Reynoso Endorses Atlantic Avenue Plan, Calls for Stronger Tenant Protections

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has given his approval with conditions to the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a sweeping rezoning proposal aimed at transforming a stretch of Atlantic Avenue and surrounding blocks in central Brooklyn.

While endorsing the plan’s goals of expanding housing, job opportunities, and infrastructure improvements, Reynoso supported local residents’ calls for the need for stronger tenant protections, deeper affordability requirements, and safeguards for manufacturing space.

The decision came after a January 19 hearing held by the borough president, at which seven residents spoke about the plan and Reynoso’s staff asked questions of reps from City Planning, Transportation, Housing Preservation and Development, and the Department of Small Business Services.

Reynoso’s stance aligns with concerns voiced by those who spoke at the hearing and local community boards 3 and 8. The community boards also backed the proposal but pushed for modifications to ensure that long-time residents and businesses aren’t displaced in the process.

Wood frame buildings along Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy.Photo by Susan De Vries

Reynoso outlined a series of conditions around manufacturing protections, affordable housing commitments, and infrastructure and transit upgrades. The rezoning must require ground-floor manufacturing uses in designated zoning areas, prevent displacement of existing industrial tenants, and establish an Industrial Business Service Provider to support growth, he said. (The latter are part of a city program and offer trained specialists to help businesses thrive.)

In regards to affordable housing, the city must explore ways to deepen affordability, including a new Mandatory Inclusionary Housing option with lower income thresholds and an expansion of affordable housing on publicly owned sites, he added. He also recommended looking into measures like a tenant displacement registry and relocation assistance legislation.

He said the Department of Transportation must commit to a “road diet” reducing Atlantic Avenue to four lanes, increase metered parking to manage congestion, and prioritize safety improvements at key intersections. Subway upgrades will also be required to accommodate the anticipated population growth, he added.

Plan Details

The Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan would rezone approximately 21 blocks along Atlantic Avenue, stretching from Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights to Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights. The goal is to promote a mix of housing, commercial, and industrial uses while making the corridor more pedestrian-friendly and economically vibrant, according to the Department of City Planning, which is behind the rezoning application.

The rezoning has the potential to bring nearly 4,600 new apartments – including more than 1,400 permanently affordable units – and more than 921,000 square feet of new space for offices, retail, community services, and light industrial businesses, according to Department of City Planning estimates. The non-residential component could add an estimated 2,800 new jobs, according to documents included in the rezoning application.

The existing M1 industrial zoning along Atlantic Avenue would be replaced with C6-3A mixed-use districts, permitting higher-density development with mandatory affordable housing requirements. Developers along Atlantic Avenue could receive a 20 percent floor area bonus for incorporating publicly accessible open spaces, while elsewhere in the rezoned area, height incentives would encourage mixed-use developments that combine residential and non-residential uses. Additionally, new building designs would be required to incorporate setbacks and improve the streetscape along Atlantic Avenue.

Community Board Conditions

Community Board 3, which covers a small section of the rezoned area to the north of Atlantic Avenue, said in its conditional approval that along Atlantic Avenue building heights should be limited to 12 stories, and 1029-1031 Atlantic Avenue should be removed to protect the Lefferts Place Community Garden. At 457 Nostrand Avenue, the building height should remain below the spire of Girls’ High School, with most units being one-bedroom or family-sized, studio apartments kept to a minimum, and an average affordability of 40 percent AMI, the board wrote. A public plaza or green space should be added along Halsey Street, and underground parking should be considered.

The board also recommended introducing a commercial overlay on Franklin Avenue between Hancock Street and Fulton Street and reopening the Classon Avenue entrance to the Franklin Avenue station.

Community Board 8, meanwhile, conditionally approved the plan with more than two dozen specific conditions aimed at ensuring affordability, preventing displacement, supporting local businesses, and improving infrastructure. The board emphasized the need for deeply affordable housing, tenant protections, and a community oversight body to monitor commitments. They also called for dedicated workforce development programs, funding for displaced businesses, and restrictions on large retail stores.

Conclusion

Reynoso’s approval with conditions reflects the community’s concerns and goals for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan. By mandating manufacturing space, increasing affordability, and prioritizing infrastructure and transit upgrades, the plan has the potential to transform the corridor into a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use destination.

FAQs

* What is the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan?
The plan is a rezoning proposal that aims to transform a stretch of Atlantic Avenue and surrounding blocks in central Brooklyn by promoting a mix of housing, commercial, and industrial uses.
* What are the goals of the plan?
The plan’s goals include expanding housing, job opportunities, and infrastructure improvements, while making the corridor more pedestrian-friendly and economically vibrant.
* What are the conditions of the plan?
The plan has several conditions, including mandating manufacturing space, increasing affordability, and prioritizing infrastructure and transit upgrades.
* What is the timeline for the plan’s approval?
The plan is expected to go through a formal review process, with the final EIS expected to be released in March. The city council will then weigh in on the plan, and a final decision is expected by the end of 2023.