Brooklyn — On his 100th day in office Councilman David G. Greenfield, keeping a major promise made during his campaign, announced that he is working with Councilmember Sara M. Gonzalez to undertake a major residential rezoning in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. Last month, Councilman Greenfield met with Brooklyn Commissioner Purnima Kapur of the Department of City Planning to discuss the feasibility of rezoning a manufacturing zone in Boro Park to a residential one with the explicit purpose of building new affordable middle-class housing in Boro Park. The area that Greenfield is referring to is a manufacturing zone that is located at the Southern portion of Boro Park running East to West from 17th Avenue to 13th Avenue and North to South from 60th Street to 65th Street. “It doesn’t make sense that in one of the highest priced residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn we have five square blocks that are devoted to manufacturing,” explained Greenfield. “I am proud to work with Councilmember Sara Gonzales to try and rezone this neighborhood for the purpose of building affordable housing.”

Councilmembers Greenfield and Gonzalez share the representation of this manufacturing district and are working together to rezone this swath of land. They sent a letter to Commissioner Purnima Kapur on Friday, formally requesting that the Department of City Planning commence a study to determine the feasibility of rezoning the area.  In the letter, the Councilmembers highlighted the “significant need within the community for additional housing, particularly affordable housing.” The Department of City Planning’s feasibility study will explore the rezoning’s impact on existing businesses in the manufacturing zone, as well as the environmental impact of residential development. This is the first step in what is likely to be a three-year process in the rezoning of this neighborhood.

“Quiet simply, we are running out of space in traditional Boro Park,” said Councilman Greenfield.  “It is my hope that, together with Councilmember Gonzalez, we are able to turn this underutilized manufacturing space into a vibrant residential neighborhood with affordable options for our community’s middle-class families.”  Councilmember Gonzalez echoed Greenfield’s sentiments, “I am proud to work with Councilman Greenfield on this critical housing initiative.  We look forward to the results of the Department of City Planning’s study and to moving closer to making affordable housing a reality in our Council Districts.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)