Black Rock NRZ Draft Plan

February 12, 2008 by admin comment

Many members of our community worked on the attached draft plan over the past year. Black Rock is a community that has been recently discovered by the media, developers, merchants, and local area buyers. The new urbanism, the move towards city living, plays a role, but also the desire to live close to the water near natural beauty. Combining these two elements is rare in an urban environment, especially in one within commuting distance of Manhattan. The upcoming Black Rock Train Station (2010 estimated completion) has has played a major role in making Black Rock one of the most desirable communities in the area.

The Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Plan - Draft dated January 22, 2008 is attached for you to download and read. It is in Adobe PDF file format. If you print it, be aware that it is a 90 page document.

There are 35 recommendations in the plan, including:

Participate in redesigning Ellsworth Park and PT Barnum Park, and developing the waterfront Linear Park

Foster and support the arts in Black Rock, including encouraging artist loft development and supporting the development of an arts center

Develop guidelines for and ratify a Conservation Overlay Zone

Preserve the neighborhood's historic districts and create preservation assistance for these districts

Draft and promote a dock ordinance to manage dock proliferation issues

Establish a liaison within the City for business and neighborhood development in Black Rock

Eliminate inappropriate commercial uses

Identify, encourage, and support high-priority development opportunities

Plan for the development of Brewster Street

Establish Black Rock Village District and guidelines

Create commercial rehabilitation and facade improvement programs and plan streetscape improvements

Improve municipal parking lots, explore new municipal parking options, and enforce on-street parking regulations

Provide traffic lights or other traffic-calming devices where needed

Improve infrastructure at Black Rock's neighborhood schools and build partnerships between the schools and the community

This is a very well-written document that is absolutely fascinating to read. For example, what property in Black Rock is assessed at $500 million? See page 25 for answer. Which street has the higher total assessed value - Old Battery or Lake Avenue? If you guessed Old Battery, you are wrong! See page 24 for the chart. What would Black Rock be like if it became a designated Village District, like Madison, New Canaan or Ridgefield? See page 37 for details.

Add your comments. This is a blog, so express your opinion as you read the plan.

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