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Cobble Hill Association VP Roy Sloane Steps Down Amid LICH Controversy

By Nikhita Venugopal | September 2, 2015 5:21pm
 A rendering showing a tower soaring over the waterfront. This is a possible scenario under Fortis's proposal that would go through the ULURP process.
A rendering showing a tower soaring over the waterfront. This is a possible scenario under Fortis's proposal that would go through the ULURP process.
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Williams New York

COBBLE HILL — A longtime local leader of the Cobble Hill Association has resigned amid criticism over his handling of the controversial Long Island College Hospital redevelopment.

Roy Sloane, who served as the first vice president for the group that deals with neighborhood civic issues, announced his departure from the organization Tuesday, according to his resignation letter sent to members and shared with DNAinfo New York.

Last week, two dozen Cobble Hill locals and CHA members called for Sloane's resignation reportedly because they did not believe he was fighting hard enough to stop Fortis Property Group from building high-rise towers in place of the old hospital.

Fortis’ proposed residential towers enraged some locals who have said the “out of scale” buildings would overburden the neighborhood by causing a surge in population density and traffic congestion.

A CHA special meeting had been scheduled for Sept. 10 to vote to remove Sloane from the association. The organization had also planned for the election of officers to fill vacancies on the same day.

“Today, a new group of people would like to take responsibility for this development and have a more direct role in shaping our future,” Sloane said in the letter. “In order to facilitate an orderly change in leadership, I have decided to tender my resignation from the Board.”

Sloane, who fought the sale of Long Island College Hospital to the developer, has also served as the group's acting president since former president Dave Abraham left the neighborhood, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

When contacted by DNAinfo New York, he declined to comment further.

Since Sloane had already served two terms as president, he could not officially take on the position.

The full letter is below:

September 2, 2015

To the Cobble Hill Association Executive Board and Members of the Association:

It has been my pleasure to serve on the Cobble Hill Association’s Board almost continuously since 1980. In that time, Cobble Hill has become one of New York’s premier historic districts through the Association’s preservation efforts. We re-built Cobble Hill Park and Lower Van Voorhees Park, created new playgrounds along Henry Street, expanded the historic district, helped create Brooklyn Bridge Park, battled for Super Fund for the Gowanus Canal and spent many years working to support our hospital. I have been proud to work with my neighbors to accomplish these important goals and have been honored to be the community association’s leader for many of those years. 

Working with my neighbors on behalf of our community has been a true inspiration for me. The Halloween Parade, Music in the Park, History Tours, Cobble Hill Park, the Tree Fund and the Cobble Hill Health Center represent the spirit of our community. I am deeply grateful to and want to thank the many people who have been part of these wonderful events and activities.

Today, the LICH site re-development is the greatest challenge Cobble Hill has faced since the hospital expanded in the early 80’s. The engagement process, developed by our local elected officials and led by Council member Brad Lander, offers the community a unique opportunity to pre-shape both the ULURP and as-of-right options. The Cobble Hill Association Executive Board voted unanimously to support that process and that’s why I have been, and remain, in full agreement with pursuing this course of action. 

Today, a new group of people would like to take responsibility for this development and have a more direct role in shaping our future. In order to facilitate an orderly change in leadership, I have decided to tender my resignation from the Board. 

It is my sincere hope that the new leadership team will be successful in the fight for the best possible outcome for Cobble Hill and the greater community, too. The danger of an out-of-scale skyscraper district in our low rise, historic community is very real – but, for me, the greatest tragedy would be for the Fortis development to leave a torn and divided community in it’s wake. 

Thank you, Roy