The Brooklyn Paper reports: In hopes of curbing sky-scraping development in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, the city has proposed capping the height of buildings in a 175-block downzoning that residents said should have happened years ago.
Last week, the Department of City Planning unveiled plans to initiate height limits in much of the quick-changing communities, barring new buildings from being taller than 50 feet on the narrow residential streets that make up 80 percent of the area, and 70 feet on many wider residential streets.
The proposed rezoning would also nix the so-called “height factor” loophole that allows developers to build as tall as they like so long as they obtain large lots — giving way to buildings like the 106-foot high-rise that towers over Eckford Street and the 125-foot edifice that looms over Richardson Street.
Builders that develop residences on bustling blocks including McGuinness Boulevard and Manhattan, Metropolitan and Union avenues among others, would be allowed to build to 80 feet if they include affordable housing in their buildings or in units nearby.
A stretch of irregularly shaped lots along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway would maintain its current zoning, which planners said would encourage development on land that would otherwise be difficult to use.
The city also intends to tweak shopping areas to encourage businesses to open on busy commercial streets, while keeping them away from adjacent residential blocks.
Greenpoint and Williamsburg residents are happy that the proposal would curb much of the high-rise development — but they wish the city had put the limits in place shortly after the 2005 rezoning.
When the Department of City Planning finalizes the plans, it will need to go through the lengthy land-use review, which includes public hearings, community board meetings, approval from the borough president, and a vote by the City Council.
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2 Responses
How about destroying and eliminating the bike routes? They are a pack of hypocrites! The only reason why they want to do this is to put a stop to the explosive growth of the Chasidic community of Williamsburg!! Mayor Bloomberg hates Chasidim because they representative everything he is not; YIREIM UND SHLEIMIM!!!
And while they are at it, at the public hearings, let them hear from the whole Satmar community about the bike routes. I suggest letting everyone come down from Bais Ruchel and the Chadorim and all of their parents, invite Mayor Bloomberg and tell him how important continued growth of the Jewish community is and how happy they are in building families al pi halacha!