Page 132 - Demo

Page 4 PHOENIX February 21,1974Slooe G rn n n liAoofc w ith M ethodist HospitalOn Parking,6th St.ClosingFoot TrafficBY JOHN BLACKMOREThe 6th Street-Prospect Park West Block Association sponsored a general meeting Feb. 13 to hear James Makos, Asst. Administrator of Methodist Hospital, describe the hospital%u2019s current expansion plans. The association was particularly interested in hearing the adm inistration%u2019s current thinking concerning the proposed closing of 6th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.Makos outlined the first stage of the planned expansion, which includes tearing down the existing Nurses Residence at the corner of 8th Avenue and 6th Street. A new residential unit is slated to be built straddling 6th Street at the eastern end of the block.In response to questions concerning the proposed height and design of the new building, Makos said that the structure will not exceed the height of the Wesley House residence (12 stories) and will be of a similar style (glass facade and international-style fenestration.)%u2018%u2018Many of those present were dissatisfied with Makos%u2019s answer, considering this architectural style to be unattractive and 12 stories too high for the neighborhood,%u201d reported Shelly Silvers of 6th Street, secretary of the block association.Makos emphasized that no particular plan had yet been approved, and that he could onlyf>eak about the hospital%u2019s currentconcept.Concerning the closing of Sixth Street, Ms. Silvers assessed the reaction of those present as %u201cnotoverw helm ingly n e g a tiv e.%u201d %u201cPeople didn%u2019t mind too much about the vehicles being stopped,%u201d she said, %u201cBut they were concerned that pedestrians will still have access up and down the street.\critical an issue on 6th Street than it would be on adjacent streets because the slops is easiest there, and many elderly residents choose this route because of its gentle incline.Parking was very much an issue at Wednesday%u2019s meeting. Sixth Street residents said that cars belonging to Methodist employees and visitors fill a high percentage of the available parking spaces on the street. %u201cMost of the time I can%u2019t park my car within a block of my house,%u201d one resident complained. Makos assured the group that the hospital currently plans to build an underground parking facility which will house 300 cars. He admitted, however, that this will not be sufficient to house even the employees cars.%u201cThe residents were very upset about the new building extending across 6th Street and blocking the line of sight down the slope,%u201d Ms. Silvers reported. The hospital spokesman again responded that Methodist had not made final plans in this regard, but that current ones indicated a walk way through one side of the building. He added that the hospital planned to build townhouses adjacent to the new structure. But, according to Ms. Silvers, this did not mollify the group.Although there was not a large turnout for Wednesday%u2019s meeting, block association members were pleased that so many residentsSixth Street and Seventh Avenue looking toward Eighth Avenue, with a clear view all theway to Prospect Park.Same place, as it might appear if the Hospital%u2019s proposed new building is constructed asproposed. Note: the envisioned ramp or stairway %u2014 some form of sharper incline appearsinevitable under this plan.living below 7th and 6th Avenues attended. And while many of those present strongly oppose the hospital%u2019s plans, most contacted by the PHOENIX thought the evening was productive.%u201cThe whole thing was new to a lot of people, many were getting the first wind of the hospital%u2019splans,%u201d commented Ed Dunn, proprietor of Dunn%u2019s Funeral Home. %u201cThe hospital representative was forthright. He gave a clear-cut picture,-at least as far as he could go.%u201d Dunn emphasized that this was no opposition meeting, rather an informative one. %u201cBut there was plenty of opposition,%u201d added Ms. Silvers,\through his presentation, for all the arguing.%u201dAnother meeting of the block association will be announced shortly say officers to consider the facts at hand on the Methodist expansion issue, and formulate policy to deal with it.Local Designer Submits Plans:Carroll Gardens Assn. ProposesMini Park to Replace Vacant LotCommuting to and from work in the future may be a bit more pleasant for Carroll Gardens residents who use the Secon Place entrance of the IND subway at Smith Street.The improvement will be in the form of a %u201cmini-park%u201d designed by Giac D%u2019Acquisto, a graduate of Pratt Institute and resident of Carroll Gardens. The project will be sponsored by The Carroll Gardens Association. The %u201cminipark%u201d design is the Association%u2019s solution to a long standing problem existing in front of the subway entrance.What is now only a dreary unkempt patch of dirt which accumulates litter and broken glass will be transformed into a planted area of circular tree wells and brick paving with concrete pathways.Although the circular plan is the preferred design of the Carrol Gardens Committee, several design proposals executed by D%u2019Acquisto will be presented to interested residents of the area at a community meetingat7:30p.m. on Tuesday February 26, at the Martin Fiore American Legion Post, 355 Smith Streett.The designer of the %u201cmini-park%u201d, Giac D%u2019Acquisto says, %u201cThe desigi solution preferred by the Committee is the most viable of the several schemes presented. It is simple, functional, inexpensive ard unpretentious. The diagonal pathways will offer invitation into what is is presently a totally uninviting area as well as direct the pedestrian flow to and from the subway.%u201dTony Gambale, President of The Carroll Gardens Association stated that preliminary estimates indicate that approximately $3200 to $3800 will be needed to make the proposal a reality. Financing of the proposed project will come from a combination of public funds and private contributions by local residents, businessmen and organizations. Mr. Gambale further stated that the %u201cminipark proposal is one of the Association%u2019s most positive actions in recent years to foster community pride and involvement.make the %u201cmini-park%u201d a reality payable to: The Carroll Gardens Gambale, 128 Carroll Street, should send their contributions Association, Inc., care of Anthony Brooklyn, N. Y. 11231.PROPOSED VACANT LOT IMPROVEMENTsponsored by THE CARROLL GARDENS ASS%u2019N, INC. gic%u00bb S toThe %u201cmini-park%u201d will offer a small, attractive step toward realization of this pride and involvement. Any person or organization that wants to helpThis is the designer's view of the new plaza area that the Carroll Gardens Association wants toconstruct at the entrance to the IND subway station at Smith St and Second Place. Designer isGiac D%u2019Acquisto.