While opponents and supporters of the city-owned Bedford Union Armory redevelopment plan battle back and forth, the city yesterday started the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process for final approval of the controversial proposal.
The City’s Planning Commission (DCP) certified the plan a day after opponents seeking the armory redevelopment to include 100 percent affordability in the housing component, shouted down supporters of the project, who gathered outside the armory shell to talk in support of the plan.
As it stands, the proposal includes a 330-unit rental housing building with 50 percent affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, as well as market-rate condominiums, of which 20 percent will be affordable to middle-income homeowners.
Under the proposal being considered, the city tabbed BFC Partners to develop the city-owned site, which will cost nearly $1 billion to redevelop. The plan also includes a new recreational center with basketball courts, multi-sport courts and a competitive-length swimming pool to serve local youth sports leagues, senior programs and other activities. The proposal would also create new commercial office space that is being offered at discounted rates for local non-profits in need of affordable rents.
One of the earliest opponents of the plan was Assemblymember Diana Richardson (D-Lefferts Gardens, Crown Heights), who demanded the housing component at the Armory be completely affordable. Later, State Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) joined in demanding 100 percent affordable housing instead of the proposed 50 percent.
Richardson refused to comment about the certification of the plan.
On Friday, key lawmaker supporters of the redevelopment project pulled their support, moving over to the opposing side, in a move of solidarity to protests the project they say still doesn’t meet the needs of the community. This includes City Council Member Laurie Cumbo (D-Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill) Borough President Eric Adams and Assemblymember Walter Mosley (Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill).
“Since the very beginning our message has been clear: We will not allow public land to be used for the purpose of luxury condominiums. The fact that we delivered this position to the developer prior to the presentation of this plan is an insult to the Crown Heights community. I stand here today with my colleagues in government to demand Mayor de Blasio go back to the drawing board and produce a plan that meets the needs of my Brooklyn neighbors,” said Cumbo.
Cumbo vowed that she would vote “No” for the project as it stands once it goes before the City Council for final approval, but this vote will come after what is expected to be an extremely hard-fought primary between Cumbo and Ede Fox.
Other opponents include housing advocates like Black Institute Founder and President Bertha Lewis, who believes that the proposed plan’s failure lies in its developer, BFC Partners, and their lack of viable opportunities for current dwellers.
“And now with the certification [of the plan] with no change, exactly the way it always was and it’s not just the condominiums, it isn’t affordable, it’s non-union and it’s public land and we get nothing. It’s all of that. You can keep trying to tweak it but until the developers are willing to put something in writing, you can’t believe them,” said Lewis.
However, some local residents, union members and elected officials are strong proponents of the project and believe that the Armory needs to be revitalized as a community resource.
Democratic District Leader for the 43rd Assembly District Geoffrey Davis thinks that the project will bring necessary resources in the form of a new recreational center, affordable office space and affordable housing to the Crown Heights community.
“Creating a recreational and educational center at the Bedford-Union Armory would play a crucial role in building a safer and stronger Crown Heights community. If we miss this chance, the Armory will remain empty and provide no value for our community. We believe Council Member Cumbo can and should find a positive resolution to make this vision a reality,” said Davis.
The DCP certification starts the clock ticking to a final approval. This includes first going before Community Board 9 for recommendation, then on to the Borough President’s office for recommendations and then the City Planning Commission before final approval by the City Council. A process which generally takes seven months to the final vote of the council.
“The Planning Commission won’t weigh in until after receiving recommendations from the community board, the borough president, holding a public hearing at the Planning Commission and publicly deliberating on all of this input. In short, [we won’t have a recommendation until] several months from now,” said DCP Spokesperson Rachaele Raynoff.
