Community Planning Meeting #3

June 25, 2014

CONVENED BY

Council Member Brad Lander

Council Member Stephen Levin

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Assemblywoman Joan Millman

Facilitated by:

GOAL OF THIS PROCESS

To develop a comprehensive framework for the infrastructure and land use regulations needed for a safe, vibrant, and sustainable Gowanus, through a broad-based, inclusive, transparent and robust process.

45+ people

40+ people

200+ people

80+ people

150+ people

80+ people

Opportunities for online feedbackTIMELINE OF

PROCESS

SHARED VALUES1) Improve the infrastructure (social, cultural, and

environmental)

2) Preserve and strengthen mixed-use character of the area

3) Preserve and create affordable housing

4) Need for more community amenities

5) Canal as a publicly accessible, open body of water

6) Thriving local businesses should remain and expand

7) Provide quality jobs through existing and new local initiatives

8) Preserve iconic historic buildings

• Environmental Infrastructure

• Social and Cultural Infrastructure

• Strengthening the Mix of Uses

• Affordable Housing

WORKING GROUPS

PLANNING IDEAS EXPO

• Hydrology Study & Flood Management

• Coordinated Clean-up with Green Jobs

• Gowanus Greenscape

• Bring Back the B71 Bus

• Super Schools

• Dedicated Arts Centers

• Mixed-Use Buildings

• Gowanus Special Manufacturing District

• Preserving & Creating Affordable Housing

• Affordable housing policies

• Examples of affordable housing in Gowanus

• Definitions of affordable housing

DEMYSTIFYNG AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WORKSHOP

GOWANUS ENVIRONMENTAL

CLEAN-UP WORKSHOP

• City, state, & federal clean-up processes

• “Sewer in a Suitcase”• City DEP & Federal EPA staff

present

• Density• Bulk• Land use• Rezoning process

UNDERSTANDING ZONING WORKSHOP

URBAN DESIGN &HISTORIC PRESERVATION

WORKSHOP

• Street widths• Ground floor transparency• Building setbacks • Policies for preserving historic

buildings• Programs for historical

interpretation

Strengthened industrial area:• Broad support for building on the existing mix of uses

• Mandates for compatible light-manufacturing and affordable housing

• Vertical mixed-use as potential tool, recognizing need to address compatibility and enforcement issues

• Restrictions on uses that jeopardize the balance

• Allow some residential development

Stable, balanced mixed-use area:

MEETING #2 FEEDBACKBROAD LAND USE FRAMEWORK

• Strong support for keeping existing manufacturing zoning

• Strengthen zoning by restricting big box, self-storage, large footprint office buildings, and nightclubs

• Provide public support for businesses and workforce development

• Allow some additional density for manufacturing uses

• Improve access to canal via green space

RISKS OF INACTION• Further incursion of uses such as hotels and big-box stores, which are

currently permitted in the manufacturing zone

• Loss of manufacturing uses and local, good jobs

• Displacement of existing residents and artists

• Incongruent development

• Missed opportunities for:o Added infrastructure investmentso New open space and waterfront accesso Mixed-use developmentso Affordable housing

TONIGHT’S SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY

1) Discussion of stable, balanced mixed-use for Gowanus• Appropriate types of light industry• Compatibility and impacts

2) Density trade-off exercise• Relationship between desired amenities and density• Scenario-building

NEXT STEPS

www.BridgingGowanus.org

info@BridgingGowanus.org

#BridgingGowanus

THANK YOU!