Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) has introduced a bill to "create a subsidiary corporation for the purpose of the further planning, design, and oversight of the Atlantic Yards land use improvement and civic project." The bill has garnered support from local community groups who are concerned the project construction is going unchecked.

The primary entry point into Brooklyn Bridge Park is closed for construction. Thus, pedestrians have had to share Furman Street with heavy vehicular traffic. The park entrance will be made accessible again in about two weeks.

The GreenPearl's Brooklyn Real Estate Summit featured developers Joseph Sitt, chairman and CEO of Thor Equities, MaryAnne Gilmartin, an executive vice president of Forest City Ratner, and Andrew Kimball, CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The panel was moderated by Joan Bartolomeo, of the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation.

The Public Authorities Control board voted to approve the Bloomberg-Paterson plan to transfer control of Brooklyn Bridge Park to the city. In return, the city will pay $55 million of the park's $120 million shortfall. Additionally, Brooklyn Bridge Park will now be able to stay open until 1am. Under state control, the park would have had to close at dusk.

Since early March, sections of Pacific Street and Fifth Avenue have been closed as a result of Nets arena construction. As a result, the area now faces high levels of gridlock, especially during rush hour. The developer of Atlantic Yards pledged to address the problem; the New York City Department of Transportation will assess the effectiveness of Forest City Ratner's actions before intervening.

On Saturday, the southern most section of Brooklyn Bridge Park-- Pier 6-- will open. The park's amenities include a bikeway, a dog run, and a playground.

Though the City has celebrated the recent opening of Hudson River Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the High Line, paying for the upkeep of these parks has been a challenge. The parks were constructed with the idea that they would be supported by public-private partnerships. However, securing private funding has been more difficult than imagined and a long-term strategy is still needed.

At a recent Brooklyn Community Board meeting, on Monday May 17th, Regina Myer of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation announced that Pier 6 is set to open June 2010. The site will include sand volleyball courts, swings, slides, and a dog run.

On April 26th, an informational meeting was convened to discuss the transfer of Brooklyn Bridge Park from New York State to New York City. The Public Authority Control Board is expected to approve the terms of the agreement in June. Additionally, a committee is being organized with the purpose of studying sustainable revenue options for parks.

A study conducted by the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College revealed that 3,000 housing units could be added to a 150-block section along the Gowanus Canal after its cleanup. In addition to a historical account of how the canal became so polluted and an economic analysis, the study also provides recommendations on how the surrounding area can be revitalized.