South Park Slope Community Group

Great community turn out! Packed the house at CB7, over 100 folks came out to ask questions of the DOB, CB7 members and attend a presentation of “Know your rights!” as it pertains to new development in Sunset Park and all of CB7 area.

Several reps of our elected officials were there to “listen” and the head of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church was also there to to lend his support.

Make sure to attend Saturday’s (03.03.07) larger Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors (SPAN) Community Meeting. Info here: Link

SPSCG/CCGH Public Meeting at Grand Prospect Hall 02.13.07

Great meeting on Tuesday, 02.13.07. Thanks to all who came out to participate from South Park Slope, Greenwood Hts. and some new neighbors in Sunset Park. Over 60+ residents and community activists.

While the meeting started off with the fund raising efforts to lower the $80K bill for fighting the 15th St. Katan Tower at the BSA (Thanks you Jane & Joe!) and updates on development sites in the area (including 406-408 15th St., 338-342 22nd St., 162 16th St., 182 15th St., 570-582 4th Ave., 444 7th Ave. and our newcomer from Sunset Park: 420 42nd St.) , the Fifth Avenue Committee and HPD presentation on the proposed development at 575 5th Ave. (corner of 16th St., the current Municipal Parking Lot) became the major focus of the evening.

Proposed Site at 575 5th Ave.

FAC did an excellent job attempting to dispel some of the myths of sustainable housing, the incorporation of the affordable housing component and the screening process for applicants who wish to live in the new 49 unit studio apt. building.

Community concerns ranged from the screening process (concern of ex-cons, ex-sex offenders, ex-drug abusers…all potential applicants), the fact FAC hat not approached the community until recently for input into the process, a concern about the loss of parking in a commercial district and MOSTLY the questioning of the “fast tracking” of the ULURP process.

The community wants more time to ask questions, review the facts and hopefully have some additional input into the project than they have had to date…which other than several meetings with CB7, they have had none.

The biggest concern expressed, other than the lack of community input, was that most folks felt FAC/HPD did not think “outside of the box” and adequately address the needs for senior housing and youths aging out of the foster care system, points brought up in the original discussions in October 2005.

While preference will be given to seniors and these young adults, it’s still part of the standard 60/40 split (60% mentally handicapped individuals from the City’s shelter system and 40% affordable housing for local residents via lottery).

Thursday’s CB7 public hearing (02.15.07 St. Mathew-Emmanuel Church on Prospect Ave, see posts below) ought to be interesting. Kudos to FAC and HPD for coming before the community, giving a comprehensive presentation and fielding all questions…rational or not.

South Park Slope Community Group & Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Hts. invite you to a

Public Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
7:00 PM
The Grand Prospect Hall
263 Prospect Avenue (btwn 5th/6th Avenues)

Topics of discussion:
Proposed Spring Fundraiser
Reimburse legal bills ($80K) for defeating “Katan Tower” (182 15th St.) at B.S.A.

Supported Housing Proposal for 575 5th Avenue
Should this municipal parking lot turn into a homeless shelter OR affordable housing?
(CB7 Public hearing on 575 5th Avenue on 02.15.07, see previous post)

Updates on development properties in our area
“The good, the bad & the ugly” in South Park Slope, Greenwood Hts., Windsor Terrace & Sunset Park.

Please be there for our first meeting in 2007! Bring your neighbors, family & friends.
We need your support & input. SEE YOU THERE!

To download the meeting flyer PDF to give to your neighbors, family, friends and to post in your area, click here>

Community board 7 Public Hearing:

Supported Housing Proposal for 575 5th Avenue

Thursday, February 15, 2007
6:30PM
St. John St. Matthew Emanuel Lutheran Church
283 Prospect Avenue (btwn 5th/6th Avenues)

Public hearing to discuss the the Community’s response to the proposed Supported Housing at 575 5 th Avenue (corner of 16th Street), Brooklyn, NY.

Community Board 7 has received an application from HPD to designate 575 5th Avenue an Urban Development Action Area with a related project at that address. The site will be a supported housing facility with an approximate 49 studio residential units and some commercial space. The permanent housing project will reserve approximately 60 % of the units for homeless/ mentally disabled individuals and approximately 40 % for low income tenants. There will also be a commercial aspect to this project since it is on 5th Avenue.

For more information:
Brooklyn Community Board 7
4201 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232
communityboard7@yahoo.com

A reminder that today, one year ago at approx. 2:15 PM, NY City Council unanimously voted in favor of the South Park Slope ULURP, rezoning South Park Slope and Greenwood Hts.

Blood, sweat and tears of two years and the fastest rezoning (down-zoning on the side streets, up-zoning along 4th Ave corridor) was worth all the effort.

And a bigger THANK YOU again to all the groups, individuals, elected officials (AM Brennan, CGR. Velasquez, BP Markowitz, CM deBlasio and CM Gonzalez, PA Gottbaum and others…) Community Board 7, our press/media/bloggers who made this happen.

Happy to have been a part of it…even happier at the anniversary!

Here’s to remembering our BSA battles, won and lost and to the ongoing watchdogging of our ever growing neighborhoods. Further preservation and planning is need in Brooklyn, so let’s make sure to support the upcoming re-zoning of other neighborhoods in the Boro.

Onward!