Boerum Hill

Private development slated for Boerum Hill housing project

Wyckoff Gardens residents cautiously optimistic

July 7, 2016 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The city has issued an RFP for two mixed-income buildings to be developed on spare land in the Wyckoff Gardens public housing project in Boerum Hill. Shown above: One of the new buildings will be built where a parking lot now stands at the corner of Nevins and Wyckoff streets. Image data © Google Maps
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Private development is coming to a NYCHA project in Boerum Hill.

The city has issued an RFP for two mixed-income buildings to be built on undeveloped corners of the Wyckoff Gardens housing project.

Wyckoff Gardens residents expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday about the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) plan, which trades underutilized land for much-needed repairs and upgrades to their public buildings. The sites currently hold parking lots.

Wyckoff Gardens, which currently consists of three 21-story residential towers bounded by Wyckoff, Nevins and Baltic streets and Third Avenue, is one of the first two development sites identified in the city’s NextGeneration (NextGen) Neighborhoods program. (The other is Holmes Towers in Manhattan.)

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The program will enable NYCHA to generate revenue by leasing property, such as parking lots or lawns, to developers, who will create 50 percent affordable and 50 percent market-rate units.

The new buildings will contain 500 new housing units, as well as commercial and community space. The revenue from the development will be reinvested back into the projects for repairs and amenities.

Over the years, NYCHA has accumulated $17 billion in unmet capital needs and the agency operates in chronic debt, according to the city.

The RFP was developed after “extensive resident and community stakeholder engagement,” the city said.

Wyckoff residents agree that the city has reached out to them.

“We had a lot of concerns in the beginning of this process, but have seen positive changes in the way NYCHA has engaged residents in recent months, and look forward to building on that toward more consistent and meaningful communication, and more sharing in the decision- making process,” Valerie Bell, Wyckoff Gardens Resident Association president, said in a statement on Wednesday.

She added, “We would prefer for NYCHA to be fully funded and would prefer that no private development be built at Wyckoff Gardens, but we agree with NYCHA that the money is needed and cannot sit by and do nothing to help improve our living conditions.”

Charlene Nimmons, executive director of Public Housing Communities Inc. and a Wyckoff resident, told the Brooklyn Eagle that residents tried to find alternatives to raise revenue for needed repairs, “not only at Wyckoff but across the city [but] to no avail, and we are compelled to move cautiously forward.”

Michelle de la Uz, executive director of the nonprofit Fifth Avenue Committee, said the organization is “cautiously optimistic that an appropriate balance can be struck as long as NYCHA continues its ongoing engagement of residents.”

After several workshops, residents and other stakeholders requested that the development sites be located at the corner of Third Avenue and Wyckoff Street, and the corner of Nevins Street and Wyckoff Street. They also decided that two smaller buildings, one on each of these sites, were preferable to a single, much larger building.

They also asked that the developer include a minimum of 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 10,000 square feet of community facility space. Preferred commercial uses included a grocery store, pharmacy, laundromat, bank and other neighborhood-based retail. Preferred community facilities included an event space, cultural center, early education facility, small business incubator and vocational training program, and community legal services.

Residents also asked for enhanced security and improved lighting, a new dog walk area, improved seating and playground, a picnic area and other outdoor amenities.  

 

 


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