Reading my contributions to MyBrooklynReport.com one would conclude that I’m against real estate development. A fair assumption in light of my posts on 1576 Fulton Street and the role politicians played in aiding Goldman Sachs.
I hope I’m not getting into trouble with what I’m about to say, but…I’m pro real estate development. However the kind of real estate development I support contributes to a community and doesn’t take anything away from its organic appeal.
The best example of this is the completed condominium development on Atlantic Avenue by Habitat for Humanity for working families. The units were built affordably, with volunteers, and priced accordingly.
The average household income of families purchasing condo units was $50,000, which says something about a City where a family of 4 could be considered the working poor earning that kind of money.
These families will contribute to NYC’s property tax base and will lead to an increase of services that are not based in social programs to Brownsville. In addition, homeownership instills values that contribute to a community’s vitality and stability.
Fortunately Habitat for Humanity may be the only community minded real estate developer in New York City that’s not driven by one factor common to other developers: Profit Motive.
The resistance to any real estate developer’s plan to alter the neighborhood experience you enjoy is understandable. Given the cozy relationship between developers and politicians, it appears no one is thinking of the families that make the neighborhood a community.
Develop or Protect?
So what happens when a commercial enterprise attempts to build in a Brooklyn neighborhood that doesn’t want any development threatening their quality of life?
On the surface, it would cause any of us to react in support of the families who worked hard to build the community they love. After all, their the stakeholders of their 4 cornered world where block parties, block association meetings, play dates and pot lucks are the staples enriching their lives.
As it turns out, CNR Health Care Network is interested in building a Senior Assisted Living Residence on Lefferts Place in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
They’ve already obtained the building permits needed to construct the building that’s been approved. However, CNR is altering it’s plans to build a larger structure beyond the zoning limits.
And Neighbors Against Development are NAD (wow, did I actually do that….my apologies for the poor attempt at humor at the expense of this very important issue)
CNR is attempting to lobby pols and city agencies on the merits of rezoning the area, 3 residential blocks, allowing for taller structures to be built. Their leverage; a greatly needed senior assisted living residence that could serve more senior citizens incapable of living on their own. CNR’s adversary: homeowners residing on the block where the proposed construction will occur.
Who will prevail?
This is a tough one to handicap because of the danger for homeowners. Should their concerns be characterized as selfish or uncaring it will be easy for a politician to side with CNR because of the benefits for a core constituency: SENIORS.
If it weren’t for seniors, we wouldn’t have votes cast during local elections. And politicians are mindful of this. Yet, the threat of having long memories established to mobilize a grass roots campaign to unseat a politician favoring CNR looms large.
Lesterheard at ClintonHillBlog.com wrote a post titled, Don’t Upzone Lefferts Place, that contains a letter from the Society for Clinton Hill that outlines the concerns felt by the community.
How the homeowners lobby their concerns to the political establishment is going to be challenging. There are is no easy opposition a politician can take against increasing the size of this development.
If analyzed carefully, it may be why CNR is requesting rezoning all 3 city blocks to offer Marty Markowitz, Letitia James and Community Board 2 the easy political solution of ushering in a Variance for the project.
What do you think? Could you be against a project like this if it were happening where you live and feel justified in your position?
* the author has no knowledge of the existence of an organization known as Neighbors Against Development…He’s just corny that way at times.
This is a tough call.
Why is it that the deveopers aren’t providing details for the need to increase zoning?
Why can’t they create a much needed senior facility with the zoning that’s already in place?
That would provide the best of both worlds…at least one would think..
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