A rezoning plan that would turn much of Downtown Brooklyn into an urban
renewal area ripe for the development of office and residential towers
is nearing the final stages of the city review process.
A City Council committee will host the final public hearing on the sweeping
Downtown Brooklyn Plan at 9:30 am this Tuesday, June 8, in the council
chambers at City Hall.
If approved by the full council, the rezoning and urban renewal plan would
allow for the construction of 6.7 million square feet of office space,
1 million square feet of retail space, 1,000 units of housing and 2,500
parking spaces.
As part of the $100 million plan, the government would also condemn seven
acres of private land including 130 residential units, and 100 businesses.
The plan has been approved by Borough President Marty Markowitz and the
City Planning Commission.
Critics are calling for more transportation and infrastructure improvements
and are asking the city to scale back the project.
Some Duffield Street residents and business owners whose properties will
face the wrecking ball claim the Underground Railroad ran beneath their
homes and say the plan would jeopardize the historical slave freedom trail.
The Land Use Subcommittee for Zoning and Franchises will host the public
hearing. The full council is scheduled to vote on the plan on Monday,
June 28.
