An opinion piece makes the case that a rezoning proposal for the Brooklyn neighborhood of Gowanus has a higher potential for new affordable housing and lower risk of displacement compared to other rezoning plans in the city.
Michelle de la Uz, Brad Lander, and Barika Williams write an opinion piece to connect a planned rezoning for Gowanus in Brooklyn to issues of equity. By creating new opportunities for housing development, the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning would "move NYC forward on racial equity and fair housing," according to the opinion.
As noted in previous advocacy for the rezoning, the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning sticks out from rezoning plans completed during the de Blasio administration, because it would add density to a relatively wealthy neighborhood.
The proposed Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning is the first city-sponsored neighborhood rezoning in a whiter, wealthier community. It asks those residents to absorb new growth in order to create new, permanent affordability in a high-opportunity neighborhood with strong transit access. It has far less risk of displacement. In contrast to prior rezonings, it would result in a higher percentage of affordable units in the neighborhood than exists today. For all these reasons, we have engaged in a community planning process for the last several years to try to get this rezoning right.
According to data cited in the article, the details of the proposed Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning would allow a projected 8,200 new housing units, approximately 3,000 (37 percent) of which would be affordable: 2,000 units through the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, and another 950 units on the Public Place site, owned by the city.
As noted after the conclusion of the opinion piece, Michelle de la Uz is the executive director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, Brad Lander is a city councilmember representing Brooklyn, and Barika Williams is executive director of the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development. The Fifth Avenue Committee recently published a report titled Undesign the Redline: Gowanus and the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development recently published the Thriving Communities Coalition report. Both reports dig into the effects of exclusionary land use and real estate policies on the neighborhoods of New York City.
FULL STORY: Opinion: How the Gowanus Rezoning Could Push NYC Forward on Racial Equity
Advocates Push for Gowanus Rezoning, Stuck in COVID-19 Limbo, to Move Forward
According to advocates, the relative affluence of Gowanus is the reason a plan to rezone the neighborhood must move forward.
Gowanus Rezoning Moving Forward: Could Bring 8,000 New Apartments to Brooklyn
A controversial zoning—one of the last of a de Blasio administration that has rezoned parts of every borough in the city—last week cleared a key City Council committee.
Transfer of Air Rights Sought to Finance Public Housing Improvements in Brooklyn
The rezoning of the neighborhood of Gowanus in Brooklyn is providing opportunities for local politicians to address local needs.
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Friday Eye Candy: 20 AI-Generated Cityscapes
AI-generated images are creating new landscapes and cityscapes, capable of inspiring awe or fear.
Biden Designates a New National Monument in West Texas
The Castner Range National Monument in West Texas is the second of two new national monuments announced by President Joe Biden this week.
Study: Autonomous Cars Won’t Solve the Parking Problem
In hyper-dense cities where incentives to reduce car use and eliminate parking are already high, mass adoption of AVs won’t significantly reduce parking demand.
Proposed Pool Would Make an Olympic-Sized Play Area in the San Francisco Bay
The San Francisco Bay is usually an undesirable place to swim, except for a hearty few. A development proposal seeking assistance at the state level would add a pool to the Bay’s waters to make the idea of going for a swim more appealing.
Princeton Planning
City of College Park
Houston-Galveston Area Council
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
