Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning Moves Forward

Both the Mayor and City Council have agreed upon a plan to redevelop the 134 block area along the East River in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Here is the Mayor's press release, which notes that 5 more acres of "public open space" have been added to the plan for a total of 54 acresand that the number of affordable housing units increased from 23% to 33%. What's interesting about the affordable housing clause is that if a builder wants to build 35-40 residential stories, one-third will have to be affordable housing; if there's no affordable housing, then the building is "capped" at 23-33 stories. And what are the salary guidelines for affordable housing? "In the city's calculations, for a family of four, low income is defined as earning up to $50,250 per year, and moderate income is defined as $50,250 to $78,000," according to the NY Times. Other important points: Construction workers will be paid union-scale, there will be a number of mixed use buildings, and there's to be "light industry" in the area.

The Mayor also went out of his way to commend "City Council leadership, in particular Speaker Miller and Council Members Katz, Reyna, and Yassky" in working with his adminstration to craft a plan, the closest to a Hizzoner-City Council lovefest we're likely to get. And while these plans had some residents up in arms, it seems that some warily understand that change has to come.

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By Jen Chung in News on May 3, 2005 7:53 AM

Comments [rss]

johnny f00

agreed that the L train will be a disaster. Hopefully the city will somehow prepare and make the public transportation more doable. I have a feeling the L will be the new 6!!! That train is madness at 845am

DC

New York City is always changing. Williamsburg is not special. I think it's about time the brooklyn waterfront got some attention! It's been a total waste and an eyesore for years. The downside I see is that the L train will get really really crowded. Rush hour is going to be unbearable!

REALITY CHECK

So let me get this straight--if developers want a 35-story building, they must allocate a third of the units to low income people, OR they could build a 33-story building and allocate nothing to low income earners. Am I reading this correctly? That's just two floors of difference.

Sounds to me like we're going to see a lot of 33-story buildings. You've been duped!

K

Question is, only caring about myself obviously, will this drive down prices in the City? If supply outpaces demand, maybe the Manhattan real estate market will need to let a little air out of its bubble...

Curmudgeon

It will be similar to high school, when we would jump the fence of the local country club to swim and have sex in their pool. This time, we'll be jumping the fence of the rich folks' condos, in the hopes of enjoying a Sparks by the moonlit riverside.

M

The Village Voice also posted an article this week on the subject.

tien

does this mean that the G train will get more service? or cleaner stations? or a full train?

and i'm sure the unions will muscle their way into the projects because the scale is just too big.

Greenpointer

I've lived in the area (in the same apartment!) for 11 years: It was the only place I could find that I could afford and was vaguely proximate to Manhattan when I moved to NYC. Plus, I've got some Polish blood, so it seemed like home. While I'm glad that the totally decrepit waterfront will become usable -- it's a fantastic view -- I think I gotta move. (I should note that I'm now fortunate enough to be a "high income" resident, and I still feel this way.)

The race to construct massive waterfront towers first, plus mass demolition and construction throughout the neighborhood is going to be a nightmare. The streets aren't big enough to handle the trucks and other huge construction vehicles, it's already awfully crowded... I remember when Manhattan Ave was closed to trucks for a few weeks for repairs -- it made a catastrophe of traffic everywhere else. Someone needs to explain how all the people in 10,000 (or is it more?) new housing units are going to fit on the L train, too. It's a bummer, but I think I'm shortlived.

K

Agreed. I will love seeing the transparently hip WB turn into Hoboken.

johnny f00

i personally couldnt be happier to see a gentrified neighborhood get further gentrified. the protests in regards to this issue are simply silly. the truth of the matter is the young elite that gentrified this neighborhood kicked out working class poor and now it appears that they too will suffer the same fate. yay bloomy!