The city’s Law Department argued their second appeal in court Wednesday against two lawsuits which resulted in an earlier injunction stopping the project, which would build four new skyscrapers on the Lower East Side.
‘Upon close examination, the speaker’s proposal falls short and leaves the door wide open for the continuation of City Planning’s top-down, developer-driven rezonings by offering them a new shroud of legitimacy: a comprehensive plan engineered by city officials that fast-tracks rezonings.’
Engagement is the foundation for reversing a historical backlog of distrust that is stalling the agency’s current efforts not only to restore its portfolio to a state of good repair but reinvent itself in a way that better serves tenants in the future.
‘A landmark is not merely an old building, but a navigational point for a community. Landmarks are given meaning by our relations to them – they do not exist in a vacuum. And where developers are able to displace monuments, we fear they will also succeed in displacing communities.’
Just five councilmembers voted against the land use application for the project, which has drawn the ire of critics who say it doesn’t include nearly enough affordable housing.
‘1607 Surf Ave. can begin to address the pain of the housing and food instability that many in this community face every day, and offer an economic boost for the neighborhood as well.’
If the 4 percent rate had been fixed, the same set of affordable housing projects that lost $51 million in equity this year would have raised $240 million instead, helping to finance 1,700 affordable units in New York City.
‘The Where We Live NYC Plan thankfully moves beyond the simplistic supply-side diagnosis and acknowledges the legacy of systemic racism. However, the plan needs to put forth bold and specific commitments to change business as usual. We can learn from other cities that have gone much further.’
The rezoning could lead to a total increase of an estimated 3,200 housing units, including 600 to 900 affordable units, plus an additional 3,181 residents over a 10-year period, according to a key document released this week.
A public hearing on the controversial Queens development proposal took place this week. Fans see a potential to connect isolated areas. Foes fear gentrification.