COMMUNITY BOARD SIX
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMM. DEV. & HOUSING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 28, 2011
ATTENDANCE:
PRESENT:
D. ABRAHAM R. BASHNER J. FRANCIS M. KOLMAN R. LUFTGLASS D. REISS
L. SONES
EXCUSED:
S. BURZIO C. DAVIS S. MILLER
C. MOLINARI
ABSENT:
B. ATKINS N. BERK-RAUCH P. BLAKE L. BUFFINGTON P. CARSON E. FELDER Y. GIRELA M. KENTON V. MILNE
P. THOMAS
GUESTS:
V. HERAMIA M. BROWN
MINUTES
The meeting commenced at 6:45pm.
Presentation and discussion with representative for the Pratt Center for Community Development- New York Industrial Retention Network on the merger of these organizations and any industrial- related initiatives being undertaken or contemplated at this time.
Rick Luftglass introduced Adam Friedman, Executive Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development who presented his urban management study, focusing on the industrial sector for green jobs and land use.
Highlights of the presentation: • Pratt’s goal to work for a more just, equitable and sustainable city. • Pratt’s services include: planning and architecture, environmental management, construction and facilities management and industrial design. • Growth of income disparity – 80% of New York City households lost income over past 8 years on a narrowing economic base of industrial sector jobs. • Manufacturing accounts for 62% of employees with lots of design/high value jobs. • In manufacturing, the jobs that still exist, the average salary has increased from 2000 to 2005, up 11%, 18%, 35% depending on the sector (i.e. restaurant, retail, manufacturing). • Food is considered a “high value designer product” with ideas that link local/NY State food production with manufacturing/processing to create high-value products. • On growth opportunities, question arise re: environment, safety, moral issues (like Walmart) and a living wage.
• Green manufacturing is considered high-value added and good for cities too. • Plan NYC does not look at where the jobs will be (with one million new residents). • 23,000,000 square feet have been rezoned from industrial over the past 6 years. • Manufacturing to mixed use zoning has really resulted in more residential (and not manufacturing) uses.
Adam will e-mail this presentation to the Community Board members on the committee.
Richard Bashner asked the question – Is anyone working on free wi-fi hot-spots to public housing in Brooklyn?
Adam will ask and report back.
Presentation by representatives for the Carroll Gardens Association. (CGA) and review of an application to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal to revise CGA’s Neighborhood Preservation Program service area boundaries to include Carroll Gardens census tracts 63,65 and 67, an area bounded by Hicks Street, Degraw Street, Court Street and Hamilton Avenue.
Vilma Hermania, the Executive Director of the business organizations of the Carroll Gardens Association (CGA), a neighborhood preservation organization, established in 1971, and is one of the neighborhood preservation corporations in the borough.
They provide tenant services and own 13 buildings, 162 apartments primarily in Red Hook and the Columbia waterfront. Their catchment area also includes Gowanus, Carroll Gardens and Sunset Park. Ms. Hermania asked that Carroll Gardens be added to the catchment area. Doing this would enable them to have better/different board representation/board expansion. It would also open up funding opportunities.
Richard Bashner informally moved to make a recommendation to support their request to expand their catchment area to include Carroll Gardens. Rick Luftglass seconded the motion and the committee unanimously recommended this support.
Richard introduced a new business opportunity – Carmelo Anthony is returning to NY – is there an opportunity to make use of his return for the benefit of CB6?
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.
The minutes were taken by Judi Francis.