Williamsburg, NY – A developer’s bid for a glitzy, 800-unit mixed-use apartment complex along the Williamsburg waterfront tripped at the first hurdle on Tuesday night when a community board committee rejected it 9–1.
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Members of the Community Board 1 land-use committee objected strongly to the project — dubbed “Rose Plaza on the River” — because it would reserve only 20 percent of its condo units as below-market-rate housing.
Board members also objected that the vast majority of the complex’s units are studios, and one- and two-bedrooms.
“Is this what you think our community needs?” asked Rabbi David Niederman, a committee member and president of the United Jewish Organization. “It’s another development that gentrifies a community that is suffering already from a lack of housing.”
The waterfront site is currently zoned for manufacturing and houses a lumber warehouse and a parking lot. The developers are seeking a residential rezoning so they can build a 3.7-acre complex with 801 units in three towers of 18, 24, and 29 stories. The site is bordered by Kent Avenue on the east, Division Avenue on the south and the Schaefer Landing complex to the north.
Rose Plaza is bigger, bulkier and will provide more housing than its neighbor to the north, which has towers of 15 and 26 stories for a total of 210 units.
Luxury condos have sprouted up in Williamsburg and Greenpoint since the contentious 2005 rezoning of the waterfront communities, a zoning change that allowed developers to build 30-story towers as long as they have big enough lots and provide public space. Since the rezoning took effect, condos towers like the 29-story Northside Piers near N. Fifth Street, the 30-story Edge between N. Fifth and N. Seventh streets, and Ismael Leyva’s proposed 40-story tower on West Street near India Street have become the norm.
The Rose Plaza site was not included in that rezoning, which brought the development team to the community board, which takes a first crack at city land-use changes.
Members of the committee sought improvements in the project, including setting aside 33 percent of the project for below-market-rate housing and creating some larger units for families.
“I didn’t think the committee vote was ‘no way,’ we just want to see the project to become better,” said committee Chairman Ward Dennis. “The open space is a little more than required by law and we have always pushed for 40-percent affordable housing for new projects. All that you are offering is the standard, the minimum [of affordable units], you are looking for wavers on the height of the towers, and what do we get in return?”
In return, said Howard Weiss, the attorney representing the would-be developers Abraham and Isack Rosenberg, Rose Plaza on the River would include retail and restaurant space, an underground parking garage to fit 496 cars, an extension of S. 11th Street west of Kent Avenue to serve as a visual corridor, plus public space in the form of a waterfront esplanade.
“The public space and affordable housing shows that we care about the community,” said Weiss, adding that the construction of housing in what is currently a manufacturing site would “bring life and create jobs.”
To be able to do so, though, the developers need that the rezoning, which caps the towers at 185-feet, given the lot size. Rose Plaza would not be the first development to get such a waiver, but that didn’t matter to some panelists.
“You’re not special,” said Heather Roslund, a member of the committee. “I don’t buy it.”
Speaking of buying things, Dennis pointed out, Rose Plaza would add 800 units to the 2,500 new apartments that are expected to be on the market by the end of the year and another 2,500 by the end of 2010.
But Weiss was not deterred.
“By the time the project is built, the market will have changed — and we will be offering waterfront real estate,” said Weiss.
Its satmar politics, david niderman is a zoli and developers are aroinem
Ok, I also don’t like this type of housing, I’d prefer he builds “Heimishe” apts. w/ Pesach kitchens, but to coerce investors in such a terrible housing market to make 40% of units affordable smacks to me as an unaffordable deal for any investor and against capitalism. He could build lower, but the Yuppies like high rises so they can imagine themselves in Manhattan. Welcome to NYC.
Its not right for the developers to build studio apartments that’s only suitable for non jewish people right in the middle of the jewish willamsburg community
I looked up the plan at the planing board & I saw their is a plan for a beach on the waterfront . can this be true. allso a resturant & wine beer resturant on division av . can any body let know if they have any info
496 parking spots for 800 units, most of which are for the wealthy, i.e. more than one car per unit. and what about all the bikes?
Shame on those developers, how can they do this to the community? to the hundreds of heimishe neighbors around, it would be a slap in the face for the entire community.
Why built studios. Why not for heimishe people who ar desperate for housing?
was there not a esur from all of the rabunim in williamsburg to sell appartments for the yuppies in williamsburg ,,why is ok for him to build in the center of willimsburg ,when there is a housing crises ,,poeple are living in basements with kids because there are no apartments availble, he should be a responsble yid and build all this apartments for yiden
I work at Certified Lumber and I guess my Job is safe for now.
This is dizzying. How can one of us be so stupid? (I’m talking about Niederman). To be so arangetihn in his own agenda as to cause nezek to another yid. There is no such thing as what a community needs. Wake up people. Either the developers make money or Niederman consolidates power. Affordale housing units? Let Niederman raise the funds to build those. What kind of chutzpah is it to tell somebody what to do with his money? We’re seeing it, good folks: the Al Sharptonization of our community.
Its not about telling developers what to do with their money.
When the property was bought it was zoned commercial and he bought it based on that value. He now wants a zoning variance, meaning he asking for the community for an exception, giving the community the right to make demands in exchange. If you are going to dramatically change the neighborhood, you better get the neighbors permission.
That said, why should we approve this because he’s a yid and wants to make money, but the Studio in the navy yard that affected no-one the community protests. I don’t get it.
“It’s another development that gentrifies a community that is suffering already from a lack of housing.”
What in the world? This is the spokesperson for satmar? What an embarrassment! Maybe, if you taught a little English in your schools the poverty level in Williamsburg wouldn’t be what it is, and housing wouldn’t be as big an “issue” as it is.
Hey niederman collected money to fight Schafer landing after he collected millions he got money under the table from schaefar and koshered the project what a scamer
Sucha shame!!!!! Wake up !!!! PURE politics. Does anyone remember when Williams burg was in desperate need of housing only going back a few years??? When our hiemishe fellow yiden invested millions of dollars for rezoning. ?? And those so called BOARD members approved all of the YUPPPY developments without even considering the needs of the COMMUNITY ! ! ! ! Now the same people are trying to block this same practice they themselfs Brought in???????????? What a disgrace !!!!! What a double standard !!!!!
Don’t worry all the developers have to do is give 100K in “campaign contributions” to the local councilman like the developers did in Boro Park with the Dahill Rd. Project with unanimous rejection from the CB our local councilman got it approved (but it wasn’t about the money it was strictly lshem shomayim)
These are perfect apartments for young frumme couples that have not yet started a family or maybe with one child….they would also be perferct for empty nesters whose children have grown up and are in college or have their own families. Why do you assume there is no demand among yidden.
why doesnt MR Rosenberg give back the millions of dollars he borrowed and now says he doesnt have any money to return. this is chutzpa
If Neiderman and company get money such as Schaefer housing or Broadway triangle he votes for it if not he votes against it!! It should be investigated!
Why would a community re zone a property against its interest if they don’t gain anything from this?
This plan is definitely not in the best interest of the community, and therefore it was rejected by 9 out of 10 cb1 members (with only 1 yid voting yes)
The plan has been in the making for about 2 years, let’s pray it should not come to reality.
As an outsider reviewing the comments, I see on one hand people rejecting the project with simple explanations, its not in the community’s interest…. , on the other hand people just bashing niederman, with no explanation why its good for the community…!!! I guess you have the answer!!!
satmar rabbi in heaven makes sure that wiilamsburg should stay a glatt kosher neighborhood! and mr. niedermanis is his sheliach!
1)It should be investigated the connection Neiderman and company had with Schaefer housing.
2) I know for a fact that Weiser (who is a cb 1 member) worked on each of the cb memers to vote no. its his job well done, it’s 100% politics
you can argue if its mentshlich or not to build it like this but since he is the owner he can do whatever he wants with his property all though you may not like it
CB1 is a combination of all chasidus’n, not just Satmar therefore, its silly to blame politics on this one. All other developments had to dedicate a large amount for low income families, schafer also did so (if not for the paper ‘der blat’ which campaigned against the project there would have been many more yiden in that project, unfortunately, it went to spanish after many yiden withdrew their applications. But it still went as affordable) broadway triangle is same, they need to put aside a nice % for low income. The rosenberg brothers were the first to bring in crime to yiddish area when they leased their hall to all kinds of ugly events this was on the other side of willy, now they want to break the yiden who live on this side. CB1 will do anything in their power to at least gain something for the residents of the area. They can’t force any developer whom to sell to, but they can request that the development should “also” have a piece to accommodate this neighborhood and not only the yuppies from village
Thanks CB 1 for your support of the community, this deveopment will bring nothing positive to nobody, especially the beach restaurant and bar…
How come niederman didn’t ask all the questions he asked yesterday from the developers who built the thousands of apartments until now? This is a discrimination against a developer who is not from his political side! What a double standard from a community leader who is supposed to work for the community! Not against the community!
You guys crack me up. Are the Rosenbergs rabbis or what??? they do not have to worry about ur housing or living problems. If you want to cry and complain, why don’t you go to your sacred rabbis that they should care for theyr ppl. hopefully- after they’ll be done with the sheitels, warm in watter, strawberrys, hot cups, they’ll have some time for your SMALLER problems!
This is a big chilol hashem playing politics with your on brothers don’t u think that the goy don’t see any different between an aroni and zalli this is nasty .
i would like to see an amusement park there
How about buidling there a big Boxing Ring? 5000 bleachers $25 for entry thats $125,000 per night, have the two rabbis battling each other and who ever wins the boxing match is going to be the grand rabbi. I bet the bleachers will be full solid packed by zalonim and ahronim,
I will refresh your memories a couple years ago the people on Franklin Ave. ask community board 1 for rezoning the full block and what happen
It was rezoned except one building that’s Rose Castel weeding hall!! This is politics don’t you get it!!!
One very ironic episode here. as reported last week here on VIN, one chasidisher yingerman, (who lives in boro park) an activist, went along with some Hispanics to protest on the steps of city hall against the “Broadway triangle” plans, where the city together with UJO and rabbi niderman wants to built lots of affordable housing. And yes one chasidisher yingerman was there and even gave a speech against the plans to built cheap housing for Williamsburg.
There is no secret that this yingerman works together with Isaac Rosenberg who wants to built housing which will not fit the Williamsburg Jewish community in no shape or form.
So we see here 2 terrible things happening against the chasidish community in Williamsburg. 1) The city have plans to built cheap housing in Williamsburg and Isaac Rosenberg and his group went along with some Hispanics to protest the city plans. (A Yid against Yiddish interest)
2) Isaac Rosenberg wants to built housing but there wont be one jaw able to live there. (A Yid against Yiddish interest)
I’m a bit confused, you wanna tell me that all 10 community board members are Zaloini? how many board members are even Jewish?
Besides,Niederman is NOT a CB member.
This vote was not in front of the full board which is approx a total of 50 people and only approx 10 jewish, this vote was in front of land use (zoning) committee (which decides if it should go on a vote in front of the full board). niederman IS a cb and committee member and also most of the members are zolis.
for the names and info check on the link http://www.cb1brooklyn.org/cb1_board.htm
It is a great development and even the smaller units can serve elderly hamishe families.
According the NYC housing law and regulation section 6 chapter #23 you have to provide 20% affordable, even you don’t like or not!!
hashem is good to the wiilamsburg jews .yesterday after the news spread every one had a wide smile on their face
everything is in the zechis of the satmara rabbi zt’l
willamsburg is the heart of klak yisroel in the u.s. it must be holy
I understand the concern regarding affordable housing but zoning law only requires 20%, otherwise there is no incentive for the developer to build the affordable apts. In my opinion, this project is great even with 20% affordable housing because at least we are getting some apartments for the community’s benefit. Also, the waterfront will finally be open to the public! We will be able to walk more along the water from Schaeffer. The proposed park design looks beautiful and will very much improve this part of the neighborhood.
The community board voted no but their report says many positive things about this project. They do not object to the residential zoning, the heights of the buildings or the project design. For good reason. The open space areas for the public are beautifully designed. 100,000 sq ft of open space on a site that is 163,000 sq ft., The majoriy of open space accessible to the public. The developer is giving control of the waterfront esplanade to the Parks Department. The property is contaminated from over 100 yrs of industrial uses & the project will provide for the clean up of all the contamination. 40 of the aps are studios but 40 units are 3-bedroomss, with rest of the 800 units 1- and 2-bedrooms. 20% will be affordable units, which will add 160 affordable apts to the community. Sure, more affordable apartments would be a good thing. But this is a privately owned property. It is being privately financed, and no other private owner has been required to give more than 20%. Other projects with more than 20% were city owned land. The alternative would be no project and it stays like it is for another 100 years.
I agree. This looks like a beautiful addition to this area of Williamsburg. Yes, it would be nice to have more affordable housing. BUt, I am happy to hear that this developer at least will create more park space, and add at least 160 units for low income.