Happy April, Columbia Street Waterfront!
April is here at last, and it's another busy month for our neighborhood! In this issue:
- EDC (Economic Development Corporation) schedules in-person BMT (Brooklyn Marine Terminal) Port RFEI (Request for Expressions of Interest) Info Sessions for next week.
- Columbia Street Safety News from one end of Columbia Street Waterfront to the other.
- CSWA meets with Council Member Hanif's team at the unopened Pre-K at President and Van Brunt plus Cabrini Park.
- CSWA's Earth Day celebration is coming up soon!
- Neighborhood volunteer opportunities.
Here's all the upcoming dates!
- NEW! Monday, April 13, 6:30-8:00 PM: BMT Port RFEI Info Session - In Person. At Sacred Hearts & St. Stephens Church, 125 Summit St.
- NEW! Wednesday, April 15, 6:00 PM: Zoom Follow-up meeting with DOT Commissioner Bray on traffic safety measures for Columbia Street/President Street and Columbia Street/Summit Street intersections. Zoom info below.
- NEW! Wednesday, April 15, 6:30-8:00 PM: BMT Port RFEI Info Session - In Person. Miccio Community Center, 110 West 9th St.
- Saturday, April 18, 10 AM to 12 PM: CSWA Clean-up Day with Scavenger Hunt! (rain date Sunday, April 19) - starting at Human Compass Garden, corner of Sackett St and Columbia St.
- Friday, May 8: Deadline for BMT CEQR Scoping written commentary.
BMT
We thought we might give you all a break from BMT updates, after the excitement last week over the last-minute extension for written comments on the Draft Statement of Work. But we have breaking news once again! EDC has scheduled two in-person info sessions on the Port RFEI, as CSWA and our electeds requested. See below for details. Register for the session on Monday, April 13 here. Or register for the Wednesday, April 15 session here. If you are like us, you have lots of questions about this entire process. And it's more fun to ask them in person.
Speaking of that extension, read Brooklyn Daily Eagle's Mary Frost's article Brooklyn Marine Terminal comment period extended at last minute, with quotes from CSWA's President Randy Gordon and Vice President John Leyva.
Traffic Safety on Columbia Street
- Follow-up Meeting with DOT Commissioner Bray - Wednesday, April 15, 6:00 PM - Join the Zoom meeting and hear DOT's update!
As those of you who attended the March 10 meeting at Jalopy Theatre remember, DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray confirmed that he would meet with us in April, with a proposal to address street safety for Columbia Street's intersections with President and Summit streets. The date is set - Wednesday, April 15, 6 PM. The meeting will be held via Zoom, and all are welcome to attend. Robbie Block with lead the discussion with the Commissioner. We will again keep the meeting tightly focused on the DOT's response about these two intersections.
If you have questions for the DOT about these intersections, please send them to admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org by end of day Wednesday, April 8. We will review and consolidate the list and share them with the Commissioner, requesting written responses in advance of the meeting.
Here's the Zoom info.
- A safer way to visit the Van Voorhees Playground!
Those of us who have brought our children to the Van Voorhees Playground have long waited for a safe way to cross Congress between Hicks and Columbia. Mike Verrilli shared great news this week. DOT installed a crosswalk with stop signs on Congress! Thanks to Mike, Community Board 6, and everyone who supported this effort. This website has more info.
3. Can parents finally stop holding their breath about their children crossing the BQE off/on ramps to get from one part of Van Voorhees Park to the other???
After a year of campaigning for traffic safety measures at one of the most scary crossings on Columbia (see above - this is saying something!) by residents, electeds, Cobble Hill Association, Brooklyn Heights Association, CB6, and other organizations, DOT Commissioner Bray informed everyone that DOT plans to add the new pedestrian signal and other signal infrastructure at the Van Voorhees crossing by this summer. Pravin Sathe from Carroll Gardens has been instrumental in keeping the pressure on to make this happen. We in CSW appreciate his and everyone's efforts to make this happen.
CSWA meets with Council Member Hanif's staff at the unopened Pre-K at President and Van Brunt + Cabrini Park
On Friday, April 3, CSWA members met Council Member Hanif's Legislative and Budget Director Hannah Henderson-Charnow, District Director Channa Camins, and Constituent Liaison Jacqueline Nieschmidt. The Council Member had arranged a tour with the DOE of the unopened pre-K at the corner of President and Van Brunt. For CSWA, President Randy Gordon, Vice President John Leyva, and Treasurer Debra Tackney joined Sharon Gordon, Zoe Grover, Jessica Setton, and Zach Hetrick.
DOE would only allow one CSWA member to join the Council Member's staff, so Zach, who the NY Post featured in their article about this pre-K and others, represented us on the tour. Zach reported that "it is truly a beautiful property...there is quite the school hiding behind those walls." Zach shares more on Instagram.
Afterwards, our group gave Hannah, Channa, and Jacqui a tour of Cabrini Park, a neighborhood favorite which is in dire need of attention as far as updating and basic maintenance. Just the accessibility (well, lack of such) of the sprinkler valve made a lasting impression.
All in, the meeting lasted well over two hours, as the three staff members discussed with us what the next steps could be for:
- Securing funding to update Cabrini.
- Open the Pre-K.
We appreciate how Hannah, Channa, and Jacqui recognized our community's concerns about the urgent need to increase availability of free pre-K for all in CSW, and the importance of Cabrini Park to the neighborhood. They were particularly impressed with the data Zach and Jessica had assembled about the demand for pre-K. Zach has set up a micro site with the data case. The site includes a link to the petition to open the school. Please sign if you haven't already. And contact Council Member Hanif's office to express your support.
We look forward to hearing back once the three have briefed the Council Member.
Don't Forget to Register - Celebrate Earth Day with CSWA!!!
CSWA's Community Clean-up Day and Scavenger Hunt, celebrating Earth Day, is fast approaching. We hope to see you all there, so please register here or scan the QR code below! And feel free to send this to your friends and neighbors!
Volunteer Opportunities
- Human Compass Garden is looking for a gate keeper who lives close by and can open and close the garden during regular hours. The garden is open 9:30-5:30 Friday through Sunday during the garden season April 1st to October 31st. Email Launa Beuhler (launabeuhler@aol.com) if interested.
- On I Love My Park Day 2026, Saturday, May 2nd, volunteers are needed to clean invasive plants from Harold Ickes Playground Skate Park, Van Brunt St between Hamilton Ave & Summit St. Email Dave Lutz (1davelutz@gmail.com) if interested.
Questions? Email us at admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org. Also, please share our mailing list sign-up page with your friends and neighbors: Columbia Street Waterfront Association Email List.
Media Contact:
Randy Gordon, President
Columbia Street Waterfront Association, Inc.
Phone: 917-593-2674
Email: admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org
