BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING COMMITTEE
MAY 16, 2016
ATTENDANCE
J. Alwais A V. Heramia P D. Williams A R. Bashner E A. Krasnow P M. Caballero A J. Li P D. Carcache P R. Luftglass P Sr. R. Cervone P D. Ramos A A. Devening P A. Shefrin P J. Francis P L. Wellington P
P = present, E = excused, A = absent
GUESTS
L. Greene – Rep. from the Office of the Mayor C. Zinnel - Rep. for the Hon. Brad Lander, City Council Member M. Crayton – Rep. for Economic Development Corp. J. Giravel – Rep. for Department of Environmental Protection P. Labonte L. Gaines A. Brennan S. Tarr A. Arino S. Banter
***MINUTES***
Committee Functions and opportunities (as described 4/18/16) Policy: Direct impact on community issues Education: Forum/ debate/ discussion on key issues Outreach: Publicize local organization efforts such as job fairs, housing opportunities (what would be criteria?) Studies: More and better information on which to make decisions
Ideas from April 18 meeting:
POLICY:
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Community Benefits: Accountability: Create a mechanism by which to enforce CBAs where they exist and when they are requested. (for all large developments). Review CB6 current responsible developer agreement, and look at how to hold developers accountable. Responsible Development Policy:
http://www.brooklyncb6.org/committees/?a=detail&content_id=45 (see CB6 website under “links of interest”) a. Create a “Responsibility Overlay” for new development; add new requirements that include resiliency design, and build on existing Responsible Development Policy. b. Fiscal and Economic Impact: Request information to be provided by developers on how their project will impact existing services, etc.
2. WATERFRONT: General Requirements for the waterfront: What are key questions and can CB6 create criteria by which to evaluate development: access, resiliency, open space (this could also be a “Study”).
3. WATERFRONT: Red Hook Container Terminal: CB6 could take a greater role in helping to chart the course for this tremendous asset within our community. (From CGA list)
4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Community Based Incubator/Center: CB6 could bring the EDC and the business-support organizations together to discuss what services are or are not currently available, and what options there may be to advocate for a Center that would coordinate service and help new businesses survive the startup phase and stabilize their ventures. (See Daniel Ramos Brooklyn Community Business Partnership proposal) a. Possible Contacts: Mayor’s Office of Industrial Policy, Chamber of Commerce (lawyers, businesspeople) , NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Small Business Administration (SBA), NYC Small Business Services (SBS), Work Force 1
EDUCATION: Presentation/Discussion: 5. COMMUNITY, HOUSING. ECONOMIC DEV: Summit: A “workshop" focused on the next wave of development (Fortis, Key Food, Wyckoff Gardens, potential Gowanus rezoning, AtlanticYards). Panel to include range of experts in areas of interest; housing expert, economist, urban planner, waterfronts; and possible other areas such as: historic preservation, publicly elected officials, geographer, social scientist; etc. Opposing positions should be represented to stimulate discussion. Could be a series of panels; possible 2 or 3.
6. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/HOUSING: Focus on a specific development for discussion: Fortis/LICH site will probably be the first project to go through ULURP. Schedule a session prior to ULURP certification to analyze the potential plans for inclusionary housing, school, playground, park; so we are ahead of the issues when they come to us for
ULURP.
7. HOUSING: NYCHA + Small Businesses: a. NextGen NYCHA Development: Presentation by NYCHA on Next Gen project related to upcoming ULURP for new construction at Wyckoff Gardens. b. Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce: Are there mechanisms to keep smaller low-cost stores in neighborhoods where rents are going up? For NYCHA residents, this is a big concern, and attention is requested to be part of Next Gen RFP. How else can businesses that require lower rent be accommodated?
8. HOUSING: Existing Resident Concerns: Form a regular NYCHA working group.
9. HOUSING: Affordable Red Hook Campaign: A series of workshops related to housing affordability that CB6 could become active in for the future in coordination with the alliance of CGA, RHI, and Good Shepherd. (or just Outreach, below).
10. WATERFRONT: Mayors Waterfront Plan to revitalize the waterways: Request that the city comes to talk to the Waterfront committee. Are we doing the best we can with the waterways for business, recreation, transportation? a. Transportation Committee should include Waterfronts when the Ferry project is
presented.
OUTREACH:
11. HOUSING: Affordable Housing Fair: Hold a Jobs Fair (similar to Y/HS/E), to bring together experts, exhibitors, practitioners on issues of tenancy, financial assistance, housing management, etc.
12. HOUSING: Affordable Red Hook Campaign: This is a series of workshops related to housing affordability that came out of an alliance between CGA, RHI, and Good Shepherd. CB6 could help to publicize the event.
STUDIES:
13. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Also, with housing comes other needs such as: infrastructure, parking, schools, transportation, evacuation planning, etc