Brooklyn, NY – On his 100th day in office Councilman David G. Greenfield, keeping a major promise made during his campaign, announced that he is working with Councilmember Sara M. Gonzalez to undertake a major residential rezoning in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. Last month, Councilman Greenfield met with Brooklyn Commissioner Purnima Kapur of the Department of City Planning to discuss the feasibility of rezoning a manufacturing zone in Boro Park to a residential one with the explicit purpose of building new affordable middle-class housing in Boro Park. The area that Greenfield is referring to is a manufacturing zone that is located at the Southern portion of Boro Park running East to West from 17th Avenue to 13th Avenue and North to South from 60th Street to 65th Street. “It doesn’t make sense that in one of the highest priced residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn we have five square blocks that are devoted to manufacturing,” explained Greenfield. “I am proud to work with Councilmember Sara Gonzales to try and rezone this neighborhood for the purpose of building affordable housing.”
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Councilmembers Greenfield and Gonzalez share the representation of this manufacturing district and are working together to rezone this swath of land. They sent a letter to Commissioner Purnima Kapur on Friday, formally requesting that the Department of City Planning commence a study to determine the feasibility of rezoning the area. In the letter, the Councilmembers highlighted the “significant need within the community for additional housing, particularly affordable housing.” The Department of City Planning’s feasibility study will explore the rezoning’s impact on existing businesses in the manufacturing zone, as well as the environmental impact of residential development. This is the first step in what is likely to be a three-year process in the rezoning of this neighborhood.
“Quiet simply, we are running out of space in traditional Boro Park,” said Councilman Greenfield. “It is my hope that, together with Councilmember Gonzalez, we are able to turn this underutilized manufacturing space into a vibrant residential neighborhood with affordable options for our community’s middle-class families.” Councilmember Gonzalez echoed Greenfield’s sentiments, “I am proud to work with Councilman Greenfield on this critical housing initiative. We look forward to the results of the Department of City Planning’s study and to moving closer to making affordable housing a reality in our Council Districts.”
We need more jobs in BP more than we need more subsidized middle class housing units. This space could be used to develop small businesses in newly evolving industries in computer, media, internet and green energy rather than wasting it on housing. We do not need to crowd every yid who wants to live in BP into an already overcroweded neighborhood whose infrastructure is already streched to its limits.
100 days in office hundred press release keep up
No one is going to want to live in that area. Then later they will say that the building was built on contaminated land filled with various cancer causing substances.
actually, i think more parks in those areas would be better than cramming more families of 10, into more cramped apartment buildings. Having more people crammed into a small, dirty, congested area does nobody any good.
There’s no kedusha to the land or mitzva to live within the eruv of boro park.
actually this is a viable area for business that provides jobs for boro park residents. so i would advise our dear councilman greenfield to please gather his facts before he comes up with his bright ideas. i undersdtand that you needed to issue a press release so i understand your reasoning ..anyway…..
There are plenty of affordable areas in Brooklyn, but they think they are too good to live there.
why don’t we turn that area into a meaga park? there are so few parks on the boro park community. lets get the city to rezone the area into apark so thousands of children can play there. another example of duvid greenfield mouthing off his way of bullying everyone into his idea
anyway the only group who knows their way around building on bro park is SBCO. but i highly douby david greenfield will work with them because he just took away money from agudah and agudah founded SBCO. another reason for sinas chinum.
although i commend the efforts of greenfield i feel it would be nore prudent to build more parks and additional play areas for our thousands of children whose parents cant afford summer camps. this is an important quality of life issue.
this is a disaster of a plan. more traffic comes with more housing units built. then david greenfield will say why is the city giving traffic tickets. this is what happens when politicians want a press release to be issued when they end their 100 day in office, they don’t think it thru. the infrastructure is boro park and the vicinity cannot possibly handle more housing. what it needs is more open space for children and seniors like parks and benches.
please rethink your idea mr councilman and please do your homework before going public.
thank you
What ever anyone does in public life there will always be critics! Has anyone an idea what element these night clubs attract?
David I never voted for you but u certainly earned me Vote!
What the hack are you guys talking about?
This is not a park place neither a business place
you could find way cheaper warehouses and industrial
parks in the 50miles of bp than having it in this 5 blocks.
for you ppl that are looking for parks you all forgot that
you live in the city and show me other areas in NYC
where they would rather use prime needed land for
park “we need more housing in BP” and yes we choose
to live in this beautiful place Boro Park and KIDUS to
David Greenfield for keeping he’s promise and working
on a issue that we all so much in need of……….
“David Greenfield keep up your good work”
Who needs this?
I cannot wait. It’s about time. People are paying through the noses for rent. Buying is not an option. There is enough room for manufacturing business on First avenue.
what nite clubs is he talking about? Does david grenfeld go to niteclubs? it sounds like that!!
I moved to staten island and like it
only 25 minutes to bp
quiet peaceful and safe
cheaper rent and real estate
express bus to manhattan
mikvahs Shuls pizza shops groceries
beautiful parks
How do they plan to get rid of the current tenants (in Greenfield’s lifetime)?
They’ll offer money? from where? in this troubled economy?
i can tell you from firsthand knowledge that this plan cannot happen as the city will not allow a tax base to be replaced with tax abated housing so once again we see that a press release is more important for david greenfield then the truth.
Only a few people who currently own buildings there will benefit. 39th street was rezoned and i dont see any affordable housing. David, you are an emotional person and dont study something in its entirety before taking a position. There are currently hundreds of apts in BP for sale with no buyers.
This is no different than 18th/50th where he took the side of a few without judging the big picture.
21 yes staten island is wonderful and nice and yet so near
Gr8 idea! He has now my vote! We need more housing for our children ! Not every person can live in albany…!
Affordable housing, yeshivas, kollels, etc. So close to boro park, flatbush,NJ and a very convenient express bus to manhattan. A real commuinity that actually welcomes you and takes care of their own… My only regret was not moving here sooner.
in an era when the economy is waek jobs are scarce he wants to elementate jobs for housing great and whose going to pay the rent the tax payer
I asked my neighbor in shul who is a real estate lawyer. He explained that a rezoning is NOT done through eminent domain. A rezoning allows those that own property on the location now to convert to housing as long as they agree to certain conditions – in this case affordable housing. No one is going to lose their businesses or jobs. This is a good thing. It’s sad that on Tisha B’av people are complaining about something great for the community.
Thank you, R’ Duvid for having the vision to help our community with our critical lack of affordable housing. Don’t worry, after it’s build and when their kids are living there they will all thank you.
There is a discount for the bridge cost is about$ 5 for those who live here in staten island
which part? There is willowbrook , eltingville
also great parks and great malls