ATTENTION: RFP Released for Bedford-Atlantic Armory

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) are seeking proposals  from qualified developers for the ground lease, development, and operation of approximately 50,000 square feet of available space within the historic 23rd Regiment (also known as “Bedford-Atlantic”) Armory.

The Armory is located at 1322 Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Through this request for proposals (RFP), the EDC is seeking developers who:

(i) enhance the surrounding community’s access to the Drill Hall through potential neighborhood-serving uses,
(ii) cause minimal impact to DHS’s active operation within the Armory Head House,
(iii) ensure that future Drill Hall uses are community-serving,
(iv) create a financially feasible and economically viable project,
(v) complete necessary capital improvements, and
(vi) contemplate and preserve the historic character of the facility.

The EDC plans to select a qualified developer on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: economic impact on New York City, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, the proposed project’s financial feasibility, demonstrated successful experience in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFP, and the proposed lease terms.

Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from the EDC no later than 4:00pm on Friday, October 5, 2012. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to BedfordAtlanticArmory@nycedc.com.

The EDC will be holding an optional Info Session in September. Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to BedfordAtlanticArmory@nycedc.com by Friday, September 7, 2012.

DATE: Wednesday, September 12, 2012
TIME: 10:00am
LOCATION: 1322 Bedford Avenue
Crown Heights, Brooklyn

To access the RFP, please follow this link:  http://www.nycedc.com/opportunity/bedford-atlantic-armory-rfp. MWBE Companies who have been certified with the New York City Small Business Services are strongly encouraged to apply.

ATTENTION: Community Discussion on Bedford-Union Armory; 1/9

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz invites the community to attend a discussion on the Bedford-Union armory. We invite the community to work with elected officials to turn the former military installation into a world-class community facility! Participants will also get a chance early in the day to view the armory.

WHEN: Monday, January 9, 2012
8:00AM- 5:00PM
WHERE: Bedford-Union Armory (on Union Street)
(between Bedford and Rogers)

Discussion taking place in the evening at CUNY's Medgar Evers College at 1638 Bedford Avenue from 6PM- 9PM.

For more information, please contact Borough President Markowitz's office at (718) 802-3875 or bkarmoryproject@gmail.com.

ATTENTION: Town Hall Meeting; BK Intake Center; 6/25; 7PM

TOWN HALL MEETING
Thursday, 7 PM, June 25th 2009
TIME: 7:00 pm
PLACE: Auditorium at St. Peter Claver
Roman Catholic Church
11 Claver Place (The block off of Fulton Street, between Classon and Franklin)

*CROWN HEIGHTS* *BED-STUY* *CLINTON HILL* *PROSPECT HEIGHTS*

Hear from our elected officials and other experts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: email crownheightsrm@gmail.com, or visit www.revitalizecrownheights.org.

Say "No!" to the Bloomberg Administration's plan to locate a major intake center for homeless men at the notorious Bedford-Atlantic armory. Our neighborhood already does its part with 6X the median social service beds of all other neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Enough is enough!

Tell Mayor Bloomberg:

Brooklyn is not Manhattan’s dumping ground!

Tell Mayor Bloomberg:

Live up to your commitment to New York City’s homeless!

Team Tish: Some Recent (...and Not So Recent) Photos

Picture time has come 'round again!

And with all the Atlantic Yards news*, we thought we'd post these pictures from around this time last year. They're from an Atlantic Yards press conference at City Hall. Just want to remind you that this fight has been going on for a long time, and that we believe a community is defined by the how to people that live there are treated. We believe in diversity- economic and racial- and we want to see ALL the residents of the 35th District reap the benefits of our every-developing neighborhoods. We hope you support fair and affordable housing development as well. Please consider attending Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's Community Meeting on June 9th; at 85 S. Oxford Street in Fort Greene to keep abreast of Atlantic Yards issues.

**

**
CMs James and Yassky are joined by Assembly Members Hakeem Jeffries and James Brennan and fair development advocates at City Hall on July 2008.

From this event:

***
CMs James, Barron, and Liu rally in Bedford-Stuyvesant against cuts to MTA services, specifically the B25 bus route, on February 28th, 2009. CM Liu is the Chair of the Transportation Committee in the New York City Council.

****
CMs James and Weprin are joined by Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Eric Adams, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and Former NYC Public Advocate Mark Green at a press conference addressing term limits on October 12, 2008.

And from this event:






CMs James and Weprin are joined by State Senator Eric Adams, members of the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement, and Crown Heights residents at City Hall to address the Brooklyn Intake Center proposal to be expanded into a Citywide shelter, and the fact that plans to create a similar Manhattan center were not included in the City budget proposal. June 7, 2009.

*FYI- We purposely try not to post too much about Atlantic Yards, being that there are so many great organizations and blogs following the issue much more closely than we can.
**Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Speaks, a civic group that informs residents about Atlantic Yards issues.
***Photo courtesy of William Alatriste.
****Photo courtesy of Patricio Barrientos, of CM David Weprin's office.

Commenting On The Issues: DHS, The Budget, and Central Brooklyn

We just came back from this press conference, which went very well (although we all almost melted). With regards to the issues of homelessness, we thought one of our recent comments deserved to be posted:

From David Scott:
I have been homeless at several points in my life. Contrary to popular belief, most homeless did not become so out of choice and not because they are lazy, stupid, or immoral. Many homeless people are victims of abuse in the form of neglect and abandonment by their parents or other caregivers. Some of them are simply victims of life’s tragedies, such as hurricanes, fires, or other catastrophes from which they simply don’t have the resources to recover. I invite you to my blog devoted to raising awareness on homelessness: Freethegods.com. There you will find an article I wrote on homelessness and pictures I have taken of homeless people. I always give them a dollar or two for the privilege of photographing them. I am often surprised by their cheerfulness and sense of pride. Often, they will show themselves to have some kind of talent. There is a fine line between genius and insanity.

Our response:
David,

Working with the 35th community on a very direct level, we [teamtish] don't make assumptions about the life situations our residents often find themselves in. We are very aware of the problems associated with how homeless individuals are treated in this society. We see the issue surrounding the Brooklyn Intake Center as yet another example of how this administration does not fully address the concerns and needs of non-Manhattanites (and the poor and working-class specifically). We maintain that, considering the fact that a number of factors make Crown Heights an inappropriate area to house Citywide homeless individuals, this was a poorly-conceived plan to begin with. To add insult to injury, the fact that the additional intake center for Manhattan (which was promised to Brooklyn elected officials) was not earmarked in the budget-- constitutes yet another broken promise. Please search through this blog to find more information about the (long) history of this issue. Thanks

We also encourage readers to check out the history of the Brooklyn Intake Center's proposed expansion into a Citywide center here; the posts outline the many reasons that elected officials, the Crown Heights community, and homeless advocates have rallied against this proposal. Council Member James has been involved in this issue from the beginning, and feels strongly that the administration should treat both New York City's homeless population and the Crown Heights community with the respect they deserve.

CM James, elected officials, Concerned DHS's Promise of Homeless Intake Center in Manhattan Not Reflected in Budget; 6/7; 3PM; City Hall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2009

Contact: Sandy Taggart at (718) 771-0787

Council Member Letitia James; Council Member Bill de Blasio; other local electeds; along with representatives from community groups including the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHRM); Coalition for the Homeless; and the Crown Heights North Association; as well as advocates for the homeless and neighborhood residents, gather for a press conference on the steps of City Hall this Sunday to oppose the Department of Homeless Services’ plan to move the Bellevue men’s homeless central intake center located in Manhattan, to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory shelter in Brooklyn – and to question why DHS has not earmarked money in their 2010 budget to open a men’s homeless intake center in Manhattan also, (as promised) - DHS is actually now proposing a budget savings, and a savings from the Bellevue intake center closure should not be reflected in DHS’s budget, if an intake center in manhattan is to remain open – this appears to be the case though, despite testimony by DHS Commissioner Robert Hess stating that DHS will open a new intake center in Manhattan, which he gave at the General Welfare Committee’s preliminary budget hearing for the Department of Homeless Services

**Press conference to protest DHS’s move of the men’s homeless central intake center from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and to demand that funds be allocated by the Department of Homeless Services in their budget for a Manhattan men’s homeless intake center, as stated by the Commissioner**

This press event is in support of homeless individuals and the community. Please join us to fight DHS’ misguided plan that will not benefit the City’s male homeless population (over 60% reside in Manhattan), and will harm an already overburdened community. Also, a central intake center for homeless men has existed in Manhattan for more than 30 years. Below is a portion of Commissioner Hess’s testimony, but at this time, there is no reflection in the Department of Homeless Services 2010 budget for funding to open a men’s homeless intake center in Manhattan.

“We've received considerable feedback regarding our plans to move men's intake from its current location at 30th Street in Manhattan to the Bedford Atlantic Armory in Brooklyn, when the current site closes. And based on that input, we have developed a new plan that will allow us to have in place two intake sites - one site in Manhattan, and a second site in Brooklyn at the Bed-Atlantic Armory. We will ensure that there is a new intake site in Manhattan by the time DHS exits 30th Street facility.


Who: Advocates for the homeless, the Crown Heights community and public officials

What: Press conference to demand that the Department of Homeless Services abandon plans to close the Men’s Homeless Central Intake Center in Manhattan, and move it to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory Men’s Shelter in Brooklyn - without funding in DHS’s budget to open a men’s homeless intake center in Manhattan

When: Sunday, June 7th, at 3 pm

Where: Steps of City Hall


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ATTENTION: CM James, Elected Officials, and Community Groups, Press Conference To Oppose DHS Plan to Move Homeless Intake Center, 3/8, 2PM, City Hall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2009

Council Member Letitia James; Council Member Al Vann; Council Member Bill de Blasio; State Senator Eric Adams; State Senator Velmanette Montgomery; Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries; Assemblymember Karim Camara; along with community groups including the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement; the Crown Heights North Association; and the Crow Hill Community Association; as well as neighborhood residents and advocates for the homeless will gather for a press conference on the Steps of City Hall, to oppose the Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) plan to move the men’s homeless intake
center from Manhattan to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory Homeless Shelter in Brooklyn

Elected officials at press conference will announce that a law firm has been retained to stop the men’s homeless central intake center move - this Sunday, March 8th at 2 pm, on Steps of City Hall.

This press event is in support of homeless individuals, and the community. Please join us to fight this misguided plan that will not benefit the City’s male homeless population (nearly 60% reside in Manhattan), and will harm an overburdened community. Manhattan has the highest concentration of street homelessness of all five boroughs, and since the late 1970s, the City of New York has always maintained an intake center for homeless men in Manhattan.

By moving the central intake center to Crown Heights, Brooklyn -- an area with limited public transportation options -- DHS is essentially moving the front door to the shelter system farther away from those who need it most. This plan will significantly decrease access to shelter for homeless men throughout the City. Also, the Bloomberg Administration has not kept its pledge to create intake sites for homeless men in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.

Who: Elected Officials, Advocates for the Homeless and the Crown Heights Community

What: Press conference to announce the law firm that has been retained to halt the Department of Homeless Services’ plan to close the Manhattan central intake center for homeless men and transfer its functions to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

When: Sunday, March 8th at 2:00 pm on the Steps of City Hall

Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, (646) 201-8183

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Crown Height Revitalization Movement: Bedford Armory Coalition

The Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHARM) has been keeping Council Member James and Team Tish updated on the progress to halt the Department of Homeless Service's plan to move the Men's Manhattan Intake Center from Manhattan to the Bedford/Atlantic Armory Shelter.

CHARM asserts:

· DHS commissioner Robert Hess stated at a recent City Council hearing that the Department intends to start-up the intake center at Bed/Atlantic in the spring*

· The plan is to have 230 beds in that shelter. 200 for intake and assessment, and 30 beds for a detox unit.*

· It is likely the Peter Young shelter will become a 28-day drug rehab facility.*

Council Member James feels strongly that it is the responsibility of government to care for those in our society that are less fortunate, however she joins CHARM in their concern that the Crown Heights community, and the borough of Brooklyn, hold an unfair share of that responsibility. Multiple homeless advocates, community board 8, and other elected officials have asserted that this move will be detrimental to the Crown Heights community and its ability to serve the homeless population.

Council Member James has held numerous press conferences and other events to raise awareness of this matter, and to inform the administration of the concerns throughout the community. She continues to work with advocacy agencies such as CHARM on this issue. Currently, anyone interested in working with CHARM in regards to this issue should email crownheightsrm@gmail.com to join the mailing list.

*Please note that these are not finalized plans.

Tish testifies at NYS Assembly hearing

After the press conference and rally held on the steps of City Hall, a public hearing was held in the Assembly Hearing Room in which Council Members James and De Blasio were invited to testify on the relocation of the men's homeless intake center from Manhattan to Brooklyn:

"Maybe there would be merit if Bellevue was being closed for affordable housing... then maybe! Instead, it is going towards ANOTHER luxury hotel... How dare this administration put me and my colleagues in the center of having to choose between a recreational facility and an intake center."

In what Council Member DeBlasio dubbed 'a dangling carrot,' both council members argued passionately on behalf of the residents of Crown Heigts. Both reasoned that this part of Brooklyn is home to more services per square mile that any other area in New York City, and that the intake center would hamper the business improvements, economic development, safety, and rezoning efforts made by the local residents. Furthermore, it is illogical to have homeless men traveling to a Brooklyn intake center given that approximately 60% of the city's homeless are based in Manhattan.

This is the latest in a number of press conferences Letitia has held on this issue. Tish and others that hold her same stance hope to appeal to State officials as well as use Land Use laws (ULURP), and public outcry as a means to halt the proposed intake center.

In her own words, "Brooklyn will no longer serve as a dumping ground for Manhattan and this administration's elitism."

Rally in protest of Men’s Homeless Intake Center Move

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2008


Council Member Letitia James; Assemblyman Karim Camara; Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries; State Senator Eric Adams; Father Caleb Buchanon of St. Gregory the Great RC Church; along with representatives from offices of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz; Congresswoman Yvette Clarke; and community groups including the Crown Heights Revitalization Movement (CHRM); Picture the Homeless; Coalition for the Homeless; Crown Heights North Association; as well as advocates for the homeless; plus neighborhood residents gather for a press conference and rally on the Steps of City Hall to oppose DHS’ plan to move the men’s homeless intake center to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory in Brooklyn

Rally in protest of Men’s Homeless Intake Center Move, Steps of City Hall on Friday, September 19th

This press event is in support of homeless individuals and the community; it is scheduled to take place this Friday (right before the Assembly Standing Committee on Social Services Public Hearing, on the Relocation of the Men’s Homeless Intake Center from Manhattan to Brooklyn). The press conference and rally is scheduled to begin at 9 AM on the Steps of City Hall, and the public hearing will be held at 10 AM in the Assembly Hearing Room, Room 1923, 19th Floor, at 250 Broadway (across the street from City Hall).

Please join us to fight DHS’ misguided plan that will not benefit the City’s male homeless population (over 60% live in Manhattan), and will harm an already overburdened community.

Who:
Advocates for the Homeless and the Crown Heights Community, Public Officials

What:
Press conference to demand that Department of Homeless Services (DHS) abandon plans to close the Men’s Homeless Intake Center in Manhattan, and move it to the Bedford-Atlantic Armory Men’s Shelter in Brooklyn

When:
Friday, September 19th, press conference/rally begins at 9 AM

Where:
Steps of City Hall

Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

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