BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING
April 17, 2017
Attendance:
R. Bashner A A. Devening E J. Li P D. Carcache P C. Dukuly A R. Luftglass P Sr. R. Cervone E V. Heramia P S. Tarpin A S. Cialek P A. Krasnow P
Guests:
A. Bazeley N. Franklin C. Curran J. Marcus M. Rose L. Gruff
*** MINUTES ***
Presentation from the Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) on their range of programs and services
Presenters:
Jay Marcus, Director Housing Development Christina Curran, Director of Adult Education & Literacy Nigel Franklin, Stronger Together and NES Coordinator Michael Rose, Housing Development Project Manager
FAC is a local community-based organization that overlaps in its mission areas with EWCDH committee on issues that affect economic development, the waterfront, community development and housing development. FAC was founded almost 40 years ago to help low-to-moderate income New Yorkers. Each presenter detailed the different programs:
Housing: Over 1,000 units of housing currently in development primarily in CB6, but also in other Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods. The buildings strive for a rich mix of incomes beyond the standard “affordable” Low Income Housing Tax Credit requirements. FAC tries to include very low income (35% Area Median Income) with more moderate incomes up to 80%. Buildings strive for LEED level sustainability. Current CB6 projects include: Preservation of scattered site buildings on Bergen, Warren, President, Union Streets New development o 551 /573 Warren Street: Affordable and supportive housing. Building rehabs. o Gowanus Green: Awarded in 2008 then postponed by the Superfund cleanup. Development team includes FAC, Jonathan Rose Co, Hudson Co. Must still go
1
through ULURP. Site will be used during the canal cleanup so construction not expected until after initial phases of the cleanup are completed, approx. 2022+. o (other projects outside CB6 include the Sunset Park Library, and senior housing ) Property Management: about 900 units in South Brooklyn (Park Slope to Red Hook) area.
Community Organizing: Stabilizing NYC: coalition Turning the Tide: Post-Sandy resiliency Campaigns: o Key Food Stakeholder Group o NYCHA Wyckoff Gardens 50/50: NextGen development stakeholder group o Neighborhood Coalition for Justice: Platform of demands for Gowanus rezoning NYCHA NextGen developments and Gowanus rezoning impact on resident displacement and how to counteract it. Through ULURP housing preservation mechanisms could allow for regulations related to non-harassment and right of return to the new affordable housing for existing residents. CB6 could be in position to spearhead these actions. Neighbors Helping Neighbors: tenant rights, foreclosure assistance
Workforce Development Neighborhood Employment Services: Job readiness Gowanus Wifi-Mesh and Digital Stewards Training: Paid training Brooklyn Workforce Innovations: small businesses and job training Stronger Together: Gowanus & Red Hook: FAC/NYCHA residents/RHI services to help public housing residents Adult Education and Literacy: High School Equivalency
2