14 Stunning Visions of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Future Affordable Homes

New York City has big plans to introduce <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/brooklyn-bridge-park/">Brooklyn Bridge Park</a> as a new center for affordable housing with high-rises mirroring the Manhattan skyline across the river. While there’s still a heated debate on whether residential buildings should even replace parts of the park in the first place, the city has <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/08/06/designs_unveiled_for_controversial_brooklyn_bridge_park_sites.php">released 14 new concepts</a> for two affordable towers designed by famous architects like the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bjarke-ingels-group/">Bjarke Ingels Group</a>, <a href="http://www.h3hc.com/">H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture</a>, and <a href="http://www.fxfowle.com/">FXFOWLE</a>. Read on to see them all!

All the designs propose building only two towers near <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/pier-6/">Pier 6</a>, which lies directly west of Atlantic Avenue terminates with the BQE.

The first high-rise would be situated One Brooklyn Bridge Park and the city has permitted designers to draw up a 31-story tower with 290 apartments.

The second, shorter 15-story structure would be located farther away from the water and make way for 140 residential units.

From the designs we can see a few of boring midtown towers in the mix, but many add a bit of flourish of foliage as well to connect the buildings with the park.

What’s more, a contingent of designs propose adding amenities like <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/bush-terminal-park-getting-a-green-roofed-bathroom-made-of-shipping-containers/">public restrooms</a>, a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/swimming-pool/">swimming pool</a>, a new prekindergarten center, and even bike repair shop.

Ideally these new additions will fit nicely with Brooklyn Bridge Park’s burgeoning recreational space, which <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-roller-rink-bocce-ball-courts-and-beach-open-at-brooklyn-bridge-parks-pier-2-and-pier-4/">recently added a roller rink and bocce ball courts</a>.

Whether or not these designs will ever become a reality is still up in the air. In July a residents of the area banded together to file a lawsuit in an attempt to block the development and call for extra analysis of its impact on the environment.

The measure also sought to stop park officials from calling for and reviewing proposals by developers.

However, thanks to an intervening judge order the planning stage with architects is still moving forward.

Assuming the lawsuit is settled, the city will decide on a winning architect and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-home-of-st-anns-warehouse-breaks-ground-at-dumbos-iconic-tobacco-warehouse/">ground breaking</a> will commence in 2015.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park housing project has brought in designs from all sorts of famous architects.

Some designs are a bit traditional to the rest of New York City.

On top affordable housing, these developments could bring more green space as evidenced by this Alloy Design + Bjarke Ingels Group design