Earlier this week the New York City Department of Transportation held a series of public meetings to explain the process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as it pertains to the city's plans for reconstruction of the BQE Triple Cantilever and the BQE Central portion of the highway. We thank all the members of the public who attended one of the meetings. 

The city has declared its intention to begin the two-year NEPA process in May 2025, however, we note that the timeline for this project has already been subject to numerous delays and revisions.

Earlier this week, our local elected officials including Councilmember Restler, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Representatives Goldman and Velazquez sent a letter to Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi requesting that the city immediately put in place a stabilization / repair plan for the Cantilever given the lack of federal support this project is likely to see, along with a potential change in leadership at City Hall in the coming year. 

The letter, which has the BHA's full support and is in alignment with our stated position, goes on to say:

"Furthermore, advancing a shorter term stabilization approach would create an opening to craft a corridor-wide BQE plan that has broad support in neighborhoods alongside the BQE and would center environmental justice. Implementation of a stabilization plan that extends the integrity of the Triple Cantilever would also allow the city, state and federal governments to achieve new strategies to move freight into, through, and around our community and reduce dependence on personal vehicles."

Read the detailed coverage in the Brooklyn Eagle, including comments from the BHA here. 

The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) recently shared a study of our city’s water system and found that nearly 30 percent of the city’s service lines - the stretch of pipe that connects a building to the street’s underground water supply - are or may be made out of lead.  The study includes a detailed report as well as a map to help New Yorkers find out if the pipes that carry drinking water into their homes are made of lead. Read more about the study in City Limits.

While exposure to lead can have harmful health impacts, the city cites many mitigation steps to address potential lead in your home’s water including using cold water for cooking, drinking or preparing infant formula, removing and cleaning the faucet screen monthly and hiring a licensed plumber to identify and replace plumbing fixtures and/or service lines that contain lead.

In case you missed the information we sent about parapet inspections earlier this fall, we are republishing it here.

Parapets are any type of wall or cornice that extends above a roofline. A newly enacted Local Law 126 requires parapet inspections (to protect pedestrians from falling debris).  However there have been flyers distributed around the neighborhood noting that a “Parapet Inspection is Mandatory  by December 31, 2024”.  These fliers  are misleading because they leave out the portion of the law that includes the exceptions. Specifically, that the requirement does not apply to detached 1- or 2- family homes or buildings with a fence or other barrier preventing access to the exterior wall.

CURBED published an article explaining that even for those buildings that are required to have an inspection, you don't need to hire a big or expensive company to prepare the inspection report.  CURBED quotes Yegal Shamash, the DOB’s deputy commissioner of enforcement stating that inspection, “...can be done by any competent person — a super or a handyman, a mason, a bricklayer, the homeowner themselves if they’re competent. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to have it done. It’s a visual inspection — no testing, no probes. It can be done from the roof or the fire escape. We’re not even asking for the homeowner to file it with the department, just to keep it on hand for the next six years.” 

More details can also be found on this DOB webpage or at the DOB Parapet FAQ site.

We are looking for a video/audio editor to help us finalize two additional videos for our My Brooklyn Heights series. 

As you may remember, we launched these oral histories of Brooklyn Heights residents over the summer thanks to the dedication of journalist Andrew Nodell and video editor Andy McNeill, who volunteered their time speaking with four local residents sharing  personal stories about their lives, how they came to settle in this neighborhood, and what they love about living here. Andrew and Andy could use some help editing existing footage so that the additional clips can be added to the website.

Take a look at past My Brooklyn Heights videos (scroll down!) and contact Andrew if you can help out. 

Saturday December 14th.  9am-12pm.  Community Toy Drive. Bring a new unwrapped toy or book for ages 5-13.  All toys will be given to school children in our district's highest needs school.  Drop off at Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket.

Saturday, December 14th.  11am and 1pm. Mozart for Munchkins - The Nutcracker.  Sanit Ann's Church.

Saturday December 14th. 7:30pm A Very Merry Brooklyn, Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra Annual Holiday Concert. Saint Ann's Church. 

Saturday and Sunday, December 14th & 15th.  11 am - 3 pm. Santa Portrait Studios at City Point.  One free portrait per family while spaces are available. Additional photos for purchase.  Get your ticket here! 

Monday, December 16th. 5:30pm.  Virtual Rat Academy for Community Gardeners. Register.

Wednesday, December 18th. 5:30pm.  Annual Holiday Tree Lighting sponsored by the Brooklyn Heights Garden Club.  Promenade at Montague Street.

Saturday, December 21st.  11am-12pm.  Caroling on Atlantic. Salter House and Earth Speaks.

Wednesday, December 25th through Thursday, January 2nd.  Menorah Lighting at Brooklyn Borough Hall + New Year's Eve Concert.