Councilman David G. Greenfield today announced his support for the bold plan put forth by prominent local attorney Nachman Caller which would build as many as 2,000 housing units over the MTA tracks adjacent to 61st Street in Borough Park.
“In the four years that I have been a member of the City Council, I have looked everywhere for opportunities to build housing in Borough Park,” said Councilman Greenfield. “The problem is simple: we don’t have empty land to build on. This Borough Park rail yard housing plan is the best and most thoughtful I have seen since I have been in office.”
Over the last few weeks, Greenfield has thoroughly vetted the Borough Park rail yard housing plan, discussing it with MTA leadership and housing experts, and has concluded that it can work with the right support. “I met with top MTA officials this week to review this plan and pledge my support to it,” said Councilman Greenfield. “The MTA has assured me that the plan can work, and with the support of our elected officials, the MTA will move forward to allow bidding on the rights to develop on top of the rail yards.”
As Chair of the City Council’s Land Use Committee, Greenfield has considerable sway over zoning matters in New York City. Councilman Greenfield explained, “as soon as the MTA finds a partner to develop these rail yards, I will work to change the zoning to allow building as many as 2,000 housing units. With those assurances, the MTA can move forward knowing that they will have the support they need in the Land Use Committee to make this plan a reality.”
“Borough Park is suffering from a housing crisis. We need to try every possible avenue to build more housing,” explained Councilman David Greenfield. “The reality is that Borough Park is full. The solution is to expand Borough Park’s natural borders, and that is exactly what this plan will do.”
Affordable housing is vital for Borough Park, where 48% of children under 5 live in poverty, and 43% of children under 18 live below the poverty line. Borough Park also suffers from a severe overcrowding problem. The 2010 Census found that 31% of neighborhood households are occupied by 5 or more people; 13% have 7 or more. Borough Parkers desperately need more space and affordability to raise their families.
The UJA-Federation reports over 68% of households have incomes below $50,000 and the median household income in Borough Park is $36,696. Amazingly, Borough Park was found to be the second-most rent-burdened neighborhood in New York City by the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development.
Councilman Greenfield will discuss the details of the Borough Park rail yard housing plan on his radio show this Thursday night at 7pm on 620AM on the radio, and will take phone calls from listeners with thoughts and questions about the plan.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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13 Responses
What about building over the old railroad tracks that go bet 16-17 ave then next to shoperite
Caller advocated building on top of the old LIRR freight tracks, not the MTA tracks. Building over the MTA tracks in places where they are accessable to the streets, may be possible since no change is planned to those tracks. The old LIRR line may be past of the Cross Harbor freight line if the tunnel is ever built, making building above it problematic.
“The UJA-Federation reports over 68% of households have incomes below $50,000 and the median household income in Borough Park is $36,696.” COULD’VE FOOLED ME!!!!
“Borough Park was found to be the second-most rent-burdened neighborhood in New York City”
Yup, and those greedy arrogant lanlords are laughing all the way to the bank.
Since this is a local NYC zoning issue, it would be Greenfield who would need to shepard this through, not the State Assemblyman whoever he is. So Caller has nothing to do with this whether he is elected or not.
Mr. Greenfeld, this may hurt for you, this pains all of us. Nothing personal.
It safe to live right over freight trains, with all these threats of terrorism?
Lakewood has so much normal empty space.
I am baffled. All agree that Boro Park is overcrowded. And the solution is to build more housing and crowd more people in. What am I missing here?
And where on earth will those 2000-4000 cars park? Who will solve the parking crisis? Who will solve the increased traffic crisis this will create?! It’s a stupid plan. Who says we need to have more people in boro park?! The place is packed m to the gills as it is! I really don’t see the sense in this plan. And they still never guaranteed that this will be “affordable housing” and they also didn’t guarantee that it will all go to Jews. So really who needs this?
Overcrowded and you want more people to live in boro park? Send them to mosey or lakewood you can’t move in boro park it is overbuilt! !! I don’t know what these politicians are thinking Duh
“Borough Parkers desperately need more space and affordability to raise their families.”
“The 2010 Census found that 31% of neighborhood households are occupied by 5 or more people”
“I will work to change the zoning to allow building as many as 2,000 housing units.”
I have no idea how large this piece of MTA property is on 61st street, but I cant imagine building housing for 10,000 more people there! And if the demand is as great as it is made out to be, the market forces of supply and demand dictate that these units will not be affordable. I know it sounds callous but who says that every new chassan and kallah must live within walking distance of the shver and shvigger?
RebYid you are so right.
BP can not house more PEOPLE, we don’t need more houses.
Caller is just using it as his campaign objective.
Maybe we should invite him over to try and park his car one Sunday, and to shop in one of our overcrowded stores erev yom tov.
Greenfield doesn’t know what he is talking about. But he wants to jump on the bandwagon of housing. Everyone knows that Boro Park is not a poor neighborhood, no matter what surveys say. Otherwise, why would the banks open on every corner. They know there’s money around. When you build public housing, you open the door to everyone. It. Will change Boro Park. I don’t like it.