Last Tuesday, there was a meeting to discuss the status of the Myrtle Village Green site at the offices of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. Myrtle Village Green was not invited but our interests were represented by our official community advocates — Community Board 3 Chairperson Henry Butler and State Committee Representative Lincoln Restler. Also at that meeting were representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection, the office of Deputy Mayor Cas Halloway, City Council Representative Letitia James, the Pratt Center for Community Development, the Brooklyn borough president’s office, the NYC Department of City Planning and Pratt Area Community Council.
We have been told that the outcome is this: there is consensus around the fact that the Myrtle Parcel of the site is available now for a 2 or 3 year interim use project and that the Kent Avenue portion will become available for interim use in another 2 or 3 years (as a possible replacement site for when long term use development begins on Myrtle Avenue). A community planning process will determine the ultimate uses of both parcels.
But the decision of how interim use would be managed or when it would begin was left open. Our representatives, Mr. Butler and Mr. Restler, have been tasked with working with the Brooklyn Community Foundation and local residents to negotiate a fair and practicable arrangement. They have also been tasked with figuring out if Myrtle Village Green represents the interests of the important groups in the neighborhood.
Here’s what we all need to do, as soon as possible: email or call both of Mr. Butler and Mr. Restler and tell them about yourself, the groups that you are involved with and why a community space at the Myrtle Village Green site is something you value and work for. It’s time for our representatives to hear all of our individual voices and be empowered to speak for the community as a whole. Mr. Butler & Mr. Restler will soon be setting up a meeting for all stakeholders in the Myrtle Village Green site to come together. You can thank them in advance for their efforts on behalf of our community. Contact information below:
Henry Butler, District Manager
Brooklyn Community Board 3
email: hbutler@cb.nyc.gov
phone: 718-622-6601
Lincoln Restler
State Committee Representative
email: lincoln@lincolnrestler.org
phone: 347.878.7251
