BP Adams Proposes Affordable Housing Study In Brownsville
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams proposed that the city’s Department of City Planning (DCP) undertake a study of affordable housing opportunities along the 3 subway line corridor in Brownsville, yesterday.
The recommendation was made as part of a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) response to approve applications submitted by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) for: zoning map and text amendments, an Urban Development Renewal Area designation, property disposition, and a Zoning Resolution (ZR) special permit to enable construction of an eight-story mixed-use building on Livonia Avenue between Grafton Street and Howard Avenue known as Edwin’s Place.
The proposed area of study is the section of East 98th Street from East New York Avenue to Livonia Avenue as well as the section of Livonia Avenue from East 98th Street to the border of Brooklyn Community District 5 (CD 5). The proposal suggests a consideration of residential density comparable to that proposed by the Edwin’s Place project.
“Advancing a community-driven revitalization of Brownsville is personal to me; I was born in the community, I’ve been proud to serve this community, and I believe in this community’s boundless potential. Creating and preserving affordable housing that meets a diverse range of socioeconomic needs across Brooklyn is the top priority of my administration,” said Adams.
Adams continued, “I am pleased that HPD is advancing a project [Edwin’s Place] that integrates supportive housing units with housing for low-income families, as well as providing opportunities to seniors and the formerly homeless; such a housing mix is good public policy. In addition to the vacant sites identified by the Brownsville Plan, I believe that the neighborhood’s 3 line corridor may be a possible site for beneficial transit-oriented affordable housing, and I encourage DCP to study the impact of such potential development.”
Donovan Applauds Trump Foreign Policy Address
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) applauded President Donald Trump’s foreign policy address yesterday.
Last night, President Trump addressed the nation with his first major foreign policy speech in which he unveiled his strategy of “principled realism,” which included deploying an additional 4,000 more troops to the war in Afghanistan as a strategic move toward victory and away from “nation-building.” Trump went on to outline his Afghanistan Plan which included the end of announcing troop levels, increased military autonomy, finding a political solution to the Afghan war and changing Pakistan from it’s “terrorist harboring ways.”
“The President delivered a unifying message that can hopefully bring our nation together, and he settled all doubts regarding his position on prejudice and racism in our country,” said Donovan.
“President Trump gave a strong foundation for an America-first foreign policy. It’s a refreshing appeal for our country to act in its own interests – a doctrine that requires decisive action against our enemies and prudent use of our resources. I firmly support the President’s conditions-based approach in pursuing victory after 16 years of war,” added Donovan.
Fed Lawmakers To Rally Against Confederate Monuments
Congress members Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay), Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, LES, Queens) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-Central Brooklyn, Coney Island, Queens) will hold a rally against Confederate Monuments at Fort Hamilton Army Base today.
The group will call on the Department of the Army to rename two streets, Stonewall Jackson Drive and General Lee Avenue at Fort Hamilton that are currently named for Confederate generals.
Last Friday, Clarke, Velazquez, and Jeffries introduced the “Honoring Real Patriots Act of 2017.” The proposed legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to rename all military installations and property named for individuals who fought against the United States in the Civil War.
The event is slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., today, Aug. 21, at John Paul Jones Park, 101st Street and 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Gentile Beautifies A Popular Bay Ridge Park & Walking Path
City Council Member Vincent J. Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) held a Shore Road Clean Up event that helped to beautify a local park and walking path over the weekend.
The clean up was organized in response to resident concerns over weeds, vines and overgrowth near park benches along Shore Road.
NYC Parks helped provide rakes and shovels to participants who worked alongside a volunteer from the Shore Road Parks Conservancy and several volunteers from the Worker’s Justice Project. The team began at 90th Street and headed down towards 95th Street clearing and bagging pounds of leaves, weeds and debris. The event was able to make Shore Road cleaner, safer, and more beautiful for Bay Ridgites to enjoy.
“Throughout my tenure, I have successfully allocated $30 million for improvements to parks in the 43rd City Council District, so my cleanup project along Shore Road was yet another way in which I have shown my strong dedication to our local parkland,” said Gentile.
CM Williams Rejects Housing Proposal At Pfizer Site
City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), chair of the Housing Committee, announced his rejection of the current rezoning and development proposed at the former Pfizer sites, located near the Broadway Triangle, yesterday.
Williams position on the project came on the day City Planning is reviewing the plan for approval. Williams’ stance is garnering intense support from Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFHH), who has been one of the leading local voices of opposition to the plan that includes the construction of 1,146 apartments with 25% deemed affordable.
Just last month CUFFH activists and members of the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition and allies, shut down a hearing hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on the Pfizer and Bedford Armory projects. Days later Adams sent his recommendations rejecting the project unless certain changes were made by developer the Rabsky Group, which included a call for more affordable housing and deeper affordability levels.
“I share the communities concerns about the development proposed on the Pfizer site near the Broadway Triangle.The issues raised are serious ones that must be considered. This site occupies a unique location at the intersection of Williamsburg, Bedford Stuyvesant, and Bushwick. Too many have already been pushed out of these neighborhoods,” said Williams.
“The Pfizer site has the potential to create hundreds of much needed affordable apartments, and the City has a responsibility to ensure that these apartments are available to all residents. As the chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings at the City Council, I welcome any concrete plans to make that happen,” added Williams.
