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Williamsburg, NY - Rezoning of Rose Plaza Clears Hurdle

Published on:   March 9, 2010 05:30 PM
News Source:  Crains NY
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Williamsburg, NY - Despite some community unhappiness over the relatively few units of affordable housing it will offer, a big mixed-use development on the Williamsburg waterfront called Rose Plaza moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

It came when the city Planning Department, in a narrow 7-5 vote, approved the rezoning necessary for the three-building complex to proceed. The plan will now go to the City Council for final approval in the city’s Uniform Land Use review Procedure process. The council is expected to vote by early May.

Developers Abraham and Isack Rosenberg are asking to have their 3.7-acre site rezoned to residential with some commercial from its present manufacturing designation. The Rosenberg’s Certified Lumber Co., which will be relocated, occupies a portion of the site today.

The developer’s plans call for an 801-unit residential complex—including affordable units—with 24,000 square feet of retail space and 100,000 square feet of open space for a public promenade along the waterfront. The project will also include 5,000 square feet of community facility space.

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Opponents of the plan Community Board 1 and Councilmember Steve Levin argue that the 160 affordable housing units promised by the developers are insufficient. In a press statement, Mr. Levin also criticized the lack of three-bedrooms in the project, predicting it “will only exacerbate, and not mitigate, the many pressures local families face. The applicants are asking for a large amount of special permits as well as a rezoning, without promising to provide any of the much needed expansion of infrastructure.”

An attorney for the developers said the project has much to offer the community.

“I would hope that we can get beyond what might be local politics of and the council will act on the project on its merits,” said Howard Weiss, an attorney who represents the developers and has been working on the Rose Plaza project for the past six years.“ This spectacular waterfront development comes with tremendous public benefit and open space.”

“We need housing badly. This is a private developer, for it to be economically viable this is what he can give,” said Gary Schlesinger, executive board chairman of United Jewish Community Advocacy Relations and Enrichment (UJCare), a supporter of the project, “I believe it is the best we could have gotten.”


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Read Comments (37)  —  Post Yours »

1

 Mar 09, 2010 at 05:51 PM Anonymous Says:

wonderful! will he build a shul on his property.

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2

 Mar 09, 2010 at 05:34 PM Anonymous Says:

What a shame!

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3

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:06 PM Asher Says:

A lot of my dear friends work @ Certified,, hope all works out well for them

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4

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:10 PM Anonymous Says:

we always see projects what the govenmet is giving mony for the site and there is never more then 30 % affordble so we have to be happy here our tax money will not be put in there and we will still get affordble housing

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5

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:23 PM Anonymous Says:

Mazel Tov!

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6

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:34 PM Herman G Says:

Hopefully this will pass and the GOLDEN Brothers will Benefit from there property that the own for so long and did substantial amount of Chased including helping many people with free office and storage space for new business until they could support them self

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7

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:35 PM Anonymous Says:

How man Jewish families are expected to live there out of the 801 units? Does anyone know?

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8

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:38 PM Anonymous Says:

Great news, hopefully it will pass the City council as well and these two huge balei tzadukah will make a nice profit, they sure well deserve it

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9

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:41 PM Anonymous Says:

reply to #2 what is the shame?

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10

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:44 PM heran G Says:

Reply to #3  
Asher Says:

“ A lot of my dear friends work @ Certified,, hope all works out well for them ”

If you have freinds working there pick up your self and go ask them if they want for the great Boss to pass that and
How happy they will be for them

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11

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:48 PM Anonymous Says:

Mr. Gershon Schlesinger said it very good! In this economic downturn this is the best you can get, but the question remains if the economy gets better will the developer give more affordable housing?

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12

 Mar 09, 2010 at 06:53 PM Anonymous Says:

There will be many two bedroom units priced affordably and will be perfect for younger jewish families just starting their careers. Its absurd to ask the developer to waste such a beautiful location for frumme families with 10 children where the huband doesn't work and they live on tzadakah and welfare.

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13

 Mar 09, 2010 at 07:36 PM Golden brothers Says:

its a wonderful idea. & hope to face it in reality....
Btw Y does Private investers have to Give away there investments for Affordable? ? they R doing it to earn $!!!
it makes more sense that Heimishe people shouldn't be kicked out of the NYCHA projects,
where R the city counclers to help us out???
anyway should this Roze Plaze Project Be w/lots of Hatzlacha!

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15

 Mar 09, 2010 at 07:50 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #11  
Anonymous Says:

“ Mr. Gershon Schlesinger said it very good! In this economic downturn this is the best you can get, but the question remains if the economy gets better will the developer give more affordable housing? ”

The yiddish saying ' TZIRIK GEIT A KOZA "

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17

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:01 PM Anonymous Says:

I hope there not diging themselfs even a bigger hole , there are so many empty lofts, apartments , that are not being sold because of the sour housing market/ economy, I wish them the best!

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19

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:25 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #10  
heran G Says:

“ If you have freinds working there pick up your self and go ask them if they want for the great Boss to pass that and
How happy they will be for them ”

All I know is that while people were losing there jobs left & right in this tough economy, not a single certified or BP employee was let go, even though the right business decision would have been to cut staff big time, that's the kind of bosses they are, they would rather struggle then leave a family with out parnusa

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20

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:32 PM Anonymous Says:

response to #4. With all due respect 20% affordable housing (what they are willing to build at Rose Plaza) is not giving back to the community - it is the absolute minimum allowed by the city and by law they can not give any less. I wish they would look closely at the neighborhood and see who needs housing most and build units for these community members first. It will pay back to them a thousand fold more than any bank account could. I also wish that they build better local public transportation and safer streets than a parking garage for private cars.

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21

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:37 PM Anonymous Says:

Actually Big families with 10-12 kids usually move outside the city to Monsey, Kiryas Joel, Lakewood, etc, etc, In williamsburg you pay a sq. ft in the range of $500 in the other places its around $250 so it makes no sense to stay in willi for big families, the newly weds need apartments so this project will be excellent for them.

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22

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:48 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #12  
Anonymous Says:

“ There will be many two bedroom units priced affordably and will be perfect for younger jewish families just starting their careers. Its absurd to ask the developer to waste such a beautiful location for frumme families with 10 children where the huband doesn't work and they live on tzadakah and welfare. ”

Yeh! In williamsburg everybody has 10 kids and nobody works. Your mind is absurd.

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23

 Mar 09, 2010 at 08:54 PM Anonymous Says:

Gary Schlesinger or Gershon? is it the same person? so who is Michael?

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24

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:02 PM Anonymous Says:

Once upon a time there were a few developers who tried making money and in the same time do something good. So they tried building up new shtetloch 1 tried in PA, 1 tried in NJ, the other in the mountains, but they didn't get anywhere. The only respond the got was laughing them in the face "its never going to work out". These good developers who were actualy trying to help their brothers got wiped out from the map. Today we have our big philontrphs, baalei tzedukah who are building all those big expensive housing for the Yippies or for the Mannhattan people, then the're throwing us a bone (a few afordable housing) to make us stop barking, and we're all excited. What happened to our "oskunim"? Are allthe dreams of getting to live normal shredded? Wake up guys wake up! Even if you belong to the same party than him, that doesn't mean that you can't have a different opinion than him. And I'm not taking away the big tzedukes they give but that doesn't justify building this to stuff their pockets with billions while ignoring the ongoing housing problems having people paying $3,000 rent for a 1800 sq ft apt. People who are working hard for their little earned income have to pay 3/4 of their income just to pay rent.

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25

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:05 PM Anonymous Says:

What a slap in the face for the heimishe community!

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26

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:09 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #13  
Golden brothers Says:

“ its a wonderful idea. & hope to face it in reality....
Btw Y does Private investers have to Give away there investments for Affordable? ? they R doing it to earn $!!!
it makes more sense that Heimishe people shouldn't be kicked out of the NYCHA projects,
where R the city counclers to help us out???
anyway should this Roze Plaze Project Be w/lots of Hatzlacha! ”

No, Private investors don't HAVE to give away their lots, but before or while you're going to make new billions in your pocket do something to help the terrible rising housing problem. The rent today is sky high its almost impossible to rent an appartment today for a larger family for under $2800. That's more than half wage for an average person.

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27

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:10 PM Self burying Says:

They must be real balei chesed, to sell out their own community for a few bucks, what a stab in their own backs..

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28

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:19 PM Willy Family Says:

Reply to #12  
Anonymous Says:

“ There will be many two bedroom units priced affordably and will be perfect for younger jewish families just starting their careers. Its absurd to ask the developer to waste such a beautiful location for frumme families with 10 children where the huband doesn't work and they live on tzadakah and welfare. ”

Have no idea on which planet of hate you're living, I have a big family in Willy, I'm working, my wife is working part time, and we DONT live off tzeduka or welfare. Same is with my friends and family.
So my advice, go get a life - and a job.

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29

 Mar 09, 2010 at 09:56 PM golden brothers Says:

Reply to #26  
Anonymous Says:

“ No, Private investors don't HAVE to give away their lots, but before or while you're going to make new billions in your pocket do something to help the terrible rising housing problem. The rent today is sky high its almost impossible to rent an appartment today for a larger family for under $2800. That's more than half wage for an average person. ”

U dont count the profit they will earn!!
& U dont Be busy w/ Keeping in mind other ppl as they will earn $!
They are well well know BIG Tzedukeh givers as we ALL know...
& lets hope they should be able to keep up

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30

 Mar 09, 2010 at 10:00 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #25  
Anonymous Says:

“ What a slap in the face for the heimishe community! ”

Why is a "slap in the face for the heimishe community" for an ehrlich yid to build housing that is priced to the local market rather than subsidized for yiddin who have too little money and too many kids??

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31

 Mar 09, 2010 at 10:15 PM WB Says:

Mazel tov, and hatzlucha, the rosenberg brothers r real baaly tzduka vuchesed, not only in satmar but anywhere help is needed, they r ready with open pockets

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32

 Mar 09, 2010 at 10:53 PM hmb Says:

To # 30, How do you know how much money is enough and how many kids are too many, I hope Hashem gives u too much money and too few kids

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33

 Mar 09, 2010 at 11:28 PM Anonymous Says:

Well i think my family and i should consider moving from Boro Park to Williamsburgh!

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34

 Mar 09, 2010 at 11:40 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #32  
hmb Says:

“ To # 30, How do you know how much money is enough and how many kids are too many, I hope Hashem gives u too much money and too few kids ”

Have as many kids as you (and your wife) want and the hashem gives you but don't expect a private builder or the government to subsidize your housing costs if you want to live in this upscale area.

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35

 Mar 09, 2010 at 11:56 PM Anonymous Says:

Reply to #23  
Anonymous Says:

“ Gary Schlesinger or Gershon? is it the same person? so who is Michael? ”

Rosenbergs are from Aronim and Michael Schlessinger is a young guy from Zalman side.

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36

 Mar 10, 2010 at 09:11 AM Rokeach Says:

Reply to #23  
Anonymous Says:

“ Gary Schlesinger or Gershon? is it the same person? so who is Michael? ”

Reb "Gary" is "Gershon" AKA Michael Schlesinger, what else is new?

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37

 Mar 10, 2010 at 10:10 AM Anonymous Says:

Why is the new council member opposing this project ? isn't it a good thing to add housing to his district ?

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38

 Mar 10, 2010 at 12:45 PM southside resident Says:

This project wont make it or brake it. we r circled already with sky skraipers of this nidrigah goyim -like Schafer, zazza, gradge, ect.-hanks for all this big BALAY TZADUKE for building it for them

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39

 Mar 10, 2010 at 05:55 PM Sue Says:

Reply to #36  
Rokeach Says:

“ Reb "Gary" is "Gershon" AKA Michael Schlesinger, what else is new? ”

He is david or Dudi schlesinger I think he lives in Monsey now

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40

 Mar 10, 2010 at 10:04 PM Anonymous Says:

there's a lot of apt. in williamsburg owned by our rabbonim and asking for hefty rent prices plus so called shlisel gelt, plus, plus, and we keep on giving them money. at least these good hearted people (rosenbergs) will be able to give lots of tseduka like always

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41

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