Williamsburg, NY – Newly-Elected Councilman Urges ‘No’ Vote on Rose Plaza

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    Rendering of Rose PlazaWilliamsburg, NY – Newly-elected City Council Member Stephen Levin has urged the City Planning Commission (CPC) to disapprove the multi-building, mixed-use waterfront development known as Rose Plaza on the River in Williamsburg.

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    Levin, who replaced David Yassky in representing Williamsburg, outlined for the commissioners four major concerns and several minor ones he had, including its insufficient amount of affordable housing (only 20 percent; he recommends 33 percent); its inadequate mix of units (he recommends a greater number of larger family-sized units); its lack of consideration for ameliorating the area’s overburdened infrastructure, like transportation issues and lack of schools (possibly shuttle service from the complex could be added to the plan); and the potential health risks from the site’s former use as a manufactured gas site, which will take an estimated five years to remediate.

    Levin said he wants a commitment from the developer that this remediation will be completed prior to any building taking place.

    He also told commissioners he has concerns about jobs retention and the amount of open space and public access.

    “I recommend this proposal be sent back to the drawing board,” he said.

    Commissioners, in their questioning of Levin, appeared concerned about sending the project — which has been six years in the making — back to the drawing board, particularly since the developer, identified as Isaac Rosenberg, and the architect, Gruzen Samton, had expressed a willingness to work with commissioners and council members on the primary areas of concern — more affordable and more family-sized units

    In fact, Howard Weiss, the developer’s attorney and spokesperson, confirmed that the development team was considering larger apartments.

    “I am prepared today to state our commitment to add 10 additional three-bedroom units,” Weiss said, adding, “And we are also committed to making sure this site will be remediated to residential standards.” As for the percentage of affordable units (20 percent = 160 units), Weiss reminded the commissioners that 20 percent was the amount acceptable to city planners when the inclusionary bonus was adopted. In addition to Levin and Weiss, commissioners heard from architect Peter Samton of Gruzen Samton and landscape architect Tom Balsley of Balsley Landscape Associates, who described elements of the proposal.

    Samton described the plan’s buildings — three towers of 18, 25 and 29 stories, plus three lowrise six-story buildings along Kent Avenue— on the 3.7-acre site.

    Balsley, in addressing the commissioners’ concerns about open space and public access, described the private/public nature of the open space, its sloping lawn, willow trees, high grasses and walkways — several of which will be handicap-accessible — that are part of the larger swath of green along the waterfront, as well as the plan for a café with outdoor tables.

    Of the eight residents who spoke during the public hearing, five were in favor of the project, three were opposed.

    Those opposed mainly believed the 20 percent affordable and the numbers of larger units were too low.

    One resident, speaking in favor of the plan, said, “Here we have a private developer willing to provide affordable housing and a lot of open space, which he is willing to cede to the Parks Department to manage. Approve it, please.”

    This is the third public hearing for the project as it makes its way through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP).

    As previously reported in the Eagle, Community Board 1 voted against the project also based on the low amount of affordable housing (20 percent) and the high percentage (95 percent) of small units. Also as previously reported,.the 801-unit development was approved — with-modifications — by Borough President Marty Markowitz, who recommended 33 percent affordable units and an increased number of three- and four-bedroom apartments to 35 percent of the low-income units, and 33 percent of the moderate- to middle-income units.


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    41 Comments
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    moshe
    moshe
    14 years ago

    This is simple. the community where Isaac Rosenberg is president voted for abraham

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Instead of approving housing this new Councilmember decided to play politics instead of representing his district.

    Aronim didn’t vote for Levin and Mr. Rosenberg is from Arons side.

    Sounds like pay back time. Mr. Levin you are making a big mistake.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Now his turn

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    A newly elected councilman is getting even with the people who opposed him!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Its a shame that a council member understands more then a heimisha yid what the community needs…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Nice to she full color that he is still part of the lopez corruption.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    his community board said NO! the boro president said yes BUT clearly said that it needs changes and he is not happy with the current plan, and they all said why its not good, cuz it dosent have enough affordable housing and its not fitted to acoomodate the local community ( yeah that’s us heimisha yiden) the boro president publicly and specifically requested these changes, unfortunately the developers don’t care to much about the community and never came back with these changes, therefore it is right not to approve their plans until they address the community’s above mentioned concerns

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Simple putting his newly public service position to serve the few, by killing badly needed housing and construction jobs.

    Bar Daas
    Bar Daas
    14 years ago

    I dont understand were politics comes in to the picture. All the people of williamsburg, aronim, zalonim, and hispanics alike, are in need of affordable housing, that can accomodate their large families, not 18, 25 and 29 stories of studio and one bedroom luxury apartments, that will attract people outside of Williamsburg.

    a pupa yid
    a pupa yid
    14 years ago

    If levin is smart he gives full service for the aharonim and opposes this project

    Not all aharonim approve of this project its a private investment of a aharoni and dosent belong to the ahronim

    Btw most aharonim didn’t support rosenberg when he rented out the rose castle shabbos for a club

    The candidate
    The candidate
    14 years ago

    This is the Councilman who promised to work with all the people just as O’bama and now he starts off on the wrong foot.

    here is a typically example, State Senator Denial Squadron was not supported by the UJO, but he promised to work with all the people and he did, met with members of the UJO not long after his victory, but at Rose development Levin want’s to get even and show that he will not support any project sponsored by residents, leaders and organizations that opposed him.

    At Schaefer, Vito Lopez threatened to stop all State tax abatements because out of the 160 units there are too many large apartments that will only accommodate the Jewish community”, The UJO was in favor of the plan and there is only one reason for it $$$$$. remember 160 units.

    At Rose Development hearing at City Planning last week, Vito Lopez (not even being the Assemblyman in the district, its Joe Lentol) testified opposing the plan because ” there are not enough large bedroom apartments for the Jewish Community” and the UJO and the new Councilman Levin who didn’t even study the project testify the same.

    even tough that Rose also gives 160 affordable units that’s 20% as required by the city for the rezoning, just as Schaefer still since its an enemy they will oppose it, on top of it all who doesn’t remember the opposition of the water taxi at Schaefer by UJO because it will bring in all bad elements from the outside.

    Guess what, Levin and UJO found another way to cause hardship for this site by suggesting that Rose work to get water taxi transportation (opposed by the Schaefer site) since we all know that the water taxi stopped doing business by Schaefer.

    So we the people, are the tennis ball for the politicians and for the community leaders who play with our lives and the future of our community and we will not tolerate it for a single moment.

    Mr. Levin, we have been here before you were born, and we will outlive you no matter what you try to do, as stated many times in many news clippings, 66% of the district didn’t vote for you, 50% of the Jewish Community didn’t vote for you and we are stronger then ever.

    Put on your seat belts and helmet, if this is the way you want to serve this district you will have rough ride ahead off you for the next couple of years

    think in
    think in
    14 years ago

    I don’t get this ahronim are acting against them self they need housing and just because its not from there side they are against it שנאה מקלקלת את השורה

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “As previously reported in the Eagle, Community Board 1 voted against the project also based on the low amount of affordable housing (20 percent) and the high percentage (95 percent) of small units. Also as previously reported,.the 801-unit development was approved — with-modifications — by Borough President Marty Markowitz, who recommended 33 percent affordable units and an increased number of three- and four-bedroom apartments to 35 percent of the low-income units, and 33 percent of the moderate- to middle-income units.” (end of article)

    Had the developers come forward with these modifications??? I don’t think so, so why should they approve it, is the boro president also biased?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The community should put pressure on the developers, who live in Williamsburg, and know the matzav of their suffering brothers, to build more affordable housing, because the community board could only ask for a maximum 33% affordable housing. We should all get together on hands and feet to beg these people, that have the money, and the properties to help us.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Those developers had already modified their Catering hall from being a goiyisha Immodest hall to a more affordable and and for heimisha people chasene hall (by pressure of rabonim) why can”t they do the same thing here? change your plans to more affordable and for the heimisha local community housing.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    #13 I think you should study your facts better Schaffer was 40% affordable, and the Rose plaza only 20%. And Schaffer was not build by a memeber of the community, who should know better what the community needs.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Politics at its best!! Indeed!

    It is transparent that the people bashing here the councilman are playing dirty politics. Here you have (for once) an honest politician (endangered species) that’s fighting solely for his constituents, and not for some individual interests, and is being accused of playing politics?!? Need I say more!?

    The Cadidate said
    The Cadidate said
    14 years ago

    #18 you have no idea what “study” means and how to set the record straight with background facts and here it is.

    First at Schaefer the City paid for the environmental study, it also paid for demolition and excavation at the cost of 11 million dollars, so now there was a flat piece of land, on top of it then Governor Pataki gave a 30 year tax abatement which raised the affordable units from 60 to 140 so you get to 40%.

    But, Rose is a private developer who paid for the environmental study, will pay for demolition and excavation, every step will cost him money without getting any Federal, State or City funds to help him raise the affordable amount.

    you #18 can help him get help since you know all the facts you must be in the group that’s trying to stop this project, hope your children will be lucky to get into the affordable since you must have good contacts.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    #21 since you know the facts so well , could you please tell me from whom the developers of rose plaza brought the property, and how much they paid for it?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    One of the speakers who spoke against the Rose Project is Debra Feinberg, who is she?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    He (Levin) is right why shouldn’t he (Issac Rosenberg) give a bigger percent for haimishe familys (did any one forgot how der blatt wrote on the domzey project which is right a cross,that the owner shoud develop it for yidden and Rosenberg gets a free pass just because he is a a …. and dommzey was a z…)

    the candidate said
    the candidate said
    14 years ago

    #23 and #18 where I gave you more credit then you deserve, have a great weekend your comments, questions and response are more for the mikvah then an educated person on this blog you should go play yo-yo for the rest of the night and count how many times you did it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    # 24, Debra Feinberg works for Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Rose Plaza is NOT in Lopez’s assembly district, ROSE is in Assemblyman Joseph Lentol’s district, Lopez is mixing himself in politics as is his custom…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I don’t understand where was ujo now on South 8 st was build a 20 floor hi rise building 3 blocks down from the water and NO large apartments and now its for rent but originally it was to be sold its called the zazze building and where is our so called leaders by the bedford garden project and all other project that its getting emptied from yidden so I guess community in williumsburg is goyim

    Dav
    Dav
    14 years ago

    Since I was at last week at the hearing I was listing to Levine first speech (very unprofessional) he sound like a real young poppet of is buss Vito Low-paz! I just say he is starring his courier to go in a wrong direction, we advice him to go back to school and do some real home-work before you involving with such sensitive issues like Broadway triangle, rose plaza, etc.
    His buss doesn’t like us Hassid at all! he is just using us for his privet agendas, just for the records Lentol is our assemblyman not Low-paz!! for the lat 30 years Lentol was always the person to represent us and always will be, He is a real HOIF YISROAL..a councilman’s job is representing the district not groups!! We all call this one track minder!!

    bystander
    bystander
    14 years ago

    To all you “Gam li gam loch lo yihye” (Shlomo Hamelech with the two women and the dead child) I wish the developers have enough of you, and play the game in reverse. They build it for 100% low income welfare recipients and homeless, the city pays good rent for that. and teach you all a lesson once and for all…. then you’ll have all the necessary housing if you qualify… push the developers to the wall and they’ll do it, they will have nothing to loose any more.

    Face It
    Face It
    14 years ago

    Do we live in Cuba? A developer wants to bring a big project that will bring jobs and construction something that we all need, who can tell him what size apt he is allowed to build?

    Aaron
    Aaron
    14 years ago

    The development is the first project in williamsburg to gave away on site in addition to donate the park land for the city.
    Even so, levin isn’t for it, why ? why ? because niederman didn’t get to be the sole operator of the affordable housing
    With such a nasty behavior, we will have a lot of fun coming few years.
    Levin, is not recognizing e of the voters, he only got 5 of the total votes in the primary.
    A disgrace official, a corrupt official, and soon he will be out of there

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    At the hearing Levin sat there for over 3 hours, he was the first speaker, it was a hectic day in the city council, he said he can’t leave because Lopez didn’t let him leave, you understand this? Lopez WAS his boss, now Levin is a councilman he should grow up.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Stupid Politics!!
    The whole broadway Triangle Which has 16 Acre of land has ledd than 150 required low income Apt. And was approved in a landslide!!
    Here is a private develepor with more affordable housing than the whole triangle (160 units) and levine is oposing it!!! Come on guys wake up, don’t play games with our housing please!!