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Speeches
Thank you, Chair Burden.
Nearly a year ago, testifying before the State Assembly on this rezoning, I said that the fundamental question is whether the redevelopment of Greenpoint-Williamsburg will meet the needs of working families.
I believe I can now answer that question. The rezoning will bring more public and retail space, seamless waterfront access, and most importantly, additional housing to this already-thriving neighborhood. But in its current form, the plan does not do nearly enough to provide the improved transportation, ample green space, and opportunities for affordable living that members of the community need and deserve. The plan should be changed to reflect these needs before it is approved by the Planning Commission.
For months, Mayor Bloomberg focused his attention on his plan for the West Side of Manhattan. I believe he did so at the expense of neighborhoods outside of Manhattan . It doesn’t take an expert to notice that the Administration’s approach to the West Side has been far more lavish than its approach to Greenpoint-Williamsburg.
For example, the Mayor intends to spend billions, and have the MTA spend billions more, on an extension of the 7 line that he says will stimulate business and tourism on the West Side . Meanwhile, his Greenpoint-Williamsburg plan includes no significant enhancement of the area’s public transportation service, which is already at capacity. The only anticipated improvements are the widening of the stairwell at the Bedford Avenue subway station and private water taxi service but no public transportation to the waterfront.
Brooklynites know how bad the L line can get at rush hour. Bringing new residents to Greenpoint-Williamsburg without enhancing public transportation is more than just a bad idea. It’s a slap in the face.
The administration has applied the same double standard to the allotment of green space. On the West Side , the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have insisted on a massive boulevard park between 10 th and 11 th Avenues. In Greenpoint-Williamsburg, the Mayor is calling for a paltry .7 [point-seven] acres of green space per 1000 residents despite the fact that the City Planning Commission has set 2.5 acres per 1000 residents as a guideline for future development. On the West Side , the City is using public bonds to assure the creation of green space. In Greenpoint-Williamsburg, it is taking a piecemeal approach, relying on individual developers to act on its promises.
And where the Environmental Impact Statement for the West Side provides for new schools to accommodate the anticipated influx of residents, the EIS for Greenpoint-Williamsburg does nothing to alleviate the strain on neighborhood schools.
The message is loud and clear: If you live in Brooklyn , your tax dollar buys you less park space and less relief from crowded subways and overcrowded classrooms.
Then there’s the city’s most vital long-term need: housing, specifically affordable housing. Affordable housing should be the focus of every major redevelopment the City undertakes, and while the administration’s plan for Greenpoint-Williamsburg calls for new housing, it does not satisfy community demand for aggressive affordable housing development.
Moreover, the Environmental Impact Statement acknowledges that the rezoning plan will lead to gentrification, which will push out approximately 2,500 current residents. Light industries will also suffer. Galleries, artisans, and light manufacturing have thrived in Greenpoint-Williamsburg and helped contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood. They should not be pushed out anymore than residents should.
The EIS probably underestimates the effect of gentrification, and the mitigation it proposes—essentially throwing money at the community boards—is inadequate to say the least. The administration just doesn’t get it. A one-time pay-off is no compensation for a working family that is being priced out of its neighborhood.
In order to offset secondary displacement, the administration could take the suggestion of Councilmember Yassky and institute an anti-harassment policy that would prevent landlords from forcing out current residents. Members of the West Side community fought for such a policy and won, but so far, Mayor Bloomberg is still playing favorites and withholding in Brooklyn what he granted in Manhattan .
I would like to conclude by reiterating that I support, in principle, the rezoning of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, just as I support, in principle, the rezoning of the West Side . It is entirely possible for the City to adopt a plan that accommodates the need for growth in Greenpoint-Williamsburg while ensuring the neighborhood is affordable, attractive, and well-served by public transportation and schools. The current proposal is not that plan.
The Community Board has voted against it; Borough President Markowitz has voted against it; and Councilmember Yassky, who represents the community, has expressed grave reservations.
I urge the Planning Commission to roll up its sleeves and work with the community to achieve a Greenpoint-Williamsburg we can all be proud of for decades to come.
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