The City Council voted to approve the rezoning of approximately fifty-five blocks of the Crown Heights neighborhood, an area known as Crown Heights West. The rough boundaries of the rezoned area are Atlantic Avenue, Pacific, Dean and Bergen streets to the north; Nostrand Avenue to the east; Eastern Parkway to the south; and Washington and Grand Avenues to the west. Rezoning will preserve the character of this community’s residential blocks and commercial corridors while creating incentives for the development of needed affordable housing.
After observing the proliferation of new developments that met neither the design conventions nor the affordable housing needs of the community, the volunteer and elected representatives of Crown Heights West requested this rezoning in 2012. Under the revised zoning, the height of new developments will be limited, with developers receiving incentives for voluntarily including affordable units in their portfolios. According to the City Planning Commission, the city’s inclusionary housing program has produced nearly than 4,500 units of affordable housing citywide thus far, 1,100 of which are located in the borough of Brooklyn.
Councilmember Vann has steadfastly prioritized the community’s goals in this rezoning process. I’m pleased that this rezoning, with the significant protections it brings, has been completed during my final term as an elected representative of Crown Heights; said Councilmember Vann. There is no doubt that policy changes are needed to ensure that housing that is truly affordable to individuals at the median income level for this community is developed and preserved. I fully support Community Board 8 and the Crown Heights Assembly’s demands for these policy improvements. Nevertheless, we should be proud of what we have accomplished today to limit and shape future development in Crown Heights West. The rezoning of Crown Heights West received unanimous support within the City Council
Details of this rezoning, including the zoning text, a map of the rezoned area and related reports can be found online at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/crown_heights_west/index.shtml
The Public Hearing on the proposal was held May 9, 2013. The Community Board voted unanimously to adopt the proposal as the Department of City Planning (DCP) had undertaken the project in 2005 at the request of CB 8.
<p align=”justify”>The Community Board’s report to the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office included a request for follow-up corrective actions. The Community Board’s report can be read . The Brooklyn Borough President’s Office (BBPO) held a public hearing on May 15, 2013 and approved the proposal with modifications/conditions.
The Department of City Planning announced on March 18, 2013 that it is moving ahead with the process to contextually rezone a portion of western Crown Heights, at the request of Community Board 8. 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 goal of 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 8 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 on the City Planning website. To view the entire presentation and not just the overview of the project, view it.