BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON TOLL BROOKLYN APPLICATION FOR GOWANUS CANAL DEVELOPMENT

On December 17, 2008, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz submitted his recommendation to approve, with modifications, the applications by Toll Brooklyn to develop two blocks along the west side of the Gowanus Canal between Carroll Street and 2nd Street. Chief among his recommendations were the reduction of height and more certainty that the development would include affordable housing units. Specifically, the borough president called for the building height not to exceed eight stories north of 1st Street, and that the affordable housing component be enhanced by a commitment to seek State funding through multiple application cycles prior to seeking building permits.

The views of the proposed project from the Carroll Street Bridge strongly justify a reduction in building height. The historic bridge is envisioned by the borough president as an essential component of the anticipated open space system along both banks of the Gowanus Canal. The height along the Canal must be carefully contemplated in terms of the future users of this open space system. Limiting height on this block to eight stories would eliminate views of the project from within the Carroll Gardens Historic District along Carroll Street.

Though development would result in publicly-accessible open space and the removal of environmental hazards from the site, the borough president believes that these factors by themselves do not justify approving this project. In the past decade, Carroll Gardens has evolved into a highly desirable neighborhood. As more affluent households have moved in, long-time residents that do not own their homes have been displaced, or are finding it more challenging to remain in the neighborhood. Many rental apartments in this area are not protected by rent stabilization, which at times is not sufficient to keep rent within the means of certain households.

In order to appropriately provide opportunities for displaced residents to return to the neighborhood, and for those at risk of being displaced, it was very important to the borough president that Toll’s commitment to building the affordable housing be strengthened. The borough president believes the project would provide an even greater benefit if the affordable housing on both blocks includes three-bedroom units for families in need of such housing. The borough president also called for retail and commercial gallery/artisans along the Gowanus Canal publicly-accessible open space as a way of enhancing the potential for the recreational amenity as a community congregation area.

Finally, the borough president expressed concerns in his recommendation about the condition of the Bond Street combined sewer interceptor and susceptibility of neighboring residents to sewer backups and flooding. The borough president believes that the residents and property owners of these buildings should not continue to be victims of a malfunctioning sewer. To that end, he has written the DEP Acting Commissioner urging an expedient solution to the hardships of these residents.

BP Markowitz commends Toll Brothers for investing in Brooklyn’s future and urges them to accept his modifications.