The Park Slope Civic Council Civic News October 2007 Volume LXX, No

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The Park Slope Civic Council Civic News October 2007 Volume LXX, No. 2 www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org

It’s a bare patch of land What Park Slope old-timers now, fronting some 145 feet might remember is that, well along Fourth Avenue and a over a decade ago, the De- similar amount east on Sackett partment of Environmental Street. If a vacant lot this size Protection (DEP), the city were located anywhere else agency digging the water on Fourth, it would likely be Coming soon tunnel, promised to turn the a construction site, another in site over to the community the march of undistinguished- Some Day once its work was done. That looking, yellow-brick, 12-story promise holds true according buildings rising high above its On This Site: to James Soroush of DEP’s brownstone neighbors. Community Outreach of- What newcomers to Park GreenSpace fice — but not tomorrow or Slope might not know is that the next day: the lot will lie this lot already has been a barren until the activation of major construction site, but the tunnel’s Brooklyn-Queens one on which the work did not section, now scheduled for top off 120 feet or so in the air. Rather, it bottomed out 558 November, 2009. feet below ground. Weeds, gravel, two ventilation pipes, and Still, just beneath the surface (so to speak), a team of artists, two horizontal metal doors — looking like something out of gardeners and activists remain poised, as they have been for “Alice in Wonderland” or “Lost” — are all that can be seen years, to transform shaft 22b’s lid into GreenSpace: a com- at ground level of shaft 22B, which sometime in the next few munity garden with bells and whistles, designed by one of years will connect several hundred thousand Brooklyn sinks New York City’s best-known environmental artists. and showers to Water Tunnel 3, the largest capital project ever Even though it will be at least two more years before the undertaken in New York City. team can get its hands on the lot, they display remarkable patience — a not-inappropriate attitude considering that Details from artist Meg Webster’s plans for GreenSpace, a demonstration garden for native plants and a natural haven on uber-urban 4th Avenue. digging began on Water Tunnel 3 in 1970, and engineers and GreenSpace, if realized, would occupy the barren lot that sits atop Water “sandhogs,” as the tunnelers are known, have spent their Tunnel 3’s Shaft 22B, at the corner of 4th Avenue and Sackett Street. entire working lives on this single project. “There is a plan and there is a budget, and now it’s not a matter of if but when, and I can live with that” said Craig Hammerman, district manager of Community Board 6. Ham- ...See GreenSpace, page 6

Inside President’s Report 2 A transported DOT Calendar of PSCC Events 2 News and Notes for the Civic Minded 4 In memoriam: Doris Clark Doe Fund cleaners extend reach Trash talk (the good kind)Talk (the Street Lighting Illuminated 5 Postcard from the Past 7 Plaza Street mansions The President’s Perspective: DOT Takes Welcome U-Turn

emember the attempt by New DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik- the Department of Trans- Khan chats with PSCC Trustee Aaron portation (DOT) to change Naparstek after a press conference R announcing changes making Grand 6th and 7th Avenues to one-way Army Plaza more friendly to pedestrians streets last spring? Remember and bicyclists. how the neighborhood rose up in defiance, how people you and 4th Avenues and throughout never knew cared were suddenly Downtown Brooklyn; sending you on-line petitions and 2) starting construction on e-mails about community board improvements to the southern meetings? And how the Depart- end of Grand Army Plaza that ment of Transportation eventually will make it safer and easier to agreed to withdraw the proposal traverse the Plaza by foot, bike, in the face of overwhelming op- and car. The Civic Council helped position? It was a case study in push for these changes through its civic activism, and one of the participation in the Grand Army few times in years that the Department of Transportation Plaza Coalition and will continue to work with GAPCo to- had shown a willingness to listen to the community. Well, it wards its long-term vision of transforming Grand Army Plaza appears that event marked a turning point in Park Slope’s into one of New York City’s premier public spaces; relationship with DOT. 3) expanding car-free hours in Prospect Park. Cars are now Janette Sadik-Khan took over as DOT Commissioner in permitted to use the East Drive only from 7am to 9am, and the May, and with her came a sea change in transportation policy. West Drive from 5pm until 7pm. The Civic Council has long The agency no longer views itself primarily as an advocate for advocated a three month car-free trial in Prospect Park; helping cars navigate city streets. Rather, what is emerging 4) hiring our neighbors and well-known transportation is a more holistic approach oriented towards improving and policy experts Jon Orcutt, Bruce Schaller, and Andy Wiley- maintaining neighborhood quality of life and increasing the Schwartz for high level jobs at DOT. Orcutt is a Williamsburg efficiency of New York City streets by encouraging alternative resident and former head of the Tri-State Transportation forms of transportation. Campaign, and he was a panelist at PSCC’s 2005 transporta- In the few months since being hired, Commissioner Sadik- tion forum. He has been hired as Sadik-Khan’s senior policy Khan has succeeded in: advisor. Schaller, who lives in Windsor Terrace and ran a 1) implementing portions of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic transportation-policy consulting firm, is now DOT’s Deputy Calming Plan which had sat on the shelf for years. Short-term Commissioner for Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, a improvements include traffic-calming measures along 3rd new office set up to implement the transportation elements of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030. Wiley-Schwartz, a Boerum Hill resident who worked at Project for Public Spaces, is now PSCC Calendar an Assistant Commissioner at DOT in charge of the agency’s new public plaza program. Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 13 and Halloween JJ Byrne Park Perhaps most importantly, the new DOT commissioner has 11am-4pm Costume Swap demonstrated a willingness to really work with, and listen to, the community. For those who have worked on transporta- Saturday, Oct. 20 Convene in front of Key Fall Civic Sweep tion and urban environmental policy, it is a welcome change. 10am-2pm Food, 5th Avenue This new outlook at DOT comes at just the right time. As development brings more residents and commercial activity Clean Walk to Oct. 29-Nov. 2 18 Park Slope Schools to our neighborhood, the need for innovative transportation School Week planning and policy is ever-more clear. Halloween Party Oct. 31 Party: Prospect Park YMCA Opportunities for the Park Slope Civic Council are also and Party: TBA Parade: Seventh Avenue, clear. As Wiley-Schwartz said this summer at the unveiling Children’s Parade Parade: 6:30pm beginning at 15th Street of a new public plaza in DUMBO, DOT is looking for community partners to help establish and maintain projects and Thursday, Nov. 1 NY Methodist Hospital PSCC Meeting programs that make neighborhood streets more “livable.” 7pm Exec. Dining Room PSCC has, in many ways, been setting the standard for how a community group might work with DOT. Last fall Civic PSCC Grant Go to the PSCC website for Nov. 16 Council trustee Lauri Schindler and a group of volunteers Applications Due applications and information canvassed the neighborhood to identify locations for new bike

Civic News Vol LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 2 racks. After Schindler handed off a list of bike rack locations to DOT, the agency’s Bicycle Program coordinator told her that PSCC’s project was a “model” that he would like to see replicated in other neighborhoods around the city. Specializing in Park Slope since 1987 To take advantage of the new spirit of cooperation and in- novation at DOT, what transportation issues and ideas might the Civic Council start working on? 1) The number one issue on the city’s transportation agenda right now is Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal for a three year congestion-pricing pilot program. PSCC will work to make sure that the plan works to reduce traffic, improve transit, and enhance quality of life in Park Slope. 2) Regardless of congestion pricing, and especially if a major “trip-generator” like Forest City Ratner’s proposed Marc W. Garstein Ellen Blau basketball arena is built in the area, it is time to set up a Resi- President VicePresident dential Parking Permit program in Park Slope. 3) Park Slope is blessed with one of the most extensive and Mary Lou Bradley, Justine Campbell-Elliott, Tom Curtis, Tara well-used bike networks in the city. For cyclists, the next step Falk, Karen Fulbright Anderson, Katinka Goertz, Leah Hartog, is to improve bike network connectivity to adjacent neigh- Jennifer Hero, Michelle Herrera, Virginia Hunter, Aaron Isquith, borhoods and to get more bike racks installed, particularly Michele Kaye, Judith Lief, Luis Martinez, Judith Rivera Schneider, Janet Skinner, Ellen Sussman, in the South Slope. Jennifer Thompson, Aldo Valmon-Clarke, Jack Walsh 4) 2008 is going to be the Year of the Bus. If the Mayor’s congestion pricing plan moves ahead, New York City will Please call for a no-obligation receive $354.5 million in federal money to beef up bus service home valuation and market analysis throughout the city. We now have the opportunity to begin to 123A 7th Avenue, Park Slope, turn bus service into a first-class transportation option. PSCC Brooklyn, New York, 11215 will study how bus service might be improved and to push Sales 718.638.6500 Rentals 718.638.0632 Fax 718.638.4603 for Bus Rapid Transit on important but congested corridors www.warrenlewis.com like Flatbush and Fourth Avenue. 5) There is a movement afoot to bring back F train express service. PSCC has endorsed that project. The difficulty in finding a parking space in Park Slope, the horrendous traffic bottleneck on Union Street near Grand Army Plaza, the increasing traffic congestion over the East River Bridges, the MTA’s debt crisis — I confess not to know how to solve these problems. It is clear, however that what- ever the solutions are, we are all going to have to get used to finding ways to get there without taking our cars — and this is coming from a car-lover. As I sit motionless in 4th Avenue traffic, I’m sure glad that Commissioner Sadik-Khan and her team have arrived to help. –Ken Freeman

Work underway around Grand Army Plaza to make life a bit easier for pedestrians and cyclists.

Civic News LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 3 News & Notes for the Civic Minded

In Memoriam: Doris Clark (1933-2007) Doris Carolyn Lytle Clark, who was a trustee It is no small measure of her impact that her of the Park Slope Civic Council for many years, memorial service at the Lafayette Presbyterian lost her seven-year battle with cancer and passed Memorial Church on September 18 was crowded away this past August. She sat on the Grants with co-workers, friends from her political work Committee from 1999 to 2005, resigning due to through the decades, a state senator, two state her health problems. assembly members, a city council member, and Doris always saw the other side of an argument a variety of budgetary officials who spoke of her and could present her ideas clearly and forcefully, service, her energy, and their rich, prickly, and and you listened when she spoke. She called it like lasting friendships. Friends and family were also it was, and spoke her mind with characteristic in attendance, and they spoke about her legacy clipped but measured tones, and a with a wicked with a consistent voice. sense of humor. She wore her illness like a badge, coming In characteristic style, Doris left specific instructions about to meetings with her small bald head bedecked with very how her memorial was to be conducted; it was to be a cel- large red earrings. ebration of her life — with poetry, music, good friends, and Doris continually fought for the underdog and, amongst good food. It was all that and more. She will be missed, but many other things, helped found the Fifth Avenue Commit- it was abundantly clear that everyone there felt privileged to tee. For 20 years she was the Executive Director of Brooklyn have fallen under her spell. She leaves behind her daughter, Community Housing and Services, leaving behind a strong Erika, several surrogate grandchildren, numerous friends, agency which was foundering when she began her work and a very grateful community. there, but which now has an international reputation. –Sheila J. White, trustee

Trash talk (the good kind): Last spring, PS 295 5th grader Genesis Morel (right) organized her classmates into a top-notch anti-litter team during Clean Walk to School week (her photo was in the May issue). Now a 6th grader at IS 88, Genesis recently wrote PSCC Trustee Dave Pearson, who leads the Clean Sweep/ Clean Walk to School campaigns. Here is an excerpt: “The Clean Walk to School went really well and kids really helped to make our neighborhood much cleaner ... The kids felt very special about clean- ing up garbage because they thought it could actually really Doe Fund cleaners extend reach: City Councilman Bill de help the environment. I felt really, Blasio announced on Oct. 1 that he had secured money to have the really good about leading the Doe Fund’s Ready, Willing & Able workers clean 7th Avenue from 3rd Clean Walk to School because I Street to 15th Street. Last October, Park Slope Civic Council efforts knew kids would actually pick up led to a similar grant from City Councilman David Yassky to have 7th garbage and really care about this problem. cleaned from Flatbush Avenue to 3rd Street, resulting in a significant “I picked littering as my topic for my library project about changing improvement in the avenue’s appearance. Here, PSCC First Vice Pres- the world because I noticed that there is lots of trash here in New ident Candace Woodward stands outside New York Methodist Hospital York… Did you know that trash can make the world much uglier? If with two of the Doe Fund’s Ready, Willing & Able workers; George you make it much nicer I would be so happy. My plans for doing this T. McDonald, the Doe Fund’s founder and president (far left); and right are: Calling the president, doing the Clean Walk to School, and de Blasio (far right). “The Doe Fund is a non-profit organization that writing to you. Thank you for helping me!” empowers people to break the cycles of homelessness, incarceration, There is a Clean Walk to School Week each spring and fall. The and welfare dependency through paid-work programs, supportive ser- next one is scheculed for Oct. 29-Nov. 2 and, as we went to press, 17 vices and housing,” reads a press release put out by the councilman. neighborhood schools had signed on to the effort, which combines “Ready, Willing & Able is their residential, work and job skills training encouraging students to pick up litter on their way to school with program that helps homeless individuals in their efforts to become classroom discussions about how clean streets contribute to a neigh- self-sufficient. Ready, Willing & Able has helped nearly 3,000 people to borhood’s quality of life. become drug-free, secure full time jobs, and attain housing.” A notice about this fall’s Clean Sweep, on Oct. 20, are on page 3.

Civic News Vol LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 4 Casting light on the subject of lighting

n the September Civic News, PSCC President Ken IFreeman listed getting more ornamental lamps on our streets as one of his goals for his term in office. A bit of follow-up to find out what such a project might entail led to some illuminating surprises. The first was that there is a Division of Street Lights within the Department of Transportation (and why not, when one considers that New York City has 300,000 street lights?). The second was that DOT publishes a “Street Lighting Catalog” (which may be viewed on line at http://nyc.gov/html/dot/html/signs/sss.shtml). The catalog advertises a wide array of lighting fix- tures, but only three are found in Park Slope. At one extreme of aesthetic possibility are the ornamental, historically appropriate “Type M” lamps (shown here) that cast their glow along Prospect Park West and 9th Street, and the “Shepherd’s Crook” beauties on 12th Street from 8th Avenue to the Park. The rest Quality Senior Living of the neighborhood (apart from four “stray” Type Ms on 5th One Prospect Park West Brooklyn, NY 11215-1613 Avenue between President and Carroll Streets) makes do with 718-622-8400•Fax: 718-622-8449•[email protected] lamps of such unilluminated functionality that they don’t even rate a name of their own. They are described simply as “octagonal, fabricated steel pole” topped with“cobra head luminaire” (you have to use your imagination). The octagonal poles (which, because of their multiple flat planes, are the bane of anyone who has ever volunteered for flyer removal at a Clean Sweep) have alighted in such abun- dance for one simple reason: money. A man who answered the phone in the Division of Street Lights, who asked that his name remain in the dark, said that a Type M lamp, costing in the $10,000-$12,000 range, is more than twice as expensive as a plain steel pole with its vaguely reptilian appendage. Our shadowy source said that the city will sometimes install ornamental lamps as part of capital improvement projects, especially in historic districts. More typically, neighborhoods find sponsors — often of the political sort — willing to make up the difference. In- deed, that’s how it worked on A mysterious Prospect Park West. According Type M to Community Board 6 District stray on 5th Manager Craig Hammerman, Avenue. the Prospect Park Alliance sub- sidized the street lights along the park side of the street while former City Councilmen Ken Fisher and Steven DiBrienza flipped the switch along the west side. Our man in Street Lights invited the Civic Council to sub- mit a list of locations where we would like to see ornamental lamps installed. The city would tell us how much they would cost, then it would be up to us to find the money. –EG

Civic News LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 5 ...GreenSpace, continued from Page 1 ... the artist picked to design GreenSpace. even a small woodland. There would merman was a key player in securing Both Janda and Hammerman sat on the be a performance space, solar panels, a $338,000 from the city for GreenSpace panel that selected Webster from among wind turbine, a composting toilet, and design and construction — never mind several applicants. a pavilion with a green roof. that the money was pledged more than “In a way it was my own fault for Webster, who recently completed the eight years ago, in February, 1999. The not asking the right questions,” said much-praised California Native Garden money comes through the city’s “Per- a resigned-sounding Webster, who at Stanford University, has laid out the cent for Art” program, which makes started work on the project eight years garden entirely in plants that might one percent of the money spent on a ago. “We all thought everything was have grown on the same site when it capital construction project available going to happen much more quickly, was just uphill from the marshy wetland for on-site public art. and we were stunned when we heard along Gowanus Creek, and long before “November, 2009?” repeated Judy we couldn’t start work for many years. invasive species — human and botani- Janda when the projected transfer-date But when you think about it, it makes cal — crowded out the natives. was relayed to her. “That’s coming up perfect sense that DEP would want ac- Janda said that GreenSpace will be a pretty soon — relatively.” The “rela- cess to the site until they were sure that demonstration garden for native plants, tively” referred not just to the years that everything was working correctly.” and a location for educating Brooklyn’s sandhogs have spent on the job but her Webster’s models and blueprints for back yard gardeners about the benefits own extended commitment. In 1994, GreenSpace (which may be viewed at of replacing exotic foreigners with Janda was among the original founders megwebsterstudio.com) are enough to true-blue New Yorkers. At the same of GreenSpace, the eponymous group make everyone in Park Slope wish that time, the sale of plants from a small that will eventually take charge of the GreenSpace could open immediately. GreenSpace nursery will help defray GreenSpace site. She envisions the flat and unprepossess- operating costs. “I try not to think about it,” sighed ing lot transformed into undulating hills The GreenSpace group has not gone Meg Webster, a sculptor with a deep and dales with paths, a pond, a water- to seed while waiting for the Fourth interest in nature and ecology who was fall, a meadow, a wetland marsh, and Avenue site. They now operate a small community garden at the corner of 5th Avenue and President Street, where they are learning to grow native species. Webster, for her part, has chosen to ignore rumblings from DEP that her plans will have to be modified to allow workers increased access to the laby- rinths below. She had already designed the path that leads through the site to be composed of materials that would carry the weight of heavy trucks. (DEP also is reportedly not wildly enthusiastic about the composting toilet) “I’m not going to work on it again until we have firmer dates,” vowed the artist, who said she thinks she has finally learned her lesson — she has en- countered similar delays in a project she designed for the Hudson River Park. “I was fairly new to public art when I got involved with these two projects, and I didn’t realize you plan and plan then wait 10 years. It’s nothing malicious, it’s just the way these things work. In fact, the people at DEP have been fabulous, just like the people at GreenSpace. I have loved working with all of them.” Webster sent the following e-mail after she was asked what she hopes will become of the GreenSpace site, modifi- cations and all: “I wish for GreenSpace to be an invit- ing glade of shade and sun — complex and very natural, but with serious in-

Civic News Vol LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 6 Robert Levine Collection A Postcard from the Past: This 1905 postcard is a view of Prospect Park West from between 1st and 2nd Streets, looking towards Grand Army Plaza with the arch in the background. The closest mansions are still standing: the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture and Poly Prep’s lower school. The other mansions on the north side of 1st Street have been replaced, mostly by apartment buildings. No. 53 Prospect Park West, now the Ethical Cultural Society’s Meeting House, was built in 1900- 01 by William H. Tubby for William H. Childs, the manufacturer of Bon Ami cleanser. It is considered one of the best examples of the neo-Jacobean style in New York City. A wing that projects out on the southern side (not visible in this photo) was added by Tubby in 1907 as a sunny morning room with a billiard room in the basement. The larger building with the rounded towers was the Henry Carlton Hulbert mansion, built in 1892 at 48-51 Prospect Park West. Hulbert (1831-1912) was a financier and industrialist in the paper supply business. He hired the prominent architect Montrose Morris to build this Romanesque Revival mansion, which was actually two mansions joined together. Henry Hulbert lived in the corner house while his daughter, Susie, and son-in- law, Joseph Sutphin, lived in the smaller, adjoining unit. It is the most prominent, free-standing mansion left in Park Slope and has been used as a school for many years. first by the Ethical Culture Society, then by Woodward Park, and now by Poly Prep. This information was gathered from the 1973 Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, which is on line at the Landmarks Preservation Commission website, http://www.nyc. gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml (or just type in nyc.gov and search for lpc). The full report is about 160 pages long and goes block by block with detailed descriptions of each home in the historic district. Much of the information was gathered by Everett and Evelyn Ortner. Evelyn Ortner, who died in September, 2006, was remembered in an article in the October, 2006 Civic News. –Robert Levine, Trustee formational intent. I wish for it to beckon to the viewer with trails to travel among the rich collection of native plants with places to sit and contemplate. I wish for it to be tended but free. I wish for a great caring for the ground, the plants and the stories of each species and system.” Earlier, Webster had talked about the garden as a “little piece of nature” on an avenue where, apart from the school garden behind P.S. 133, there are virtually no growing things to be seen. Barring some unforeseen obstacle, nature will eventually gain another foothold in 4th Avenue’s relentless urban landscape. We will have many indefatigable people to thank for this new bit of green space, not the least of which will be the engineers who, back in 1970, picked the corner of Fourth Avenue and Sackett Street for their giant bore hole. Inadver- tent or not, they deeded us a gift of inestimable value. –Ezra Goldstein

Civic News LXX No 2 October 2007, Page 7 PERIODICALS Civic News POSTAGE PAID Park Slope Civic Council 357 Ninth Street AT BROOKLYN, NY Brooklyn, NY 11215 Return Service Requested

Park Slope Civic Council Organized as the South Brooklyn Board of Trade in 1896, PSCC is one of the oldest civic associations in Brooklyn. PSCC identifies and addresses quality- of-life issues important to the community; creates and supports projects geared to improving and protecting the neighborhood; and assists in the funding of local non-profit organizations that benefit those living and working in Park Slope. Our many programs include the Children’s Halloween Parade, the Clean Streets and Clean Walk to School campaigns, and a holiday toy drive. Our annual house tour raises thousands of dollars for neighborhood grants. Trustees: Ken Freeman, President Candace Woodward, First Vice President David Alquist, Recording Secretary Lauri Schindler, Second Vice President Richard White, Membership Secretary Eric McClure, Treasurer Ezra Goldstein, Editor, Civic News Nathaniel Allman, Robert Braun, Michael Cairl, Cynthia Dantzic, Darlene Lovgren Demarsico, Robert Eidelberg, Joan Emerson, Maryann McHugh Feeney, Mort Fleischer, Susan Fox, Bernard J. Graham, Craig Hammerman, Lyn Hill, Nelly Isaacson, Kyle Johnson, Anthony S. Kleckner, Robert Levine, Elizabeth McAloon, Tom Miskel, Aaron Naparstek, Dave Pearson, Lumi Michelle Rolley, Greg Sutton, and Sheila J. White

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CIVIC NEWS (ISSN 0031-2169) (USPS 114-740) is published monthly from September to June for $30 per year, including membership, by the Park Slope Civic Council Inc (founded April 14, 1896 as the South Brooklyn Board of Trade), 357 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY. POSTMASTER: Send undeliverable copies to Civic News, c/o Richard White, 357 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. We welcome submissions: deadline is the 10th of each month from September to June. Articles, images, and suggestions submitted become the property of the Park Slope Civic Council Inc upon acceptance for publication. Send unsolicited materials and photos to Editor, Civic News, 357 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, or to [email protected].