there is no green space above Greenpoint Avenue and only one playground for parents to take their children. The community is anxiously awaiting this park and the youth soccer field which is planned for it. I am writing to request a status report on this search as it has now been over three years that the community is waiting for a park. I am hopeful that this will be a priority under your administration. I look forward to working with you to ensure that this community gets the much needed green space it was promised and so badly needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to call [XXXX].
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Lentol
Labels: guest posts, lentol, parks
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