An "arena broadcast support area" is coming to residential Prospect Heights; first a presentation to CB 8, then to DOT

From Brownstoner:

Last night reps from Forest City Ratner made a presentation to Community Board 8 on a petition for a revocable consent to install cable conduits under 6th Avenue, between Dean and Pacific, and use a lot on the corner of Dean Street and 6th Avenue as a “broadcast support area.” Basically, the compact lot (which is currently a police parking lot) will be used for news trucks to park.

Actually, while it may be currently a police parking lot, it was, for years, occupied in part by two houses. Their removal might be considered the creation of blight.

See the comparison graphic, right, from Dean Street Block Association (full letter below), which commented:

First, the adverse impacts of this lot should not exceed those of a parking lot; second, its impacts should be regularly monitored. We believe there is a higher risk of noise, disruption, and other environmental impacts generated by this new use from sources like generators, truck idling and activity on the adjacent sidewalk, than generated by a parking lot. Because it will not be a construction staging area, the regulations and oversight that apply to the satellite uplink parking lot are not clear.

New building coming

I'd add that the three houses to the east are all scheduled to be part of the footprint for Building 15, the tower that would ultimately replace them. Was there some sort of special 100-foot-wide area of blight to be removed? No, the area was supposed to be used for construction staging as well as parking.

They don't need it for construction staging because they're not building four towers around the arena at roughly the same time.

I'm not saying there's a conscious plan, but the disruption caused by the news trucks just might encourage the nearby residents to sell or leave--or lower the value of their property when it comes to condemnation awards.

Arena broadcast support area

In December 2010, an outline of the plan emerged in a graphic (left).

Brownstoner has a schematic and the news that CB8 is accepting public comments until April 20.

There will then be a Department of Transportation hearing, yet unannounced.

Here's coverage in Patch.

Satellite Uplink Parking Lot