Now that Community Board 1 has approved the Broadway Triangle rezoning (Broadway and Flushing Avenues and Throop Street), an opposition group is planning a two−pronged strategy to delay or derail the plan as it moves forward.
For their primary challenge, members of the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition (BTCC), led by Brooklyn Legal Services attorney Marty Needelman, have been investigating ways of invoking the Federal Fair Housing Act and city and state human rights laws through litigation against the city. Needelman has been arguing that the rezoning action discriminates against large populations of Orthodox, black, and Latino residents in surrounding communities who may not be eligible for housing under the city’s plan.
“You don’t have to have the intent to discriminate against people, but if there is a racial or religious impact to what you are doing, then it violates the statute,” said Needelman.
The rezoning action, brought to CB 1 by the City Housing Department, is calling for a change in zoning from industrial to residential use for a 31−acre site in South Williamsburg. The next phase of the city’s land use review procedure (ULURP) is approval by the Brooklyn Borough President’s office. Borough President Marty Markowitz has not weighed in publicly on the plan, but is planning a ULURP hearing on the rezoning action for mid−August.
“The office is listening to all sides of the issue and we look forward to hearing from all sides,” said Laura Sinagra, a spokesperson with Borough President Markowitz.
The other defense planned by the BTCC involves holding demonstrations at Borough Hall and City Council hearings, with the intent of putting pressure on the city’s elected officials.
“We will have a minimum demonstration at Borough Hall but in the long run, we will map a demonstration at City Hall,” said Rob Solano, executive director of Churches United. “At this point, we realize if anyone is going to do anything, it’s going to be the mayor.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has publicly indicated his support for the Broadway Triangle plan in the past, which is also heavily backed by Assemblymember Vito Lopez and United Jewish Organizations President Rabbi David Niederman. Councilmember David Yassky also supports the plan, saying the rezoning is “a long overdue step toward the creation of much−needed affordable housing and a revitalized central business district,” however Yassky may not be a councilmember by the time the plan comes to a vote before the Council.
Needelman believes that a lawsuit would attract more attention in the press and from public officials, and leaders in the BTCC believe demonstrations and publicity should focus on the only person who can reverse the rezoning plan.
“The question is can the mayor be persuaded,” said Evelyn Cruz, constituent liaison with Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who opposes the rezoning. “Either he can be persuaded with people coming out or legally with a court challenge. It’s one or the other.”
The Broadway Triangle is a 31−acre site in South Williamsburg, bordered by Broadway and Flushing Avenues, that consists of several vacant lots slated for residential development. A plan to add 1,895 units of affordable housing on industrial lots near Throop and Gerry Street rezoned for residential use, which has been endorsed by the United Jewish Organization and the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council and the Broadway Triangle Task Force, was approved by Community Board 1 earlier this month. The plan is now on the desk of the Borough President, where it is awaiting further review.
