They Want Industrial Jobs Preserved,
Affordable Housing and Union Labor
By Dennis Holt
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
GOWANUS — For the first time in Brooklyn, significant input has been made in advance of a large-scale rezoning proposal, in this case the complex business of rezoning the large Gowanus area.
A sizeable coalition of disparate interests has presented six general planning principles to City Planning and to anyone else, called the “Platform for Responsible Development of the Gowanus Canal Area.”
The set of principles is not a detailed development plan, but rather a compendium of what should guide most development decisions in the future so that appropriate zoning decisions can be made.
For example, leading off the six principles is the call for affordable housing, meaning any housing plan for more than 30 units should have at least 30 percent affordable housing. Specifically, the platform calls for at least 60 percent of all housing proposed for the city-owned Public Place to be affordable.
(The 9-acre Public Place off lower Smith Street, one the site of a gas plant, is the first major site for which the city has requested submission of specific development proposals.)
A second principle is that space for industrial jobs must be preserved, and that some space should be set aside specifically for manufacturing, not merely for mixed residential-industrial use. In those areas that are already zoned for mixed use, the city should “encourage and offer incentives for artisan, arts-related and light industrial activities.”
Another general concept is to employ "responsible contractors and operators” are essential on all large projects. Although the language doesn’t mention it specifically, this is basically a call for unionized labor. This is why nine unions are part of the coalition.
Other planning principles include making sure that high-rise development does not border existing low-rise residential areas such as Carroll Gardens, and, of course, cleaning up everything possible.
In addition to the expected remedial measures involving the canal itself and much of the adjoining land, the coalition calls for a specific storm-water management plan.
It tends to be forgotten that one of the reasons that there was a Gowanus Creek to begin with was the slope of the land from the north and east and the existence, long ago, of three large ponds –Freek’s, Denton's and Coles.
Early this week, as the Eagle reported, the Army Corps of Engineers provided a status report on canal and neighborhood cleanup issues.
Neighborhood Leaders Weigh In
In submitting the set of principles, several community leaders who came up with the set of concepts commented on the overall idea, including decades-long activist Buddy Scotto: “The time for responsible development of the Gowanus Canal area is finally here.”
Bob Zuckerman, executive director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, said, “Redevelopment of the area around the canal is consistent with making this a more sustainable community.”
Michelle de la Uz, executive director of the Sunset Park Fifth Avenue Committee, said, “New York City is facing an affordable housing crisis that can only be staved off by taking full advantage of market interest in newly rezoned areas.”
Brad Lander, director of the Pratt Center for Community Development, provided a sort of general conclusion: “This is a critical opportunity to create a unique neighborhood for Brooklyn.”
In addition to the nine unions and those listed above, coalition members include ACORN, the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, and UNITE-HERE.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net
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