Kensington Stables Close To Coming Under City Ownership

KENSINGTON, BROOKLYN — The city is closing in on a deal to buy Kensington Stables, save the property from bankruptcy and keep it as a horse stable in the neighborhood.

City Councilman Brad Lander and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams have made about $1.5 million available to buy the property. Lander told a community meeting at P.S. 130 that he's optimistic that the deal will be finished soon.

Walker Blankenship, who owns the property, said he has struck "an agreement to agree" to sell the property to the city, so he could stave off a bankruptcy for now. But, he said, "We have to move pretty quick, because the judge expects to see progress by the end of the month."

Lander added that "it is my great hope that there will be a deal reached — a contract signed that will facilitate this transfer."

(For the latest on the stables and other news about Windsor Terrace and Kensington, subscribe to Patch to get a daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.)

Blankenship said back in February that he needs to sell the property to pay off unpaid debts racked up by his father. When he did, Lander vowed that he wouldn't approve a zoning change that didn't include a stable.

The stable was built in 1930 and offers riding lessons, trail rides and kids programs in Prospect Park.

And if and when the city does buy the property, Lander laid out what would happen next.

The city's Economic Development Corporation would take over the building and then start a land-use process to hand it over to the city's Parks Department. Then, the city would issue a "request for proposals" (RFP) for a stable operator.

"The city does not intend to have city staff run the stables," Lander said. "They would seek an organization to run it."

The RFP would ask interested operators to submit ideas for programming, such as public riding, therapeutic riding and possibly providing horses for police officers or park rangers.

It would also ask what they would do to renovate the stables. Lander said the city doesn't want to operate the stable in its current condition.

Residents at the meeting asked questions and gave feedback about the plan. Rick Brown, who lives nearby, wondered if a mixed-use building could be built, with stables underneath and business or apartments on top. Lander said it was unclear if you could build anything else on top of a Parks property.

Overall, residents were happy to hear the property was likely going to stay a stable.

"The quality of life that the stable has brought to our community is tremendous," one resident said. "Some people might complain about the smell, but there’s endless joy to seeing the horses walk across the circle and hearing the clippity-clop."

Image: Marc Torrence, Patch