Bensonhurst leaders fear Mayor DeBlasio’s up-zoning plan will sanction illegally converted homes and encourage tenement living.
Under Hizzoner’s so-called Zoning for Quality and Affordability plan, developers would be allowed to build smaller apartments, but an area councilman fears that could legitimize hack-job illegal subdivisions that plague Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods.
“I’m afraid that’s the first step in coming around to saying that the subdivided apartments that we see are now going to be legal somewhere down the road,” said Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge).
One facet of the expansive zoning proposal encourages apartments for singles by allowing more studios in large developments, and another removes requirements that studios be at least 400 square feet — half the size of a handball court.
The city is relaxing the rules in response to housing advocates who have called for more small apartments for lone nesters, according to the proposal. Policy group the Citizens Housing and Planning Council estimates that nearly half the city’s population is single.
But the bantam digs are just the first step to legalizing the illegal conversions that have plagued the area, a resident said.
“Right now we’re unprotected, and I think this creates incentives for that kind of building,” said lawyer and former Community Board 11 member Ross Brady.
Landlords in Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and Dyker Heights routinely dice small homes into multi-family apartments, violating building and fire codes. The breaches create dangerous living conditions, strain area transportation, and contribute to school overcrowding.
To tackle the problem, Gentile, Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush), and Borough President Adams announced a suite of bills in March that would impose $15,000 fines for building code neglect, place liens against deadbeat landlords’ properties, and funnel fines collected into a fund to aid families the city evicts from illegally converted homes.
The initiative has taken longer than promised — but the councilmen made a presentation to city agencies three weeks ago and are waiting to hear back before moving ahead with drafting up the legislation, according to a Gentile staffer.
Despite apparent reservations, the community board voted to support the plan with recommendations for lessening its potential negative impacts on the district on Nov. 12.
