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March 14,1974 PHOENIX Page 3UeveioperMakes Last Ditch Effort for ShopMallBY MICHAEL ALLENA virtually united front ofcommunity leaders stood up beforea hastily-called meeting of theLocal District Six Planning Boardat Borough Hall on March 7 tospeak out against the last-minuteattempt to derail designation of thesix-acre %u201c Gas Company Site%u201dalong the Gowanus Canal as a%u201cpublic place%u201d in an effort topreserve the land for future publicuse.The meeting, called with noofficial public notice, and anaudience composed of public officials and local residents wholargely learned about the meetingthrough a half-page advertisementtaken out by a real estatedeveloper in the New York DailyNews, heard a verbal battle ragebetween some members of theBoard and those speakers onbehalf of the designation. Some ofthe officials said they had beeninvited personally by telephone onMarch 6.Gerard Carey is chairman of theBoard which is appointed by theBorough President to advise theCity Planning Commission onmatters which come before thacity-wide body relating to the localarea (in this case includingBrooklyn Heights, South Brooklynand Park Slope). Carey presidedover the meeting and attempted tokeep order despite strong feelingsthat raged over hostile treatmentby some of the Board of speakerstalking in behalf of the public placedesignation. Speakers for theshopping center project werereceived with sympathetic or noreaction by most of the boardmembersOne issue in the deliberationswas the question of the propriety ofthe hearing in light of the fact thatthough the Board is an advisorybody to the Planning Commission,the Commission had already held apublic hearing on the matter theprevious week, after the localBoard had failed to make arecommendation despite what aCommission spokesman calledrepeated attempts to seek anadvisory opinion.At the Commission%u2019s Manhattanhearing in late February, itemerged that the six acre plot, ofland in question that lies betweenthe Canal and Smith Street, southof Fifth St., had been purchased bya real estate developer late lastyear for improvement as thelocation of a new Pathmark %u201cminim all%u201d shopping center. Thedeveloper, Louis Rosenberg,maintained that he was not awareThis is view of site from elevated Transit station. Canal is in right foreground. Building in front is Antrenni Iron Works. Site is open space beyond factory.at the time that the land was underconsideration for city acquisition,even though plans were filed withthe City Building Departmentweeks before the hearing.Rosenberg has developed othercommercial and retail real estatein the South Brooklyn area, including an A & P leased market onNonth St.After the Planning Commission%u2019spublic hearing, Rosenberg took hiscase back to the Community Boardand obtained its sanction for apublic hearing to present his planto the community residents whoassembled at the call of his advertisement. In a lengthypresentation, well punctuated withcaustic remarks and catcalls fromthe audience, Rosenberg belittledthe concept of %u201cpublic place%u201ddesignation. He also said %u201cWe arenot looking to shove this projectdown the throat of the community,even though we are well within ourrights to do so.%u201dThe developer outlined a projectwhich would contain a majorsupermarket for the Pathmarkchain and eight stores which wouldbe leased to various other merchants to form the center. He saidthere would be parking for 400cars, including a portion of theparking underground if the planwere to proceed.Rosenberg said that the taking ofa piece of land by the city was\without a specific use in mind, andthat his development would keepthe property on the tax rolls,estimating a minimum of $100,000per year%u201d in property taxes.While the majority of theaudience, including every publicelected official who spoke, appeared to be opposed to the newproposal by Rosenberg and stoutlybehind the public place designal ionby the city, there were a number ofindividual citizens who spoke out infavor of the shopping center, citingthe need for (he cost savings such afacility might bring to family foodbudgets.One woman, Joan Gomi of 48:Clinton St., said that she fel:strongly about the desirability olthe center, as opposed by any kindof park use for the site, because%u201cparks attract muggers\Sheadded, \have enough fear already.\Continued on Page 9Phoenix Parks Probe Special:Tennis Proponents Cite Petition for CadParkCourtsBY JOHN BLACKMORE\there are no public tennis courtsin Brooklyn Heights. A t am eeting the other nightAssemblyman Pesce said emphatically that if enough interestwere shown, the situation couldbe changed. If you're interestedin playing tennis in the local areaplease sign belo\This notice appeared in lobbies at 2 Grace Court and 101 Clark Street last December. After a short time the petitions were removed bearing over 400 signatures.Subsequently dozens of letters were received by Assemblyman Pesce, PRCA Administrator Weisl and Director of Recreation Jerry Demers. Fact: A great number of people in the Brooklyn Heights area want public tennis courts. And as far as we know nobody yet has come forward in this . recreation-deficient neighborhood who is against the building of such facilities.There are, however, a number of people who are against building courts in Cadman Plaza Park. In the past three weeks l he Phoenix has attempted to survey the range of opinion* f i %u2022 %u2022