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(Rendering courtesy CPC Resources, Inc.)

Williamsburg, NY - The Community Board 1 Land Use Committee voted against the $1.2-billion redevelopment of the old Domino Sugar factory on Tuesday night, the first public rejection of the project as it enters the eight-month review process for a rezoning along the Williamsburg waterfront that would allow a multiple-skyscraper project that is larger than the law currently allows.

The 5-3 vote is merely a suggestion to the full community board, whose vote on March 9 is itself merely advisory to Borough President Markowitz, the City Planning Commission and the City Council, all of which have a say on the proposal.

But the rejection was a stumble for the Community Preservation Corporation, which seeks to rezone the old refinery site from manufacturing to residential in order to build a 2,200-unit waterfront complex with multiple skyscrapers.

In exchange, the developers promise publicly accessible waterfront open space and a far higher-than-required rate of affordable housing.

But even that affordable housing became a source of controversy, as board members complained that CPC has only committed to maintaining the below-market-rate rents for 15 years at the site. Other panelists complained that there is limited public transportation to the area, whose population is expected to boom.

“The bottom line is, we need proof that this is really needed,” said committee Chairman Ward Dennis. “We’re all for affordable housing, but we want permanent affordability — it’s a must for something we’ll sign off on.”

Read the full story at The Brooklyn Paper 

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