Crown Heights West Zoning and Naming Fun!

whynot_31 · March 2013

Dept of City Planning's report, complete with lots of snazzy photos and maps: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/crown_heights_west/index.shtml

Just the photos and graphs please: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/crown_heights_west/presentation.shtml

The map that gives you the most info in the least amount of time:

Brownstoner's article on said report:

The City Planning Commission yesterday said it is moving ahead with the process to contextually rezone a portion of western Crown Heights, at the request of Community Board Eight. (Take note, those of you obsessed with new neighborhood names: DCP is officially calling this Crown Heights West.) The proposed rezoning will encompass 55 blocks with the aim of preserving their historic character, promoting affordable housing, and improving retail in the area. The clock on the public review process started yesterday. If implemented, the zoning will establish limits for building height and commercial areas; it will also offer incentives for affordable housing development along Franklin and Bedford avenues. ”The rezoning of western Crown Heights builds on our commitment to protecting the character of Brooklyn’s distinctive residential neighborhoods,” said Commissioner Amanda Burden in a prepared statement. “This comprehensive rezoning proposal, developed in close consultation with the community and elected officials, will reinforce the neighborhood’s historic brownstone and row house blocks. It will also ensure new development is appropriately scaled along the area’s transit rich corridors and provides opportunities for affordable housing in select locations.” Community Board Eight has 60 days to review the proposal. Then it goes on to other City agencies. A map of the proposed rezoning is on the jump below, or you can view it on the City Planning website.

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/03/rezoning-of-crown-heightts/#disqus_thread

Whynot's Commentary:

In light of the area's changes in recent years, one of the first official lines to seperate and recognize Western Crown Heights as being different than Eastern Crown Heights has been drawn: Nostrand Avenue.

I do love how DCP is calling this a "preservation of Crown Heights' character", while many people will feel it is changing it.

mr. met · March 2013

you see that they denied residential zoning for the warehouse on Dean because the CB8 wants to "maintain the industrial character of the area"

what?

whynot_31 · March 2013

Yes, I did.

Readers should note that CB8 does not have the final say on the matter.

Likewise, affordable housing will only be built if the incentives created by DCP are large enough that they are better than building regular housing. ....and that there is no consensus on what "affordable" means.

Housing is expensive. Someone (either the individual and/or the taxpayer) is going to have to pay the bill. NYC gov might not have the cash and incentives to make affordable housing be built here, in a location this prime.

mr. met · March 2013

ah, i didn't know that CB8 didn't have the final say...

so who does? and why do we care about what CB8 has to say?

whynot_31 · March 2013

DCP has the final say. It is influenced by the Boro Pres and the Community Board.

Needless to say, the process is not always transparent. Sometimes, political favors are exchanged. Cash is rarely exchanged, but it does happen.

simple · March 2013

I believe BSA has the final say on the Dean St conversion (CB8 is purely advisory,) as they are seeking a variance from the underlying zoning.

DCP has the final say on the Crown Heights West rezoning.

whynot_31 · March 2013

I wish to amend my statement above to state:

"Either DCP or BSA has the final say on granting individual variances; I can never remember. I do know that both are influenced by the Boro Pres and the Community Board.

Needless to say, the process is not always transparent. Sometimes, political favors are exchanged. Cash is rarely exchanged, but it does happen."

whynot_31 · April 2013

Like to talk about such things?

Come to this meeting: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/town-hall-meeting-2-april-16-2013?replies=2#post-766416

whynot_31 · April 2013

The Crown Heights West Rezoning proposal will be discussed for the third time at CB 8's Housing/ULURP Committee meeting on Thursday May 2, 2013, 6:30 p.m. at CenterLight Health Systems/CNR, 727 Classon Ave @ Park Place.
Written comments are invited and can be faxed ahead to the Board office at 718-778-2979, or emailed to [email protected].
The Public Hearing on the proposal will be held Thursday, May 9, 2013 during the regularly scheduled full Board meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m. The meeting willl be held at Berean Missionary Baptist Church, 1635 Bergen Street, corner of Rochester Avenue.
Michelle George, District Manager

Brooklyn Community Board No. 8

1291 St. Marks Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11213

(P) 718-467-5574

(F) 718-778-2979

Unsolicted commentary:

faxed? Like on a fax machine? 1994 was an awesome year!

pragmaticguy · April 2013

Funny that the meeting is being held about as east in Crown Heights as you can get. Wonder how many people from the west will show up.

whynot_31 · April 2013

The third mtg is being held on Classon, not 1291 St. Marks

...the actual hearing (mtg #4?) will be held far east though...

pragmaticguy · May 2013

I was alluding to the May 9th meeting.

whynot_31 · May 2013

On May 5th, one can now attend a walking tour, co-hosted by yours truly!

...note, this tour will be composed of lots of casual jabbering and pointing, and not a lot of focus on the intracies of R7D LZ designations.

Here's the details: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/janes-walk-walking-tour-of-western-crown-heights-sat-may-5-2013

whynot_31 · May 2013

Very late press: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/proposed-rezoning-crown-heights-now-under-review-2013-05-07-183000

whynot_31 · June 2013

Commentary: The proposal has met very little resistance, and generated very little interest from the public.

Next stop, CPC approval on approximately July 10:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/crown_heights_west/crown_heights_west4.shtml

Then, sometime in the Fall, several of the lots pending construction which have been up-zoned will refile their plans.

Former movie theater on Bedford and Lincoln, I am looking at you.

nothinlikeabklyngirl · June 2013

Crown Heights West? I think DCP is just naming the rezoning plan not trying to rename that part of the neighborhood -- nowhere in the proposal does it refer to the neighborhood as anything other than Crown Heights. Call me old-fashioned, but I share this guy's frustration with all this new sub-dividing: http://umbrooklynborn.blogspot.com/2013_04_01_archive.html.

whynot_31 · June 2013

I have a hard time perceiving sub-dividing, or tweaking the zoning code for certain areas and not others, as new.

As investment has come to the area, I think a lot of people have been amazed at how large buildings can be built within the current code.

The about-to-be-approved tweaks simply impose some height limits, and the like. It won't really affect the present trend of the area getting taller and more dense.

inpixels · June 2013

Somehow i'm late to the scene here.

I find it odd that all shops on Washington avenue on this map are Prospect Heights.

I always thought the middle of Washington Avenue split (Western) Crown Heights and Prospect Heights just as Flatbush Ave delineates Park Slope and Prospect Heights

whynot_31 · June 2013

The above map just denotes the area being rezoned.

People can continue to insist that they are the authority on where a neighborhood begins and ends based on a fixed geographic definition, or a flexible one that reflects socio economic migration patterns.

Or, just look at all the new buildings being built.

whynot_31 · August 2013

August 1st: Two more meetings to go.

1. On August 5th, the Department of City Planning will meet in order to make sure that it has complied with all of the applicable regulations, and prepare for a public hearing.

2. On August 7th, DCP will hold its final hearing on the matter, and the City Council may vote on it.

Those interested can view the agenda item, it is #13:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/luproc/reviewsession.pdf

Those who want to see the impact of the rezoning in table format can view this:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/crown_heights_west/zoning_comparison_table.pdf

Those who want to read the entire 191 pages of the proposal can download it here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/env_review/eas/13dcp105k_eas.pdf

whynot_31 · August 2013

August 13 update. There is a slight typo above:

The Department of City Planning and City Planning Council (which is not same as entity as the City Council) held a hearing on August 7th, approved the rezoning as proposed, and it NEXT goes before the City Council.

The City Council is expected to vote on it in early September, and may hold a public hearing beforehand, but it has not announced the date.

I couldn't help be reminded of this classic:

whynot_31 · August 2013

Aug 30th

From what I have heard, the City Council still has not announced whether it will hold its own public hearing, or set a date for their vote.

I am hearing this thru unofficial channels.

Hopefully, the DCP will update thier website when official word is provided:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/crown_heights_west/crown_heights_west4.shtml

After that, I expect the demolition of the old theater at Lincoln and Bedford to occur. It will be upzoned.

whynot_31 · September 2013

I am told the The City Council hearing will be held on September 12th. The public will be welcome to attend, but the schedule for Sept 12th is not yet posted.

It will appear here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/luproc/calbeg.shtml#sm

whynot_31 · September 2013

The summaries that were sent to to City Council in advance of the hearing:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/130213.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/130212.pdf

I am hearing rumors the hearing may not happen until Sept 25.

ah, government.

whynot_31 · September 2013

I'm now hearing that the hearing will be 9:30 AM, Monday, September 16th, in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Afterward, construction on some of the dormant sites that have been awaiting "upzones" should begin.

nothinlikeabklyngirl · September 2013

City Council passed the rezoning: http://www.ny1.com/content/news/189361/city-council-approves-rezoning-of-section-of-crown-heights

whynot_31 · September 2013

Thanks Nothinlike!

Readers,

It is going to get a little dusty and noisy as the remaining vacant lots are built upon, and some of the smaller buildings are torn down to make way for larger ones.

whynot_31 · September 2013

more press:

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2013/09/25/city-council-oks-55-block-crown-heights-rezoning/

whynot_31 · September 2013

CB8: "they gave us everything we asked for".

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/large-swath-western-crown-heights-rezoned-residential-feel-article-1.1470044

Crown Heights West Zoning and Naming Fun!

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