Enterprising Goals and Key Proposals

The long-gestating Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan (AAMUP)⁢ is​ advancing toward a critical vote by the City Planning Commission in the coming month. The proposal envisions creating 4,600 new apartments—of which 1,440 would be designated as deeply affordable—alongside job-creating ‌commercial space, extensive street improvements, ‌and other city investments throughout Central Brooklyn.

Central ‌to⁣ the plan is ​the ⁢transformation of underused spaces including⁤ vacant⁣ lots, self-storage facilities, and gas stations. In a testimony before the‍ Planning Commission on February 5, 2023, 35th District Councilmember Crystal Hudson emphasized the potential impact by stating, “has the potential⁢ to‍ transform Atlantic avenue and the surrounding area, turning vacant lots, self-storage facilities and gas stations into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with deeply affordable ‌housing.”

Stretching roughly from Vanderbilt Avenue to almost Nostrand avenue—plus a buffer of three blocks to the south and one block to the north—the rezoning area allows ⁤for new ⁢building heights of up to 17 stories on Atlantic Avenue, 11 ⁢stories on adjacent avenues, and eight stories on interior blocks. Such versatility is designed to accommodate ⁤a diverse mix of‍ housing and commercial ​uses.

Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Enhanced Affordability

The plan incorporates the city’s⁣ Mandatory inclusionary ⁢Housing (MIH) rules, which require developments in rezoned areas to set aside 20 to 30 percent ⁢of units as⁣ income-restricted. However, despite the MIH framework, Councilmember Hudson advocated for a ‌more robust approach. She stressed that current requirements are not enough to‌ address the rapidly gentrifying nature of the district.

“The community has been ‌clear that AAMUP​ must go beyond the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing⁢ [MIH] requirements, increasing the supply of deeply affordable housing, thru both new construction and stronger preservation investments, and we ​can do that by leveraging every potential city-owned site in the area,”

–‍ Crystal Hudson

The Department‌ of City Planning (DCP) has ‍identified several affordable housing sites—six in its initial presentation, five publicly owned and one ⁣held by a nonprofit organization—with an additional site recognized by Hudson. Although onyl​ two of these sites lie directly within the rezoning boundaries, the close proximity of the ⁣others offers an opportunity to bolster the district’s affordable housing stock.

On paper, DCP projects 1,055 MIH units on privately owned sites and an extra 381 apartments ‌in ​fully affordable buildings spanning three ‍sites.​ This ​limited count has led‌ local leaders, including Hudson and 36th District Councilmember Chi Ossé,⁤ to consider pushing for ​a broader commitment as part of the City Council’s final review.

Revisiting ⁤MIH Options and Local Negotiations

Local community boards have been instrumental in​ probing the adequacy of the MIH options ‌laid out in the plan.Brooklyn Community Board 8, in particular, championed a proposal originally known as M-CROWN ⁤(Manufacturing, Commercial, Residential Opportunity for a Working Neighborhood) as an early version of the current AAMUP strategy.

As 2019, a number of private rezonings have been‌ approved in the⁣ area, with developers even agreeing to affordability rates higher than required by the standard MIH metrics. For example, in 2022, negotiations⁢ led to a 35 percent affordability commitment on two Atlantic Avenue parcels—exceeding the typical⁣ maximum of 30 percent—and set rents at 54 percent of the Area‌ median Income ⁣(AMI).

In response ‌to persistent concerns about displacement and community ‍impact, local ⁣leaders⁢ have floated variations to the MIH​ structure, including a proposed Option 3.5. ‍This alternative envisions allocating 40 percent of the⁣ floor ​area to affordable housing, targeting households earning just 30 percent of AMI. Brooklyn Borough President​ Antonio Reynoso has called ‌for an updated market and financial study to replace the 2015 baseline, arguing, ‍ “given‌ the notable changes in market conditions since ⁢then, DCP should⁣ update this study‍ to ensure the MIH program reflects current realities and needs.”

At‌ a recent City ‌Planning ‍Commission hearing, urban planning expert Commissioner juan ⁤Camilo Osorio⁣ and DCP’s Brooklyn office ‍director‌ Alex Sommer ‌acknowledged that‍ while modifications to MIH might be outside the current scope of the rezoning, the community’s call for “deep affordability” is loud and clear. This sentiment was also echoed by CB 8’s Housing and Land Use Committee chair, Sharon Wedderburn, who warned that if affordable housing requirements remain unchanged, stakeholders will continue to demand greater commitments ‌in future rezonings.

Support Measures for ⁢Tenants and Streetscape Enhancements

Beyond housing construction, the AAMUP plan also addresses ​the need to safeguard tenants against displacement. ‍During⁣ the hearing, proposals emerged for establishing a registry for tenants displaced within ​the affected ⁣area. Such a registry would grant them ⁢preference access to half of the affordable apartments developed under the rezoning.

However, HPD Neighborhood Planner Paula Diaz pointed out that longstanding community preference measures have already been scaled back following challenges on fair housing grounds. A recent settlement ​reduced the local preference in affordable housing lotteries from ⁤50 percent ‌to 20 percent,with ⁣a further reduction planned to 15 percent over the next ⁣five years.

Additional measures include ⁢enhanced funding for the Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection program—a program that saw its budget restored by⁣ $7.6 million through recent legislative efforts. CB 8 is ⁢advocating for an extra $3 million annually over five years to fortify protections against evictions and other displacement tactics. In this ‍regard, Hudson ⁢declared, “We must secure⁤ dedicated funding for legal support for tenants ⁤facing eviction or experiencing landlord‍ harassment.”

On the streetscape front, both hudson and Borough President Reynoso have ⁢pressed for ​a extensive redesign⁤ of Atlantic Avenue. Reynoso proposed that ⁤the Department of Transportation (DOT) implement a “road diet” to reduce⁤ the current six lanes to ⁣four, aligning the avenue with pedestrian-amiable corridors found in other⁢ major U.S. cities. DOT City Planner Dash ​Henley‌ noted that further study is required, while emphasizing planned safety improvements such as painted curb extensions⁢ and enhanced crossings.Local advocates argue that at least half of Atlantic Avenue should champion⁣ “people ‍and nature,”⁣ citing prosperous multi-modal street designs in cities like Portland and Minneapolis.

Industrial Jobs,‌ Oversight,‍ and Future Implications

Another key dimension of the AAMUP plan is its focus on securing industrial jobs⁣ in a district that has witnessed significant‍ displacement of⁤ working-class residents. ‍While the plan has been ‌critiqued for not yet ​having sufficient​ tools to⁤ guarantee job creation—especially when compared to initiatives like the Gowanus Mixed-use District—Councilmember Hudson has urged a ⁣reworked set⁤ of incentives aimed at bolstering job training and ⁤business development. brooklyn​ Borough President Reynoso has also underscored that residential developments tend to ⁤be more lucrative ⁤than manufacturing and called for mandatory manufacturing uses in parts of the ⁤rezoned area.

Long-term oversight is ‌critical to ensuring the‍ promised benefits of‍ AAMUP materialize. Community⁣ Board 8 has called for the city to ⁣fund a consultant over a decade-long period to monitor project outcomes. This proposal echoes past challenges—such as those faced by the Atlantic Yards project—where a shortfall in meeting affordable housing deadlines underscored the need for robust accountability measures.‌ As one local advocate noted, ‌“It should be funded by the city to level the playing field⁤ for any district where rezoning is proposed.”

Conclusion: A Model for Urban Revitalization

the‌ Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan represents a bold attempt to balance the imperatives of urban redevelopment with deep-rooted⁢ community‍ needs. ⁤As ⁢cities across the United⁤ States grapple with gentrification, housing affordability,⁣ and the reinvention of underutilized urban spaces, brooklyn’s latest proposal offers a⁢ potential ‌model. With extensive public input, adaptive ​zoning​ options, and a clear commitment to both housing and economic development, the plan has the potential not only to redefine a key area of Brooklyn but ⁢also to inspire similar⁤ initiatives nationwide.

as local leaders push⁤ for continued negotiations—to update MIH‍ standards, expand affordability⁣ measures, and invest in essential public amenities—the coming months will be critical⁢ in charting a course that aligns with both the realities of ‍today’s market and the aspirations of ⁣long-time residents.

What is the Atlantic Avenue​ Mixed-Use Plan?

The plan is⁤ a comprehensive urban redevelopment initiative for Central brooklyn. It ‌aims to transform a ⁢21‐block stretch by adding 4,600 new apartments—including 1,440 deeply‌ affordable units—along with ‍job-creating commercial ⁢space,​ extensive⁣ street improvements, and other community⁢ investments.

How will the plan address housing affordability?

The ⁤plan integrates the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing⁤ (MIH) rules, which require 20 ‍to 30 percent of units to be income-restricted. ⁤Local leaders are also advocating for a more robust approach to further increase the supply ⁤of ‌deeply‍ affordable housing through ​both new constructions and⁣ preservation investments using potential city-owned sites.

What types of spaces are being transformed under this ⁤plan?

The initiative focuses on repurposing underused areas such as vacant lots, self-storage‍ facilities, and gas stations to create a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood. This​ adaptive approach allows for versatile​ building heights and a blend ⁤of housing and commercial uses.

How are tenant‌ protections being considered?

To safeguard tenants against displacement, the plan​ includes proposals such as establishing a registry ‌for displaced tenants. This⁢ registry would provide them preference access to ⁤half of the affordable apartments developed‌ under the rezoning.Additionally, ​there are measures aimed at enhancing funding for ​legal support, although community preference measures have seen adjustments due to fair housing challenges.

What role do industrial jobs and ⁢economic opportunities ⁣play?

While the plan has faced critique over its job creation tools, it emphasizes the ⁣need to secure industrial jobs ‌in a district with significant working-class displacement. Proposed measures include‌ reworked incentives for ⁢job training and business development, with calls for mandatory manufacturing uses⁣ in parts of the rezoned area.

What oversight measures are proposed for⁢ the plan?

Long-term oversight is deemed critical. ⁤Community board 8 has recommended that the city​ fund a consultant over ⁢a decade to monitor project ‌outcomes ‌and ensure accountability. This ​approach seeks to prevent past issues, like delays in⁤ meeting affordable housing deadlines, from recurring.