2010 State of the Borough: Apparently no one walks to the gym.

Eminent Parking Domain

Last night Brooklyn's third term President Marty Markowitz gave his annual State of the Borough Address christening the new YMCA Park Slope Armory Sports Facility.In his speech Markowitz announced that he will provide $1 million in capital funds to help transform the Bedford-Atlantic Armory in northern Crown Heights into a vibrant community center and another $1 million to redevelop the Sumner Avenue Armory in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

"PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF EMPLOYMENT FOR MOST BROOKLYNITES."

Dozens of No Parking signs were posted yesterday for both the entire block of 14th Street, 15th Street, and a section of 8th Avenue, apparently to make room for the cars of those who attended the evening's affair. I have to ask, how does turning an entire block into a private parking lot, encourage the use of mass transit and physical fitness? The Armory is actually less than two blocks from the F Train. Why would anyone need to drive their own private car to a political celebration held in a sports facility whose crowning jewel is a multimillion dollar state of the art running track?

What could be less pedestrian friendly than allowing parking on the sidewalk.

The Other Armory.

Glad to see our friends at the Armory Heights Plaza, 406 15th Street, took advantage of this special event, charging automobile commuters by the hour to park in their black-tie, valet operated facilities.

Only problem is that the city has found this use in violation of both NYC zoning regulations and the building's Certificate of Occupancy.

Personally I don't give a flying rat's ass if it wasn't for the fact that the Brooklyn Department of Buildings assured the 16th St. neighbors who happen to live along side the 2 story underground parking lot's only carbon monoxide vent, that the exhaust would never rise to dangerous levels. That is as long as it was used as intended... for noncommercial off-street parking for the building's residents.