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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to return the site of the Brooklyn House of Detention to the City’s tax rolls to help revitalize the Atlantic Avenue corridor.

“I write to express my concern regarding the Department of Correction’s current plan to re-open and greatly expand the use of the Brooklyn House of Detention,” Thompson said in a letter to the Mayor about the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) plan to expand the facility.
Thompson’s letter was prompted by recent news that the City is looking to enlarge the 11-story House of Detention, and expand its prison population from 759 to 1,469 inmates. The facility – located at 275 Atlantic Avenue - has been shut since 2003.

“The Brooklyn House of Detention is centrally located within Downtown Brooklyn’s commercial hub and DOC’s intention to re-open and greatly expand the use of this jail facility would therefore directly impact the revitalization of the surrounding area,” the Comptroller said.

You can view the letter at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

In light of the country’s and city’s economic woes, the Comptroller said that communities such as Downtown Brooklyn remain at risk of reversing their recent economic gains, and that additional parking and traffic congestion triggered by the new plan could only further burden Downtown Brooklyn residents and businesses.

“Although I am mindful of DOC’s need to replace a substantial number of temporary jail beds, I am concerned about impeding community renewal for the sake of adding these jail beds,” Thompson said. “I therefore respectfully urge your staff to re-consider whether City residents are best served by pursuing DOC’s planned course of action.”

This is the second time that the Comptroller has urged the Mayor to switch course and instead sell he Brooklyn House of Detention. In January 2005, the Comptroller questioned the steep expenses of renovating the facility.

“As you may recall,” Thompson said, “I had written to you in January, 2005, urging the sale of this site. At that time, I had suggested that it was important to return the property to the City’s tax rolls in an effort to promote the further revitalization of the Atlantic Avenue corridor and to bring the City much needed revenue. These justifications remain more compelling today than when I first wrote to you.”

In his 2005 letter, Thompson pointed out that the City was planning to spend $16 million to renovate the building’s exterior after spending about $30 million for building repairs and security.

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