Brooklyn Firehouse Fight Continues

The fight over the future of two closed Brooklyn firehouses went to the City Council's Land Use Committee yesterday and some community leaders are content while others are fuming about the outcome. There are two different outcomes, actually, with Cobble Hill's Engine 204 to be leased for ten years for a community use and Williamsburg's Engine 212 to be sold for community purposes.

The City Council "failed to live up to the vow to reopen the closed Brooklyn Engine Companies," says Williamsburg's Phil DePaolo who was one of the leaders of the fight to prevent closure of Engine 212. "Borough President Marty Markowitz has also failed to deliver on his vow to restore the Brooklyn Engine Companies."

The lease arrangement gives the city the ability to reopen Engine 204, whereas Engine 212 seems to have been dealt a more permanent solution.

"It seems that E204 has received a deal that will consider future restoration as an active Engine Company while E212 has no such deal," Mr. DePaolo said. "I remain steadfast in my belief that Engine 212 and Engine 204 should be returned to service returned to the communities as needed Firehouses."

Related Post:
Fight Over Closed Fire Stations Rages