One of the topics that we write blogs about is the evolution, emergence, sometimes reemergence and transformation of various Brooklyn neighborhoods. On July 18th we focused on the emergence and forward progress of Brooklyn's Tech Triangle which encompasses the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, The Brooklyn Navy Yard and Dumbo. On May 10th we touched on the Future of Fort Greene/Downtown Brooklyn.
Today's blog is a continuation from that May10th Blog and is an update of specifically The BAM Cultural District a mini neighborhood whose boundaries consist of Flatbush Avenue, Fulton and South Oxford Streets and Hanson Place. Elevating, improving and if you will, perfecting the Cultural District has been a joint effort of the city Economic Development Corp., the Departments of Cultural Affairs, City Planning and HPD and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. According to David Lombino of Two Trees Management Co. (a developer primarily based in Dumbo but has a wonderful project planned in this neighborhood)" the Cultural District is certainly blossoming and that's a testament to what smart urban planning alongside public and private investment can accomplish".
There are several important developments in the planning stages and nearly completed. The Theatre For A New Audience or the new name the Polonsky Shakespear Center, just up the block from BAM on Ashland Place is the most recent addition to the Cultural District and is set to open October 19th with "A Midsummer Night's Dream" directed by Julie Traymor of The Lion King fame.
Another project by Two Trees Management is being planned for 2014 and will consist of a 32 story rental apartment building and cultural facility on a city site located at the intersection of Flatbush and Lafayette Avenues and Ashland Place. Other city sites in the Cultural District have more than 1,000 apartment residences planned to be built in the near future.
An architecturally innovative, upscale, Cultural District Hotel will be breaking ground at 95 Rockwell Place during the fourth quarter of this year. According to Greg Atkins the hotel's project executive "the glass tower- designed to look like it has fractures in it are filled with glowing light at night. There will be a grand entrance with a bar and restaurant facing the Ashland Place arts plaza in front of the Polonsky Shakespear Theatre. The hotel will also have a rooftop bar and a banquet hall.
According to BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins the impact of new apartment and hotel units will be a boon to her institution. It is going to mean a lot of new donors and subscribers for BAM. Hopkins continued to say that for New York City and for Brooklyn and even the country, this is the Cultural District for the 21st Century.
Any questions about what's happening in Brooklyn's wonderful neighborhoods call or email us anytime.
