Brooklyn Bridge Park Condo Plan Draws Fire
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Dozens of Brooklyn residents spoke out Tuesday night against plans to put residential buildings inside Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Plans have been in the works for six buildings whose rent would help finance the park's maintenance and upkeep.
The park has to pay for itself, under the terms of a deal between the city and state.
During Tuesday night's public hearing in Cobble Hill, more than 100 people offered alternative funding sources.
They say building inside the park is a slippery slope.
"This is the first time in the city or the state, there will be private luxury housing inside the borders of a public park. Once you put private houses inside a public park, that land is gone forever," said Judi Francis of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund.
Opponents say cutting bureaucracy would cut maintenance costs.
One more public hearing is scheduled for next week, and a consultants' report on possible alternate funding sources is due by mid-February.