CULTURAL HUB WILL BE PLANNED FOR KENSINGTON

The Kensington Cultural Council has been awarded $25,000 to "carry out a planning process for a neighborhood cultural hub."

Brooklyn Org (formerly Brooklyn Community Foundation) granted the award through its inaugural Neighborhood Collective Impact Project to "support collaborations between community-based nonprofits to address local needs."

The award is designated for projects that "advance racial justice and provide critical resources to BIPOC communities and residents who have been historically disempowered or discriminated against across Brooklyn."

The Kensington Cultural Council's nonprofit partners are

• Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY, Inc.,  
• The Singing Winds,  
• Casa Cultural,  
• Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts,
• Arts & Democracy, and  
• ArtBuilt.

From Brooklyn Org's press release:

The Kensington Cultural Council will coordinate a series of multilingual public cultural events including family arts workshops, sewing circles, dance and ESL classes, storytelling, concerts, and forums reflecting the traditional cultures of immigrant families. To address a lack of community space, the group will carry out a planning process for a neighborhood cultural hub that includes office and studio space for local artists and cultural organizations; a large conference room for public workshops, meetings and forums; and storage for shared equipment.

 

"ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOCATED" FOR PEDESTRIANS CROSSING AT CHURCH-MCDONALD

Like many other intersections in our neighborhood, the one at Church and McDonald avenues poses a danger to people who cross it, whether on foot or on wheels.

I contacted the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) in November 2023 to request the installation of a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) at the intersection. They sent this response on Thursday: the seven-second LPI for crossing Church is long enough, and an LPI for crossing McDonald isn't needed.

-----------------------------------

From: Customer Service <CRM_autoresponses@dot.nyc.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2023 1:34 PM
To: Joy Rich
Subject:  DOT-625496-M6D7 - Leading Pedestrian Signal Study- Church Avenue at Mcdonald Avenue - Brooklyn 

 

Dear Joy Rich:

Thank you for your correspondence regarding unsafe traffic conditions at the intersection of Church Avenue and McDonald Avenue.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is committed to providing all New Yorkers with a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation network. DOT and the City of New York continues its efforts to make bold commitments to improve street safety in every neighborhood and in every borough – with new street designs and configurations, enhanced pedestrian spaces, public education, and increased penalties for dangerous drivers. There is much more work ahead of us and DOT is committed to our partnership with NYPD, TLC, and other City agencies in making roads safer for all New Yorkers.

DOT’s Division of Traffic will conduct a study at this location to determine the need and feasibility of installing a Leading Pedestrian Interval, which gives pedestrians time to begin crossing the street before the light turns green for motorists. This study will take into consideration traffic and pedestrian volumes, vehicular speeds, accident history, visibility, signal spacing, and other conditions. This process takes some time to complete, but it provides traffic engineers with enough information to reach decisions which are in the best interests of public safety and efficient street operation. Borough Commissioner Keith Bray will advise you of our findings at that time.

Thank you for your concern for traffic safety.

Sincerely,

Donna Manitta 

Commissioner's Correspondence Unit

New York City Department of Transportation

 ------------------

From: Customer Service <CRM_autoresponses@dot.nyc.gov>

Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 4:57 PM
To: Joy Rich
Subject:  DOT-625496-M6D7  - Leading Pedestrian Signal Study- Church Avenue at McDonald Avenue - Brooklyn 

Dear Joy Rich,

This is in response to our November 22, 2023, email regarding the operation of the traffic signals at the intersection of Church Avenue and McDonald Avenue.  Please accept my apologies for the delay.

We completed our investigation and found these signals operating properly as designed with an adequate amount of time allocated for the pedestrian crossings.  In addition, we evaluated the need for a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) for pedestrian crossing McDonald Avenue, but in our judgment, it is not required since there are no significant turning vehicular/pedestrian conflicts.  However, there is an existing Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) for pedestrian crossing Church Avenue.  The LPI provides an exclusive Seven-(7) seconds “WALK” period at the start of the signal phase, long enough for pedestrians to establish their presence in the crosswalk.

In order to obtain the full benefit of the crossing time provided, pedestrians should start crossing at the beginning of the “Walking Man” indication. A flashing “Hand” indicates that there is insufficient time to complete the crossing. However, pedestrians already in the crossing will have sufficient time to proceed to the opposite sidewalk or median (where provided).

Under NYS law, vehicles making right/left turns must always yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.  Violation of the law is an enforcement problem and should be referred to the local precinct for their attention.

Thank you for your continued interest in this matter.

Sincerely,

 

Keith Bray

Brooklyn Borough Commissioner

NYC Department of Transportation

www.nyc.gov/dot 

 

CK22-3448B

DOT-625496-M6D7

FLEA MARKET AT THE GARDEN

 

Spring Flea Market

Saturday, May 4th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 5th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Books, clothing, toys, housewares, knickknacks, seedlings, and baked goods--you'll find them all at the East Fourth Street Community Garden's Spring Flea Market.

 

The flea market will be held on Saturday, May 4th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 5th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Proceeds from the fund raiser will be used to support the maintenance of the garden and special events that are offered free to the community.

Location

East Fourth Street Community Garden

171 E. 4th Street

between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

https://eastfourthstreetgarden.tumblr.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/246036418909475

 

DIA DEL NINO: THE DAY OF THE CHILD FESTIVAL

 

Día del Niño: The Day of the Child Festival

Tuesday, April 30th

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

The Singing Winds:

Storytelling from Around the World

presents

Día del Niño

The Day of the Child Festival 

 

Tuesday, April 30th 

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Crafts, games, puppet theater, puppet-making workshop, Ballet Folklorico Mariposas, dance and demo

 

Free Activities for All Ages

in Albemarle Playground

Location

Albemarle Playground

McDonald Avenue

between Albemarle Road and Caton Avenue

behind the P.S. 230 Upper School

Kensington, Brooklyn

(map)

72ND PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN MAY WITH THE PUBLIC AND OFFICERS OF THE 72ND PRECINCT

 

72nd Precinct Community Council Meeting

Tuesday, May 14th

7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The next meeting between the 72nd Precinct Community Council, the public, and officers of the 72nd Precinct will be held on Tuesday, May 14th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Talk with the precinct's Commanding Officer, Detective Inspector Krystin Suarez, the Community Affairs Officers, and the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) for each of the precinct's sectors.

Everyone who lives or works in Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, South Slope, and Sunset Park is invited to the meeting to discuss past crimes and learn what the precinct is doing to prevent future crimes.

Find out about the types of crime that have been taking place, their frequency, any enabling factors, and how to prevent them.

Members of the public are invited to voice their concerns about criminal activity, including armed robberies, rape and other forms of sexual assaults, home break-ins, burglaries in local stores, bank robberies, speeding drivers, stolen bicycles, package theft, and other crimes.

You can receive e-mail announcements about future meetings by contacting Council President Tina Ponce at tinaponce76@gmail.com or (570) 540-5016.

Location

Holy Name Church

245 Prospect Park West

at Prospect Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

 

------------------------------------------

 

72nd Precinct Community Council: https://www.facebook.com/72nd-Precinct-Community-Council-1611883092371304

72nd Precinct

phone: (718) 965-6311

website: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/72nd-precinct.page

CompStat report (crime statistics): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-072pct.pdf

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD72Pct

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NYPD72pct

HOUSING NOT HIGH-RISES: REPORTS ON THE APRIL COMMUNITY MEETING

Arrow Linen Supply Company is planning to shut down its operations in Windsor Terrace. Arrow has applied for rezoning for the land that it and several nearby houses sit on, a move that would increase the sale value of its property.

 

Rezoning would allow a developer to build thirteen-story high-rises on Prospect Avenue, between Prospect Park West and 8th Avenue, a block of mainly two- and three-story houses.

 

In response, a group of neighbors formed Housing Not High-Rises. The group is advocating for a five- to seven-story building with at least fifty percent of it affordable.

 

What Arrow is requesting appears to be spot zoning.

Spot zoning refers to the rezoning of a parcel of land to a use category different from the surrounding area, usually to benefit a single owner or a single development interest. Size of the parcel is relevant, but not determinative. Illegal spot zoning occurs whenever “the change is
other than part of a well-considered and comprehensive plan calculated to serve the general welfare of the community."

https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/01/zoning-and-the-comprehensive-plan.pdf 

 

Housing Not High-Rises held its most recent community meeting on April 16th at Holy Name Church and has posted a summary of the meeting, the slide presentation made at the meeting, and suggestions for follow-up steps that neighbors can take, such as contacting elected representatives.

 

Additional reading from "Brownstoner" and "Brick Underground":

"A Brooklyn group says yes to affordable housing but no to 13-story towers" https://www.brickunderground.com/live/arrow-linen-rezoning-housing-not-high-rises-windsor-terrace-brooklyn

 

"Windsor Terrace Locals Want a Shorter, More Affordable Arrow Linen Project" https://www.brownstoner.com/development/windsor-terrace-arrow-linen-rezoning-467-prospect-avenue-height/

YARD SALE AT HINTERLANDS BAR

Yard Sale

Sunday, May 5th

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Hinterlands Bar will hold its first annual yard sale on Sunday, May 5th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

 

Buy clothes, electronics, collectables, records, and comics. Enjoy drink specials, snacks, and more.

If you have "stuff" hanging around that you would like to sell at the yard sale, reserve a table by sending an e-mail to hinterlandsbar@gmail.com.

Location

Hinterlands Bar

739 Church Avenue

between E. 7th and E. 8th streets

Kensington, Brooklyn

(718) 633-0550

hinterlandsbar@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/hinterlandsbar

https://www.instagram.com/hinterlands_bar/?hl=en

CELEBRATE THE BENGALI NEW YEAR IN KENSINGTON

Join the Mongol Shovo Jatra parade on Saturday, April 20th, to celebrate the start of the Bengali New Year 1431.

Schedule:

HOUSING NOT HIGH-RISES: AN URGENT COMMUNITY MEETING

From Housing Not High-rises:

Urgent Community Meeting April 16, 2024

Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 16. We need you to come, to demonstrate to our elected officials that we care about housing and keeping it consistent with our neighborhood.

Our elected officials have been invited.  Shahana Hanif’s office has confirmed their attendance, and her support is pivotal in this issue.

The only way our elected officials can help us get what we want is for us to let them know what we want. Your attendance is important to deliver this message.

Please join us on April 16 at 7:00pm at Shepherd’s Hall in the Holy Name of Jesus Church (enter by way of the parking lot at 245 Prospect Park West, near Windsor Place).

Agenda:

• Welcome and thanks to our community
• Background on Housing Not High-Rises (formerly Arrow Action)
• Updates on city-wide zoning efforts via the City of Yes initiative
• Reports from subcommittees, including recent meetings with our representatives
• Neighborhood outreach and request for more signatures on our petition
• Q&A
• Post-meeting committee sign-up

We are looking forward to seeing you on April 16!

Thanks,

  – Chris, Jack, Jay, Julia, Kate, Marty, Phil and Steph

-------------------------------------

Housing Not High-rises is a community-based group. We live in Windsor Terrace, South Slope, and Kensington. We came together a couple of months ago when we learned that Arrow Linen Supply Company on Prospect Avenue, between Prospect Park West and 8th Avenue, wants to develop massive 13-story mid-block luxury towers.

Arrow Linen has applied to the city to rezone the block––allowing it to sell its property to a developer for maximum profit and then leave.

This drawing is copied from Arrow Linen’s proposal. 

If Arrow Linen gets permission to build these towers, greedy developers will do the same everywhere we live.

We have better ideas. We want AFFORDABLE HOUSING. We do NOT want high-priced high-rises.

Arrow Linen has hired lobbyists and lawyers…. We are organizing.

We are meeting with our elected officials to share feedback from our neighbors and make our goals clear. We would like to see a housing plan that creates community-based housing that works with our neighborhood, not luxury towers.

Please join us. Go to https://housingnothighrises.org to sign our petition, join our mailing list, and get meeting updates. See our ideas, city planning information, and Arrow’s proposal. Come to our next community meeting at Holy Name of Jesus, Shepherd's Hall, listed above.

 Please contact our City Councilmember, Shahana Hanif. She is central to what is actually built. See our website for suggested messages. Contact her at 718-499-1090 / district39@council.nyc.gov / #ShahanaFromBK.

Let Councilmember Hanif know that we want housing that supports our neighborhood, not high-rises that enrich landowners.

 

VINTAGE AND CRAFT MARKET AT THE CRAFT SALON

The Craft Salon Vintage + Craft Market

Sunday, May 5th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

From The Craft Salon:

Join us for our annual vintage + craft market at The Craft Salon. 10 AM - 5 PM, 625 Church Ave btw Ocean Parkway and E. 7th St.
Shop good from our talented staff and local vendors. Vintage goods and clothing, handcrafted ceramics and MORE. 

SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

 

Location

The Craft Salon

625 Church Avenue 

between Ocean Parkway and E. 7th Street

Kensington, Brooklyn

(917) 324-8290

dari@thecraftsalonstudio.com

https://thecraftsalonstudio.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Thecraftsalonstudio

https://www.instagram.com/thecraftsalon/

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_craft_salon_ny

 

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 APRIL PUBLIC MEETING (WINDSOR TERRACE, GREENWOOD HEIGHTS, SOUTH SLOPE, AND SUNSET PARK)

 

Community Board 7 Public Meeting

Wednesday, April 17th

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 7's next monthly public meeting will be held both in person at the board office and virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, April 17th, from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:00 p.m.

 

Community Board 7 is the liaison between New York City government agencies and the residents, business owners, and employees of Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, South Slope, and Sunset Park.

Attendees will have two opportunities to address the board (items 6 and 14 on the agenda below). You're welcome to share you concerns, questions, needs, problems, suggestions, or solutions with CB 7's board members.

To join the meeting on Zoom from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android device, or landline, register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x5FziVEDTsitIyCkAIpJoA#/registration.

 

Right after you register for the meeting on Zoom, you'll receive an e-mail confirming your registration. It will also give you instructions on joining the meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone, or landline/wired phone.

The meeting can also be viewed on CB 7's YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3uQlAtq.

From the website: 

The Board's boundaries are the waterfront on the west, the Long Island Railroad cut to the South (approximately 65th Street); Our boundary extends north on 8th Avenue from 62nd Street to Greenwood Cemetery. We include all of the cemetery and the land between it and Prospect Park to Caton Avenue on the east. Our northern border is on 15th Street from Park Circle to Hamilton Avenue and continues on Hamilton Avenue to the Gowanus Canal.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board that serves as the liaison between neighborhood residents and city agencies. Board members are appointed by the borough president.

 

Members of the public are welcome to serve on a committee without being a board member. Descriptions of CB 7's committees are posted at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/brooklyncb7/committees/committees.page. Contact the Community Board 7 office to learn more.

Proposed agenda:
1.  Pledge of Allegiance
2.  Roll Call
3.  Opening of the meeting
4.  Adoption of the agenda
5.  Adoption of the minutes of the March 20, 2024 board meeting

6. Public Comment (3 minutes to speak on topics covered on the agenda)

7.  Elected Officials and Representatives

8.  Committee Reports: 

  A)  Executive Committee (No vote required) - 1. Protecting Your Generational Wealth workshop

  B) Transportation Committee (No vote required) - 1. 1^st & 2^nd Avenue one-way conversions, recommendations, and next steps, 2. Discussion on BQE revisioning for BQE South

9.  Roll Call

10. Chairperson’s Report 

11. District Manager’s Report 

12. Old Business 

13. New Business 

14. Public Comment (3 minutes to speak on any topic) 

15. Adjournment

 

 -------------------------------------------------------

 

Community Board 7

4201 4th Avenue (entrance on 43rd Street)

Sunset Park, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 854-0003

fax: (718) 436-1142

bk07 @ cb.nyc.gov

http://www1.nyc.gov/site/brooklyncb7/index.page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Community-Board-7/195263140637225

https://twitter.com/bkcb7

https://www.instagram.com/brooklyncb7

 

DINNER UNDER THE STARS AT FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER: SHABBAT SERVICES AND DINNER

 

 Dinner Under the Stars

Friday, April 19th, 6:00 p.m.

Flatbush Jewish Center will hold a lively Kabbalat Shabbat evening service on Friday, April 19th, at 6:00 p.m., followed by a catered Shabbat dinner at 6:45 p.m.

Kid-friendly and vegetarian options will be available. The cost is $25 for an adult, $30 for a non-member, and $10 for a child over age six.

Registration is required in advance at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fjcbrooklyn?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US to attend the dinner. Indicate that you're registering for the dinner and include any dietary restrictions you may have.

You can also register by phoning the office at (718) 871-5200 or sending an e-mail to the address below.

The deadline for registration is April 17th.

Location

Flatbush Jewish Center

327 E. 5th Street

corner of Church Avenue

Kensington, Brooklyn

phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204

office@flatbushjewishcenter.org

https://flatbushjewishcenter.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter

FLEA MARKET, BOOK SALE, AND BAKE SALE AT P.S. 130 UPPER SCHOOL

 

Flea Market, Book Sale, and Bake Sale

Saturday, April 13th, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

P.S. 130 will hold its 7th Annual Flea Market on Saturday, April 13th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Because of the predicted weather conditions, the event will take place indoors in the school gymnasium.

As a community event, items will be sold at very low prices:

• gently-used baby and children's clothing and shoes 
• books for adults and children, including educational books
• toys, games, and puzzles 
• sporting goods, including for soccer, basketball, baseball, etc.

Location

P.S. 130 Upper School gymnasium

713 Caton Avenue

between E. 7th and E. 8th streets

Windsor Terrace/Kensington

COMMUNITY STREET CLEANUP: PEOPLE JOINING TOGETHER TO BEAUTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD

 

Community Cleanup in Kensington

Sunday, April 14th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Clean Up Kensington will partner with the Sanitation Foundation to clean up a portion of Kensington on Sunday, April 14th, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To join in, meet up at the corner of Cortelyou Road and East 8th Street at 11:00 a.m.

Clean Up Kensington is one of the community groups that's involved in the Sanitation Foundation's NYC Big Spring Clean, and it'll be featured on the Volunteer Hub.

From the Sanitation Foundation: 

We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand new program - the Sanitation Foundation's NYC Big Spring Clean. It’s a spectacular month of cleanups and activities during Earth Month where we champion New Yorkers and help them care for the places they love the most.

 

We’ll be working with 40+ community groups, 50+ schools and over a dozen corporate and non-profit partners to provide the leadership and resources they need to keep their favorite places clean.

 

As part of this massive citywide effort, we are introducing an online Volunteer Hub, which will serve as a go-to resource for New Yorkers to find out about volunteer opportunities near them and get involved.

• Learn more about NYC Big Spring Clean here.

• Explore the new Volunteer Hub and join a cleanup here.

• Read the press release here.

 

 Please share this news with your friends, family and co-workers and we hope to see you on a cleanup during Earth Month!

 

Clean Up Kensington

e-mail: cleanupkensington@gmail.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanupkensington/?hl=en

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cleanupkensington

 

SPRING CLEANUP AT THE DOG RUN

Kensington Dog Run Spring Cleaning

Sunday, April 14th, 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The Kensington Dog Run, a place for dogs to play and socialize, will get a spring cleaning on Sunday, April 14th, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Dog run users and everyone else are welcome to help clean up.

Located on Coney Island Avenue in the Parade Ground near Prospect Park, the Kensington Dog Run opened in July 2020 after years of advocacy by neighborhood dog owners.

The Kensington Dog Run Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Location

Kensington Dog Run

397A Coney Island Avenue

between Kermit Place and Caton Avenue

Kensington, Brooklyn

(map) 

https://www.facebook.com/KensingtonDogRun

https://twitter.com/kensingtondog?lang=en 

https://www.instagram.com/kensingtondogrun/ 

 

ADULT GAME NIGHT

Adult Game Night

Friday, April 5th, 6:00 p.m.

 

Join adult game night this Friday, April 5th, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. (or whenever people finish playing).

 

Send an e-mail to Ttimetactics@gmail.com to let them know that you'll be there--or just show up.

All of the games available at Tea Time Tactics will also be available for this adult-only night.

 

The fee for the event is $15. Pay at the door.

 

SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

Location

Tea Time Tactics

1293 Prospect Avenue

near Greenwood Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Ttimetactics@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Tea-Time-Tactics-106441785474974 

https://www.teatimetactics.com/

https://www.instagram.com/teatimetactics/ 

 

LIBRARY OPEN ON SUNDAYS IN BOROUGH PARK

Recent cuts to New York City's budget led to seven-day-a-week service being cut to six days a week in New York City's three library systems (New York, Brooklyn, and Queens).

 

Weekend service was limited to Saturdays at all Brooklyn branches, including the Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Cortelyou, and Borough Park branches.

 

However, after discussions between Brooklyn Public Library president Linda Johnson and elected officials representing Borough Park, the weekend day that the Borough Park branch is open has been changed from Saturday to Sunday.

 

All other branches are still open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

 

The branch is fully accessible.

 

To prevent additional budget cuts to libraries for the upcoming fiscal year, please sign a form addressed to Mayor Adams, City Council Speaker Adams, Council Majority Leader Farías, Committee on Libraries Chair Rivera, Council Finance Chair Brannan, and your City Councilmember.

 

Hours
Monday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: CLOSED

Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

Location
Borough Park Library
lower level
1265 43rd Street
between 12th and 13th avenues
Borough Park, Brooklyn

(718) 437-4085 

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/locations/borough-park