Testimony of Richard T. Anderson, President New York Building Congress before New York City Planning Commission At New York City
Published on Jan 19, 2005 by
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the proposed rezoning of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront and adjacent areas.
The Building Congress is New York’s largest and most diverse coalition of the design, construction and real estate industry. We represent the common interests of 400 organizations with 1,500 active members. Part of our mission is to evaluate major government initiatives and promote productive capital investment.
The Department of City Planning’s rezoning proposal for 183 blocks of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods is the result of a thoughtful planning process. It balances the City’s need for well-planned development and housing with community concerns for affordable housing, neighborhood preservation, and manufacturing retention.
The plan seeks to reclaim 1.6 miles of desolate waterfront and makes it accessible to the public with a new promenade and network of 49 acres of open space. It will allow for the development of more than 8,800 housing units, up to 2,500 of which are designated as affordable, 350,000 square feet of retail space, and preserves manufacturing in areas where it continues to thrive.
New York City has been referred to as a city of neighborhoods, and this plan recognizes the distinct character of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. New development will be integrated into the existing community with density increasing toward the waterfront. At the waterfront, buildings of varying types and heights will add to New York City’s distinct skyline while ensuring access from the inland community.
The rezoning is expected to generate considerable private-sector development to achieve the City’s goals. An estimated $1.6 billion private sector investment will transform the area from empty warehouses into a sparkling waterfront community. The development resulting from the rezoning will create more than 11,000 construction jobs and over $388 million in City tax revenue over the next 25 years. That tax revenue will pay for essential City services such as fire protection, public safety and education.
The importance of this project for the City’s long-term growth cannot be overstated, particularly in regard to housing. It is estimated that New York’s population could grow by approximately 1.2 million by 2025. Brooklyn is anticipated to see the second highest population growth of the five boroughs. The City must plan now so that we can accommodate this growth. In particular, the City must avoid making the mistake of formulating requirements for affordable housing that are too onerous and thwart the goal of developing these units.
The Building Congress applauds the Bloomberg Administration for its foresight in identifying areas of New York that are underdeveloped and creating ambitious proposals for transforming them into vibrant communities. We support the proposal for Greenpoint’s rezoning and look forward to working with the Administration and City Council as it moves forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the proposed rezoning of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront and adjacent areas.
The Building Congress is New York’s largest and most diverse coalition of the design, construction and real estate industry. We represent the common interests of 400 organizations with 1,500 active members. Part of our mission is to evaluate major government initiatives and promote productive capital investment.
The Department of City Planning’s rezoning proposal for 183 blocks of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods is the result of a thoughtful planning process. It balances the City’s need for well-planned development and housing with community concerns for affordable housing, neighborhood preservation, and manufacturing retention.
The plan seeks to reclaim 1.6 miles of desolate waterfront and makes it accessible to the public with a new promenade and network of 49 acres of open space. It will allow for the development of more than 8,800 housing units, up to 2,500 of which are designated as affordable, 350,000 square feet of retail space, and preserves manufacturing in areas where it continues to thrive.
New York City has been referred to as a city of neighborhoods, and this plan recognizes the distinct character of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. New development will be integrated into the existing community with density increasing toward the waterfront. At the waterfront, buildings of varying types and heights will add to New York City’s distinct skyline while ensuring access from the inland community.
The rezoning is expected to generate considerable private-sector development to achieve the City’s goals. An estimated $1.6 billion private sector investment will transform the area from empty warehouses into a sparkling waterfront community. The development resulting from the rezoning will create more than 11,000 construction jobs and over $388 million in City tax revenue over the next 25 years. That tax revenue will pay for essential City services such as fire protection, public safety and education.
The importance of this project for the City’s long-term growth cannot be overstated, particularly in regard to housing. It is estimated that New York’s population could grow by approximately 1.2 million by 2025. Brooklyn is anticipated to see the second highest population growth of the five boroughs. The City must plan now so that we can accommodate this growth. In particular, the City must avoid making the mistake of formulating requirements for affordable housing that are too onerous and thwart the goal of developing these units.
The Building Congress applauds the Bloomberg Administration for its foresight in identifying areas of New York that are underdeveloped and creating ambitious proposals for transforming them into vibrant communities. We support the proposal for Greenpoint’s rezoning and look forward to working with the Administration and City Council as it moves forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the proposed rezoning of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront and adjacent areas.
The Building Congress is New York’s largest and most diverse coalition of the design, construction and real estate industry. We represent the common interests of 400 organizations with 1,500 active members. Part of our mission is to evaluate major government initiatives and promote productive capital investment.
The Department of City Planning’s rezoning proposal for 183 blocks of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods is the result of a thoughtful planning process. It balances the City’s need for well-planned development and housing with community concerns for affordable housing, neighborhood preservation, and manufacturing retention.
The plan seeks to reclaim 1.6 miles of desolate waterfront and makes it accessible to the public with a new promenade and network of 49 acres of open space. It will allow for the development of more than 8,800 housing units, up to 2,500 of which are designated as affordable, 350,000 square feet of retail space, and preserves manufacturing in areas where it continues to thrive.
New York City has been referred to as a city of neighborhoods, and this plan recognizes the distinct character of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. New development will be integrated into the existing community with density increasing toward the waterfront. At the waterfront, buildings of varying types and heights will add to New York City’s distinct skyline while ensuring access from the inland community.
The rezoning is expected to generate considerable private-sector development to achieve the City’s goals. An estimated $1.6 billion private sector investment will transform the area from empty warehouses into a sparkling waterfront community. The development resulting from the rezoning will create more than 11,000 construction jobs and over $388 million in City tax revenue over the next 25 years. That tax revenue will pay for essential City services such as fire protection, public safety and education.
The importance of this project for the City’s long-term growth cannot be overstated, particularly in regard to housing. It is estimated that New York’s population could grow by approximately 1.2 million by 2025. Brooklyn is anticipated to see the second highest population growth of the five boroughs. The City must plan now so that we can accommodate this growth. In particular, the City must avoid making the mistake of formulating requirements for affordable housing that are too onerous and thwart the goal of developing these units.
The Building Congress applauds the Bloomberg Administration for its foresight in identifying areas of New York that are underdeveloped and creating ambitious proposals for transforming them into vibrant communities. We support the proposal for Greenpoint’s rezoning and look forward to working with the Administration and City Council as it moves forward.