The planned construction of a 72-story tower at 395 Flatbush Ave. Extension in Fort Greene is generating a blend of concerns and anticipation among local residents and stakeholders. Gothamist reports that the Fort Greene Park Conservancy is particularly worried about the potential impact on sunlight in the park, as well as the increased usage from a neighborhood population boost, especially by dog owners who have flocked to the space since the pandemic.
Despite contrasting analyses of the shadow impact from developers and the conservancy, the latter has voiced its concerns, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of the project's effects. This comes amid a clamor for affordable housing in the area, with developers Rabina and Park Tower Group asserting that the shadow would be "fleeting." However, according to BK Reader, Rosamond Fletcher, the executive director of the conservancy, has pushed for a rethinking of the building’s height and design to mitigate these shadow concerns.
This looming development promises to add nearly 1,300 new apartments, with a quarter pegged as permanently affordable. The need for affordable housing was underscored by local community board meetings, wherein the demand for such housing was labeled a top priority. "Those 325 units would be the largest delivery of affordable housing in a single project in this community board in a decade," Ian Klein, a Rabina executive, told BK Reader.
While some residents champion the development as a beacon for the neighborhood's progress, naysayers argue the skyscraper could strain local infrastructure and change the character of public spaces, including Fort Greene Park. Concerns regarding affordability persist, as board members pressed developers to target apartments for families making less than the proposed 60% of the area’s median income. "Nobody can afford [the apartments] unless you’re, you know, in a certain market class," Board member Ernest Augustus expressed during a community board meeting, his sentiments resonating with his colleagues. The proposed project's public review process continues, with ongoing dialogue between stakeholders and the developers, as per BK Reader.
In the background of these discussions, a significant development is on the horizon: the acquisition of almost 250,000 square feet of space at the Brooklyn Hospital complex, adjacent to the park’s southwestern edge, potentially signaling future growth. As Fort Greene confronts these transformative projects, the balance between urban development and the preservation of community spaces remains a central debate.
