The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

The problem comes down to timing. IE. If you construct a building with union labor, you pay for these costs up front. However, you would get paid back by the market rate renters over time. Hence, you incur loan costs and long term risk. It also takes a while to lease up a market rate building. However, if you construct a building using cheap labor, and then fill the affordable units instantaneously from an applicant pool of thousands. You are largely done. You can hire a management company and move on to the next project without having much capital tied up.

Next scream fest to occur on Monday, June 19th http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/6/16/opposition-expected-mondays-bedford-union-armory-ulurp-hearing

Did anyone go? Highlights?

Ulurp Committee decided to vote No before the meeting even started.

Exactly... but anything interesting happen at the meeting?

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170620/crown-heights/cb9-land-use-vote-bedford-union-armory Next one occurs on June 27th

whynot_31 said:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170620/crown-heights/cb9-land-use-vote-bedford-union-armory Next one occurs on June 27th

It's nice to finally see some supporters of the project showing up to these events. First "vote yes" signs I've seen. Although they didn't work, nice to see.

Have you been Rick656? It's an intimidating and loud crowd - no one wants to be the only one against the grain in such an environment

Actual footage: On June 24th, additional people with whistles, and screamers will be recruited for the June 27th mtg: https://www.facebook.com/events/660993950758358/

Meanwhile, the leader of First Baptist Church of Crown Heights keeps trying to get this deal to work. http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2017/6/2017-06-23-oped-armory-plan-cl.html "Arguing that low-income housing is the only kind of housing that benefits black and brown New Yorkers is short-sighted and it is simply not true. What should Crown Heights tell its young men and women of color after they gain middle-class jobs and want to stay here or come back to raise families? That they are no longer welcome?"

Bedford Courts does not seem discouraged:

Coverage of tonight's show: https://patch.com/new-york/prospectheights/bedford-union-armory-proposal-back-full-community-board-review

(error)

While all of the elected politicians were initially for this deal, all of the elected ones are now against it. So, Ede Fox seems to be staking her campaign on the premise that she is MORE against it than Laurie Cumbo. https://www.facebook.com/ede.fox.1

This candidate is running as a Democratic Socialist, and seems against it because it represents capitalism: http://www.jabari2017.nyc

yesbrooklyn said:

Have you been Rick656? It's an intimidating and loud crowd - no one wants to be the only one against the grain in such an environment

yesbrooklyn said:

Have you been Rick656? It's an intimidating and loud crowd - no one wants to be the only one against the grain in such an environment

No, I've never yet been able to make it to a meeting yet. I totally understand that supporting the rec center at one of those meetings is going to put someone in the minority and uncomfortable with the type of crowd that is there protesting the project. Glad someone did it nonetheless

The next hearing is on Monday at Brooklyn Borough Hall: "CALENDAR ITEM 2 –– BEDFORD UNION ARMORY (170416 ZMK, 170417 ZRK, 170418 ZSK, 170419 ZSK, 170420 PPK) Applications submitted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), pursuant to Sections 197-c and 201 of the New York City Charter, seeking: a zoning map amendment to change an existing R6 district to an R7-2 district with a C2-4 commercial overlay; a zoning text amendment to establish a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) area; a special permit to modify the height and setback requirements, and a special permit to reduce the number of required accessory, off-street, residential parking spaces from 129 to 118. Additionally, the New York City Department of Citywide Administration (DCAS) seeks the disposition of City-owned property at 1555 Bedford Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of CD 9. Such actions would facilitate the redevelopment of the Bedford Union Armory into mixed-use development. The armory shed and head house would contain 57,700 square feet of recreational facilities, 25,000 square feet of commercial office space, and 25,000 square feet of community facility space. Additionally, the proposed actions would facilitate two new residential buildings, a condominium building along President Street in place of the horse stables that would contain 60 dwelling units, with 20 percent of the units set aside as affordable homeownership residences, and a through-block, multi-family, mixed-income rental building on the site of existing garage building, containing 330 dwelling units, with 50 percent of the units affordable to households earning on average 80 percent of area median income (AMI)." http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/event/uniform-land-use-review-procedure-public-hearing-23/

I see no reason to attend.

Footage from meeting: https://www.facebook.com/josue.pierre.18/videos/1405536382866533/

Major police involvement needed in meeting. Email: [email hidden] to voice your opinion! Be part of the process!

yesbrooklyn said:

Major police involvement needed in meeting. Email: [email hidden] to voice your opinion! Be part of the process!

... police involvement?

Yes, the police had to end the meeting and clear the room because the protesters would not let the meeting happen. http://www.kingscountypolitics.com/broadway-triangle-bedford-union-armory-protest-shuts-ulurp-meeting/

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170712/REAL_ESTATE/170719951

quote: He also suggested that negotiations with the armory's developer, BFC Partners, could lead to changes with the project — and a possible change of heart from Cumbo and Adams. “We’re going to continue to push the developer to make the project as good as it can be for the community. And, look, I work very closely with the borough president and the councilmember. Those are ongoing discussions. I respect their position, but I also believe that if that project continues to evolve, that they’ll keep an open mind,” the mayor said. Adams and Cumbo have previously said the biggest sticking point in the project plan are the luxury condominiums planned to be built on the armory’s south side. However, BFC Partners and the New York Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the project, have both said the sale of those units would help pay for the armory’s recreation center and, without them, the project may not be financially feasible. end quote. https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170712/crown-heights/mayor-de-blasio-bedford-union-armory-project-development

I think it is safe to say that Ms. Cumbo will not change her mind until after the September primary

I wonder if any of the protesters have focused on the fact that a pretty nice percentage of the condos will be offered at affordable prices as part of an affordable homeownership program. Maybe if they increase the percentage from 20% to something higher, that could be enough to sway the pols?

[email hidden] - what is this email address??

It's Eric Adams email address that deals specifically with Armory related questions/testimony. Send in your thoughts! @Rick656

yesbrooklyn said:

It's Eric Adams email address that deals specifically with Armory related questions/testimony. Send in your thoughts! @Rick656

Thanks! I emailed him and Laurie Cumbo.