Community Corner
🌱 Winter Weather + The Cost Of Negligence + Restoring BK's Backyard
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Good morning, neighbors! It's me, Carlie Houser, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's what you need to know about what's happening locally, including:
- A grieving family is suing the city for $100 million
- Prospect Park's Vale could be getting a facelift as soon as 2024 depending on outcome of public hearing today
- Flurry of new eatery openings could be one sign of strong economic recovery in Brooklyn
But first, today's weather: 🌨 A morning snow shower or two — More info below. High: 39 Low: 32.
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Here are the top stories today in Brooklyn:
1. The city is preparing for what could be the first big winter storm of the season — Brooklyn expected to see at least three inches of snow. While the evening commute on Monday moved along as usual, forecasters expect that conditions overnight and into the morning will slow down Tuesday's a.m. travel. Folks interviewed on Monday by News 12 said they were already prepared and bundling up, and some were even excited for what could be the first real snow in the city this winter season. But do keep in mind: Patch has reported that incoming winter weather could snarl Bed-Stuy trains. Buses and trains that travel above ground (J, Z, M, etc.) could be affected by the wintry mix of wet stuff headed for Brooklyn.
2. The city is being sued for $100 million after a cyclist was killed in a box car crash in Brooklyn. The heartbroken relatives of Sarah Schick are blaming a poorly designed street for her death. On Jan. 10, Schick, 37 and mother of two, was pedaling east on Ninth Street in Gowanus around just before 7:30 a.m. when both she and the truck driver stopped at a red light at Second Avenue; when the light turned green, the truck and the bike somehow made contact and Schick was killed. Sam Davis, a lawyer for Schick's family, claims that the street that Schick was riding that morning are filled with "lethal flaws": "This is what happens when a 26-foot box truck with a 6-foot cab that's 8½ feet wide is asked to navigate in a sharrow lane," Davis said on Monday. "That leaves 3 feet or less room on that road." Davis is arguing on behalf of the Schick family that the city's negligence has allowed tragic accident like these to recur.
Subscription / New York Daily News
3. A $40 million restoration in Prospect Park's Vale is getting a public hearing today before the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission. Long-simmering plans for a new building in Brooklyn's Back Yard were initially fielded under Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021 — a somewhat personal proposal at the end of de Blasio's tenure, as the long-time Park Slope resident was married there and credited the park for getting Brooklynite's through the pandemic. The hearing is part of a public design review before construction begins as soon as 2024, focusing on an 8-acre area (the historic children's pool and the former Rose Garden) of the park's 26-acre Vale. According to a Park Alliance outreach report, the pool will see recovery of some historic elements, as well as the addition of new plant-life and a bird-friendly storm system. Similarly, the Rose Garden will be transformed into three distinct landscapes that respect the park's historic design, and various new, eco-friendly amenities will buttress it's beauty and longevity.
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Today in Brooklyn:
- Virtual Brooklyn Afternoons, Brooklyn Museum, Today @ 2 p.m. | Details
- Community Engagement Meeting, Industry City, Today @ 6 - 8 p.m. | Details
- Miso Soup and Life: Appreciating Everyday Food, ACRE, Today @ 6 - 8p.m. | Details
- Brooklyn Happy Hour, Radegast Hall & Biergarten, Today @ 6 - 9 p.m. | Details
- "Shrek 2": Beacon's Free Community Movie Night, Prospect Park, Today @ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Details
🐝 Brooklyn Buzz:
- Slew of new downtown restaurants signpost strong economic recovery: The Business Journals report that, "Over the past year, 14 new restaurants, ranging from fast-casual lunch spots to popular local Brooklyn restaurants, have opened in the neighborhood." Read more at the link! (Subscription / The Business Journals)
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- Cool Hand Movers — (Visit website)
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Featured events:
- Greene Hill Grows Family Program (February 28)
- Buying Into Brooklyn — February 2023 (February 28)
- Legal and Justice Studies Pathways (February 28)
- Free Sneak Peek of Puccini's "Il Tabarro" (February 28)
- As Quiet As It's Kept, We Thrive: Stories & Portraits from the Heart of BedStuy (March 4)
- Comedy Special Taping (BYOB + Free Dinks) — Nick Hopping (March 4)
- Success Academy Presents: NYC Elementary School Admissions Webinar with Alina Adams (March 8)
- The Bloody Mary Festival — NYC (March 18)
- Add your event
You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!
— Carlie Houser
About me: I'm a recent grad based in Brooklyn, NY. I love to write, run, read, and find new restaurants and venues around the city.
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Brooklyn Patch newsletter? Contact me at brooklyn@patch.com
