By COLlive reporter
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office held a town hall meeting Monday night to discuss how to revitalize the century-old Bedford Armory in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY1 reported.
The Bedford Avenue Armory takes up almost an entire block and has been cut off from residents for decades – aside from two gala banquets held for Chabad rabbis and rebbetzins.
That could soon change as the state transfers control of the building that was once an Army cavalry unit to the city, the TV station reported.
“Wonderful structures, strong, well-made structures and they sit and sit and do nothing. And such a great facility can be put to great use,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
So Markowitz started to gather some ideas Monday by giving a tour in the 150,000-square-feet space and then at a meeting at Medgar Evers College, where dozens of residents came out and all sorts of ideas were exchanged.
Among the proposals were to turn it into a food pantry, after-school center for children and venue for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby.
“The armory should be used by the children of Crown Heights for recreational purposes or at the very least the space should be accessible to the people who call the area home,” Brocha Metzger, a lifelong New Yorker and former Crown Heightser, wrote to the project managers.
“I always bemoaned the dearth of recreational space in Crown Heights (and hoped that if I were to one day move away – it would be to a Suburban park-like area. So I moved to Midtown Manhattan!). It’s important to me despite my living elsewhere.”
Other residents complained to COLlive.com that the Jewish Community in Crown Heights were not notified about the project or the meeting by Markowitz’s office.
Suggestions for the use of the armory can still be emailed to this email: [email protected].
A conference center, available to all for rentals, with some default uses, would make maximum use of the facility, to the benefit of the community. Wedding banquets could be one of the alternative uses. Have you seen how fast they convert Madison Square Garden from an Ice show arena in the afternoon to a basketball court in the evening? (two hours). A similar multi-use facility would serve the community best.
It seems you’re not really familiar with the area.This is literally one block from Nostrand Avenue. The Armory actually begins at Union/ President Streets right off Rogers Avenue. There are many Anash that now live as close as half a block from Nostrand Avenue,beginning at E.P. and extending all the way up to Montgomery Street. Check it out for yourself. Not everyone lives smack center, you know. Our community is B.H. growing; just a few short years ago nobody would have entertained the idea of buying a house on the “other side” of the Parkway or as far down as… Read more »
Just love ur idea!!! KSCVK needs such a place to hold large and small weddings for all.
we could davin their and build a new building for 770 after we should make it a exerciser place for everyone
BH
You made me laugh!
Moshiach Now!
This is b’chlal not in the Jewish section of CH. Find me the parent who would send their kids there for recreational activities.
Ice rink, ice hockey, overflow for mishichistim, giant prsion for the unruly people from tzfas that go crazy in tishre.
right near e.p. and subways. the annex can be converted into a parking lot since its recently built..
could be a chassene hall
How about it becomes a conference center? I’m sure it could be fixed up by some enterprising consortium and used for hosting exhibitions & shows. It’s on a pretty good subway line, close to the Brooklyn Museum & Crown Heights could use an influx of cash.
they are both looking for bigger space
like they have now in many places out of town. Montreal does it and it really helps anash there. crown heights leaders should get together and do the same.
american 770 bochurim could learn there – better yet the kvutzoh…….
or perhaps a nice spot for a ladies mikvoh
Eli Cohen can clearly be seen in the video. If the staff of the chjcc knew about it it would be their fault for not publicizing it.
I spotted Eli Cohen. I hope he tried.
The arrmory could NOT accomadate the dinner ( ober du moozt shisen )
Well if the jewish residents of crown heights don’t take an interest in crown heights why should they consult with us. We took our kinnus hashluchim elsewhere while satmar made their giant simcha of 10,000 people!
Sell it to the highest bidder and the free market will determine that! What utter stupidity! It’s is truly the dumbest who are elevated into positions of power! The proceeds of the sale can go towards the city’s budget so they can go bankrupt 2 days later.