Yes, the Mayor Does Want to Build Affordable Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park
At a meeting last week with neighborhood groups, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. officials revealed one of the two towers planned for Pier 6 may be an affordable-rate building. This is the 16-story tower, with 140 apartments; the second tower would have 31 stories and 290 units, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal….
At a meeting last week with neighborhood groups, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. officials revealed one of the two towers planned for Pier 6 may be an affordable-rate building. This is the 16-story tower, with 140 apartments; the second tower would have 31 stories and 290 units, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal.
The revelation angered some locals at the meeting, who would prefer as little housing in the park as possible. “Why are we building private housing inside public park land that isn’t going to fulfill the mission of the park?” the story quoted Judith Francis, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund, a coalition of neighborhood groups, as saying. Others welcomed the plan for bringing diversity to the park. “The park should not be allowed to exist merely as a residential enclave for the wealthiest New Yorkers,” said Steven M. Cohen, a lawyer who lives in a condo at One Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. President Regina Myer said she would support affordable housing at Pier 6 as long as the park brings in sufficient revenue to meet its operating costs. But it doesn’t now and will need revenue from Pier 6 housing to meet its budget. The park can cover 95 percent of its operating costs from the four sites currently under development, but more funds are needed to fix deteriorating piers, although doing maintenance work now will help, she said.
Any change in the plan will require a new review process, said State Senator Daniel Squadron, who recently signed a letter urging de Blasio not to build more housing on Pier 6.
When the Journal contacted the Mayor’s office, a spokesman said, “Put simply, we can do both. We can secure the necessary funding to maintain this world-class park while simultaneously providing an affordable housing component to ensure this community actually represents Brooklyn.”
What do you think of the plan?
New York City Seeks Affordable Housing Units for Brooklyn Bridge Park [WSJ]
Map via Brooklyn Bridge Park
Only in this lunatic asylum we call a city is there ‘affordible’ housing on the waterfront. Makes no sense. That said, with a hotel and condos and One BBP, we now have enough housing in the Park — low income or not. SAY NO TO MORE TOWERS!
I’m 100% in support of affordable housing being built but seeing the direction BBP is taking is a disheartening.
The mayor wants housing and to secure future voters by keeping his housing promises. The developers want housing and a sweet deal in terms of tax breaks/abatement. They both seem intent on keeping each other happy and both will get what they want. Unfortunately this arrangement looks like it will benefit a select few rather than tax-payers and park-goers on the whole.
This affordable housing BS has got to stop. Now people who can’t afford normal rent somewhere need city assistance and 5 star views…?
Isn’t building affordable housing here, hitting the taxpayers a SECOND time?
We’ve already sacrificed the park green space to private developers (first hit) and now we have to sacrifice again, both quality of park experience (the skyscraper height) and the green space (newer Pierhouse revenues might lessen the need for these additional buildings?) to fund affordable housing? (second fit), for what? 100 people? In a park that over 100 people (from all socioeconomic backgrounds) visit per day? if not more? !
Since I’m a tax payer, like those who live near Prospect Park and Central Park, I don’t understand this Brooklyn Bridge Park agreement made is 100% privately funded in the first place? Cant’ the city afford to spent a little bit of taxpayer money, here, like in other parks? Also “fully funded” must be a high act and evolving target.. esp. with affordable housing?
Also to build 30 stories here.. when the other lux condos in the richer park of Brooklyn Heights are 10 and 5 stories, just stinks of inequality….! let’s at least keep it to human scape! Who wants skyscraper shadows on park land?
picture those cute new baby swings, under dark shadows.. the the skyscraper overhead!
Amen to that. We made a HUGE mistake in voting for him.
I was about to sign it until I read the silliness about Brooklyn Heigthts — there are 2 giant middle income co-ops there and 1/4 of the new library tower on CPW will likely be tagged at ‘affordible.” BH has done plenty to do its part. Not to mention being the SRO capital of Brooklyn for years in the 60s and 70s.
These buildings/sites most certainly ARE within the Park, as is Pierhouse. OBBP and Pierhouse have ground leases with BBP, and are subject to all kinds of conditions that BBP sets– the other two Pier 6 sites fall within BBP jurisdiction as well. GIven the way BBP has evolved, a review of the original (2005) plan that contemplated a 31-story tower surrounded by playgrounds and another 16 story tower behind them isn’t out of order.
Also, all property tax dollars from this construction goes directly to this park, and technically is diverted from other services the City would ordinarily provide. I think there is a reasonable “fairness” argument here. here is the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/realestate/condos-that-fund-a-brooklyn-park.html
Tax dollars are being used to build the park, so its not quite true that there is not a direct tax hit. 50% of ongoing maintenance costs is being funded by these private dollars. As part of the agreement for the city to build the park in the first place, the operating/maintenance agreement was put in place. It’s explained in the NYTimes.