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Architect Frank Gehry has said the “front stoop” at the foot of his “Miss Brooklyn” tower will be a great place to hang out and read the paper or eat a sandwich at an outdoor bistro table.
Better bring a paperweight.
State officials revealed this week that the large outdoor flight of stairs — central feature of Bruce Ratner’s mega-development — will be too windy for sitting or dining 61 percent of the time.
The state wind impact report shows that gusts would frequently exceed seven miles per hour —the threshold for comfortable “leisure sitting” or “dining,” as the report defines it — thanks to new wind patterns resulting from Ratner’s $4.2-billion, 16-tower arena, hotel, residential and office complex.
The front stoop, the report said, is only suitable for standing and walking — despite Gehry’s renderings that show people sitting and dining at outdoor cafe tables at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues.
“[The stoop area has] the highest predicted wind speeds as a result of the canyon effect caused by the buildings on either side,” the report said.
Overall, the report, first obtained by blogger Norman Oder, found few other wind concerns.
It did reveal, however, that wind speeds at the Brooklyn Bears Community Garden — which is across the street from where the 620-foot “Miss Brooklyn” tower is slated to be built — would “increase by approximately 14 percent.”
“This increase is not considered significant,” the report said, though the garden would not be suitable for sitting, walking and general gardening activities 14 percent of the time.
An ESDC spokeswoman said stoop winds would be “acceptable” for sitting and standing.
©2006 The Brooklyn Paper
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