Well, HDC went to the Public Meeting and the Press Conference this evening about the Admiral’s Row Section 106 process - and we were shocked at the misinformation that’s being propagated by the “Tear These Buildings Down!” crowd.  Here are a few real facts about the process and the site to counter the misinformation:

 - of the 11 historic buildings, 9 are structurally stable. The Beardsley Report (December 2007) states quite clearly that of all the buildings, buildings C and H have severe structural problems. The rest are in OK shape, the photos from the Beardsley Report support this, as evidence of historic floating staircases and the like are still standing and visibly stable.

 - restoration was estimated at $19 million for all 11 buildings. $19 million is a lot of money, but it is not hundreds of millions or billions as alleged at the press conference. That figure also assumes FULL restoration and of all 11 buildings, including the 2 with structural failure.

 - the supermarket is not going to be built “green”. The complex will include a 356 car surface parking lot. How is that “green”?  Let’s not talk about the century-old tree cover that will be lost because of this.

- it is against Federal Law to require that employees come from a certain Zip Code, to say nothing of assuring that all the jobs created will come from the nearby public housing projects.

- Asking the Federal Government to ignore national environmental laws is a foolish thing to do, so let’s  ascribe that to mere rhetoric and playing to the crowd. Still, it is inappropriate for lawyers and elected officials to do.

-  the Federal Government passed a law in 1988 to sell the propery to New York City, and then dropped the ball with regard to maintenance. The City sat on its hands for the last 20 years to take control of the property. There is plenty of blame to go around for the current condition of the buildings. Frankly, no one should be pointing fingers or throwing stones.

WHY CAN’T WE HAVE BOTH A SUPERMARKET AND THE ADMIRAL’S ROW BUILDINGS?

The Historic Districts Council, Municipal Art Society, New York Landmarks Conservancy, Fort Greene Association, Historic Wallabout Association, and the Society for Clinton Hill are united in our desire to see both a Supermarket and the Admiral’s Row Houses in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

WE AGREE that a new supermarket that sells fresh fruits and vegetables and more employment opportunities are critical for the neighborhood.  

WE DISAGREE that the Admiral’s Row buildings must be demolished to create an economically viable project on this site.

Facts:

-          The Admiral’s Row Buildings are too important - to the community and to the history of our country and Brooklyn - to allow their wholesale demolition. All our children deserve to know their history and to take pride in those who served our country.

-          The buildings are currently owned by the Federal Government and are located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is responsible for leasing space in the Yard, for developing the underutilized areas of the Yard, and for overseeing the ongoing modernization of the Yard’s infrastructure. Through their efforts, hundreds of quality industrial jobs have been created.

-          The National Guard is currently carrying out a highly responsible and thoughtful effort to seek comments on the site’s redevelopment.  Part of the National Guard’s process, mandated by Federal law, involves finding alternatives that would prevent the demolition of the historic buildings.

-          Alternatives exist that could combine the reuse of existing buildings with new construction to achieve a plan which offers everything from fresh foods, to job training, cultural offerings as well as new recreational and healthy living opportunities.

-          The current supermarket proposal includes 356 parking spaces, which will bring increased traffic and pollution to the neighborhood. This proposed supermarket is 65,000 sf, the size of a “big box” store and 36% larger than the median supermarket in America.

-          Reducing the parking lot or building a parking structure could allow for enough room for a large supermarket, new industrial space, and the restored Admiral’s Row buildings on the site.

-          The preservation and rehabilitation of the Admiral’s Row buildings could be an opportunity for young adults in the neighborhood to be trained in preservation and construction trades with far more earning and career potential than working in a supermarket.

-          Professional engineers and architects have shown that it is possible to renovate/restore Admiral’s Row at costs comparable to the renovations which have occurred throughout downtown Brooklyn and have driven the area’s economic resurgence.

Brooklyn deserves better. We have the best talent in the world right here, let’s put it to work to show what we can achieve.

To learn more about what you can do to save these houses, email hdc@hdc.org.