New York City and New York State have agreed to allow the city to complete the construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The two entities have been at odds regarding control of the park for several months. For the next fiscal year, the city is committing $55 million to the project and the state will continue to be involved in shaping the park. No opening date has been set for the park.

The Department of City Planning agreed to the necessary zoning changes for Rose Plaza in a 7-5 vote. Of the 801 units slated for the project, 160 are designated affordable. The project will also include retail, public and community spaces. Community Board 1 and Council member Steve Levin oppose the project on the basis of the low number of affordable units.

The Community Preservation Corporation this week defended the density and size of its proposal to redevelop Brooklyn’s old Domino Sugar refinery. Community Board 1 rejected CPC’s plan last week, citing affordability and density concerns.

The Community Preservation Corporation announced that 660 housing units of its development at New Domino will be permanently affordable. This is a change from the original plan to keep the units affordable for fifteen years. Even with this improvement, the developers will still need to consider enhancing transportation access to the site.

The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) has submitted a Request For Qualifications with the Regional Plan Association to identify potential designers for a small pocket park along the Brooklyn Greenway route near the Brooklyn Naval Yard. The 1.7 acre parcel is the former site of the Brooklyn Naval Yard Hospital, along Williamsburg Street between Flushing and Kent Avenues.

Brooklyn Bridge Park landscape architect, Michael Van Valkenburgh, spoke to the Brooklyn Heights Association earlier this week. The designer noted that the park's grandeur encompassed the 800 acres of water beyond the 65 acre green area. He noted that Piers 1 and 6 should open shortly and that Pier 2 would feature recreational space.

On Tuesday February 23rd, the Land Use Committee of Brooklyn's Community Board 1 rejected the $1.2 billion proposal to redevelop the Domino Sugar factory in Williamsburg. One point of contention was the 15-year promise of affordability for some of the residential units as opposed to guaranteeing permanent affordability. The full board will vote on the plan on March 9th.

Residents and neighbors are concerned about the additional stress added to the Williamsburg infrastructure if the zoning for the New Domino development is approved. The proposed project could bring up to 5,000 new people to the area. Advocates are asking MTA to look at alternatives including Bus Rapid Transit and to reexamine the proposed parking requirements.

This week the president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation sought approval from a community board subcommittee for the planned Pier 4 at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Construction of the pier will costs $10.8 million, but only one third of this amount has been secured thus far. Plans for the pier included a pedestrian walkway as well as an island wildlife sanctuary.

The New Domino plan received mixed reviews from Community Board 1 residents at a meeting on Tuesday night. The developer, CPC Resources, highlighted the plans affordable housing (at 30 and 60% AMI), commercial space, parking, and waterfront open space. Some residents, including two faith leaders, spoke in favor of the project.