The City Planning Commission is setting its sights on a major rezoning proposal for Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue, which could lead to the construction of around 4,600 new homes and add approximately 2,800 long-term jobs to the neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Prospect Heights. This is according to a recent announcement by Mayor Eric Adams' administration covered by Gothamist. The proposal is in response to demands to update what many see as outdated zoning rules that have stifled residential development and economic growth, addressing the city's housing shortage along this transit-rich corridor.
Support for the initiative is evident, with City Councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Chi Ossé backing the push for more housing in the face of rising costs. According to city records, community engagement has been ongoing, with Brooklyn Community Boards 8 and 3 lending their conditional approval last year. The proposal carves out more than 1,400 of the new homes as income-restricted, affordable housing, and earmarks funds for infrastructure improvements like stormwater and sewer upgrades, as detailed by Gothamist. A significant investment of $24 million has also been allocated for the renovation of St. Andrews Playground in Bed-Stuy.
Despite the enthusiasm of the city's administration, local apprehensions loom large. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso endorsed the rezoning but couched his support with conditions, calling for stronger protections for manufacturing and deeper affordability for housing, according to Brownstoner. Reynoso's approval follows a public hearing where residents voiced their trepidations about potential tenant displacement and the fate of existing industrial tenants, echoing concerns raised by the community boards during their endorsement process but remained steadfast on ensuring there were robust mitigations to displacement and a maintenance of manufacturing capacity in the rezoned areas.
Community members have also expressed worries regarding the city's handling of tenant displacement, arguing that the Right to Counsel program, while helpful, needs further funding to effectively aid individuals facing eviction, as Sarah Lazur from the Crown Heights Tenant Union highlighted in a statement obtained by Brownstoner. Echoing these concerns, Mimi Mitchell, also part of the Crown Heights Tenant Union and Community Board 8, criticized what she perceives as the city’s lack of action to guard those in rent-stabilized housing against landlord harassment.
