City Planning Approves Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning

07/03/2009 | Comment

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The City Planning Commission held a public meeting on Wednesday and advanced two important Greenpoint-Williamsburg land use actions. The biggest was the approval [pdf] of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Contextual Rezoning. The 175-block rezoning now moves on to the City Council, which will hopefully approve it by the end of July. Which means that we are about a month away from the end of finger buildings, community facility bonuses and other sources of zoning abuse in most of CB1.

The other important action by CPC was the approval of the Fillmore Place Historic District (the Planning Commission reviews all historic designations). Which puts that designation one step away from the force of law, and Williamsburg one step away from its first historic district.



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The Pug Incident

A true 21st-century Williamsburg moment – a pug-toting Greenpoint blogger is roughed up on the Bedford Avenue L platform by a Hasidic cop.

Bruni on Diner

The neighborhood has changed. And Diner? Not so much.

Even with all the great new restaurants, still one of the best meals in Williamsburg.

Catfight Over Studio B

A little more than two weeks ago, the Brooklyn Paper reported that the North Brooklyn Community Board 1 unanimously recommended that Studio B’s liquor license not be renewed.

Yeah, that was the final nail in the coffin.

Fish Factory Fears Rezoning

On of the conditions raised by CB1’s land use committee on the Broadway Triangle vote was over the issue of industrial retention and relocation. The City claims that there will be funds to relocate businesses within the Urban Renewal Area that are ousted (either through buyout or eminent domain). Based on our experience from the Greenpoint/Williamsburg Waterfront Rezoning, there needs to be more. The City should commit serious funds to relocate all businesses in the rezoning area, including those businesses that rent and those that own. Relocation should also be a condition of property acquisition – no acquisition until a suitable new site is located and the business successfully relocated.

Support for Triangle

Rob Solano, executive director of Churches United For Fair Housing, … promised to bring a larger group of community members to the next community board meeting, on July 14.

That “near riot” at last month’s CB1 meeting probably cost the Coalition a couple of votes at the ULURP committee last week. Maybe even the difference between a thumbs up and a thumbs down. Maybe its time for a change in tactics?

Towers

06/30/2009 | Comment

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Three towers
Sunday, 28 June 2009


Northside Piers II is now almost 100% glassed in, while the Edge is about 85% closed up. Northside Piers continues to prove the adage “less is more” – it is the Gallant to the Edge’s Goofus.



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