Brooklyn Yards Development Plan Approved by City Council
Background
The ambitious Brooklyn Yards development plan, an engineering feat that will build housing over an active rail line, was approved by the City Council on Thursday. The rezoning calls for a 14-building mixed-use mid-rise complex with 267 residences poised on a narrow platform spanning two blocks above a curved section of railway in Borough Park.
Development Plan
The development team, led by David Tabak and Meyer Lebovits, along with architecture firm STUDIO V Design + Planning, are behind the plans for the platform and complex slated to go up between 14th and 16th avenues and 59th and 61st streets. The project will consist of 10 four-story townhouses with penthouses, two six-story apartment buildings, one nine-story mixed-use building, and one two-story commercial building.
Technical Details
Twenty feet below the proposed platform, a freight train rolls along the Long Island Rail Road track once a day. The development team has been working with the MTA and other city agencies for years on the plans, and the MTA had to approve the final construction drawings. The project allows for an expanded IBX line, and the developers even figured out how to support the future rail lines that support both freight and passenger service.
Design and Accessibility
The complex will be built as one large-scale development where four-story walk-ups are flanked by the taller buildings. A public park will be built at the New Utrecht Avenue end of the development with movable cafe tables and chairs, as well as a separate playground and public pathways. The developers specify in the filing that 81 of the 267 units will be affordable to those earning an average of 115 percent of Area Median Income.
Community Feedback
The development will cater to Borough Park’s large Orthodox Jewish community, with balconies on most units, limited elevators, and plentiful bedrooms. Valgora said the residential buildings will have more three- and four-bedroom units than what is typical in new developments. The complex will have a private landscaped pathway that links the three tax lots together and gives access to the adjacent streets through gated entrances.
Conclusion
The Brooklyn Yards development plan is an ambitious project that will bring much-needed housing to the Borough Park community. With its mixed-use design, public park, and affordable housing options, this project has the potential to be a game-changer for the neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Brooklyn Yards development plan?
A: The Brooklyn Yards development plan is a 14-building mixed-use mid-rise complex with 267 residences poised on a narrow platform spanning two blocks above a curved section of railway in Borough Park.
Q: Who is behind the plans for the platform and complex?
A: The development team is led by David Tabak and Meyer Lebovits, along with architecture firm STUDIO V Design + Planning.
Q: What is the purpose of the development?
A: The purpose of the development is to provide much-needed housing to the Borough Park community, with a focus on affordable housing options.
Q: Will the development affect the rail line?
A: No, the development will not affect the rail line, and the MTA has approved the final construction drawings.
Q: What are the design and accessibility features of the complex?
A: The complex will have a public park, public pathways, and a private landscaped pathway that links the three tax lots together. The residential buildings will have balconies, limited elevators, and plentiful bedrooms, and 81 of the 267 units will be affordable to those earning an average of 115 percent of Area Median Income.
