Brighton Beach Residents Have Safety Concerns Over New Modern Elevated Bathrooms
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's a big debate in Brooklyn over what some residents say is a bathroom shuffle. New bathrooms costing thousands of dollars were built and then moved and some people aren't happy about it.
The modern elevated outdoor bathrooms now called "comfort stations" continue to cause controversy. The pilings at Brighton Beach were planted right in front of a swanky condominium building.
Owners fought the city's plan and got their way, but now another group is asking them to be removed from their eye site.
According to New York City Park Advocates President Geoffrey Croft, the Parks Department spent $188,000 last month to remove the pilings in front of the Oceana Condominiums. During the controversy, he said the city also spent $100,000 in taxpayer money to do an environmental study following a lawsuit by condo owners.
Once the pilings came down, they announced the new location would be just 300 feet away in front of the Y, a place used as a shelter in emergencies like Superstorm Sandy.
Ida Sanoff said the bathroom pods can damage the community center and showed CBS2 a letter from lawmakers acknowledging they could pose a threat in a storm.
"We shared your concerns about the station coming loose during the storm and flying into a building or your apartment," the letter read.
"Why build it lower and in front of the only community resource center?" Sanoff questioned.
The move away a from people's homes makes perfect sense, State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz said. Cymbrowitz said he doesn't know the exact cost, but can confirm it won't be city taxpayers footing the bill in the end.
"Bathrooms are reimbursed from the federal government through FEMA funds," he said.
Everyone agrees a public beach needs public restrooms, but when it comes to taxpayer money and their ultimate destination that's a battle folks say they'll continue to fight. They are pointing out that far less expensive porta-potties would suffice too.
