Residents of Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo really don't want an old maintenance building at Furman and Montague Streets to be turned into an indoor cycling track. Ever since Joshua Reichnitz gave $40 million to Brooklyn Bridge Park to do just that, neighbors have been very vocal in their opposition. The Daily News reports that the plans for the recreational center have been slightly changed, but critics still aren't happy. There will still be a cycling track, but it will be elevated to create more space (25,000-square-feet, up from 22,000) in the center of the building for other sports, and the number of fixed seats has been chopped from 2,499 to 1,200. There will be equipment for basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton, fencing, martial arts, kickball, and gymnastics, but to critics, "No matter how they say it, this is first and foremost a cycling arena."
Brownstoner reports that the center will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, and fees will be comparable to other nonprofit rec centers. The Daily News details some of the costs and talks to the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, who says the prices will be a "challenge for working people with children in Brooklyn."
· Brooklyn Bridge Park Cycling Track and Rec Center has Critics Fuming Despite Design Changes [NYDN]
· BBP Rec Center Plans Tweaked, Critics Still Don't Like It [Brownstoner]
· very vocal in their oppositionBrooklyn Residents Complain About $40 Million Gift
Google StreetView shows the potential fieldhouse building in June 2011
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