Selling naming rights to portions of Brooklyn Bridge Park and increasing paid parking spots there could potentially help raise enough money to forestall building more high-rise condos along the 85-acre waterfront green space, a new study shows.
A city-commissioned study by Bay Area Economics shows up to $7 million in annual revenues could be raised through these alternatives and others, including increasing fund-raising and creating a “Park Improvement District.” BAE is studying whether different sources can be relied upon to help finance the park’s anticipated $16.1 million maintenance budget besides new housing set for John Street in DUMBO and by Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights that is slated to bring in roughly $8 million in revenues.
While the news was hailed by opponents of housing for the park, many questioned why the city didn’t study a popular plan to tap into the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ nearby Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO properties, convert them into luxury condos and put tax revenues from the sales toward the park’s maintenance costs. A BAE official said it was because the Witnesses weren’t warm to moving fast enough on the plan to meet construction timetables.
The proposal to create a “Park Improvement District” to help raise park funding by taxing local business and property owners within a quarter-mile of the park appears to have little support from park officials.



