By Sarah Tobol
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

DUMBO — While controversy swirled around the Coney Island rezoning, the rezoning proposal for the section of DUMBO east of the Manhattan Bridge was quietly approved last week. The city council passed it almost unanimously, with a vote of 46 to 1.

The proposed rezoning area is bounded by the Manhattan Bridge and Anchorage Place to the west, John Street and the East River to the north, Bridge Street to the east and Front Street to the south. In all, it contains about 12 blocks situated along Jay Street and Bridge Street.

Prior to the rezoning, the neighborhood was essentially split into two zoning districts. One, approximately two-thirds of the area, south of Plymouth Street, was zoned for light manufacturing, industrial and commercial uses. The other district, about one-third of the area, located north of Plymouth Street, was zoned for heavy manufacturing and industrial uses and certain commercial uses.

Under the new plan, the two districts were converted to mixed-use, contextual zoning, which allows for both manufacturing and residential buildings. This is an expansion of the adjacent Special Mixed Use District, which was established in 1999 and includes the area between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

The plan also allows for the Inclusionary Housing program to be applied to the area. Under this program, developments providing affordable housing are eligible for exceeding the allowable square footage, still within regulations tailored to the area.

Mixed Reviews

Kate Kerrigan, executive director of the DUMBO Improvement District, told the Eagle that the response from the retail and residential community in the neighborhood has been positive.

In a statement to the city council at last week’s hearing, she said, “In my conversations with numerous residents and businesses in DUMBO, I have heard only wide support for the DUMBO rezoning… [it is] appropriate and contextual and allows for a modest population increase while maintaining a mixed-use community.�

The DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance (DNA), on the other hand, demonstrated its opposition to the city’s rezoning plan since it was first proposed. The organization endorsed recommendations by Borough President Marty Markowitz to rezone the blocks containing 10, 20 and 68 Jay St. and 155 Water St. (buildings where businesses are already in place) for manufacturing instead of mixed use, and also to reduce the height of the rezoning district to 100 feet instead of 150 feet.

DNA Executive Director Doreen Gallo said, “the DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance is extremely disappointed that David Yassky did not embrace Marty Markowitz’s recommendation for the 10-block zoning, which is half of what we were asking for, and would have protected the heights closest to the Manhattan Bridge and the waterfront.�

Council Member David Yassky released the following statement after the rezoning was approved: “The DUMBO rezoning has been a long time coming and will help create both residential and commercial development so this great neighborhood can fully realize its potential.�

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