Report: Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning Sparked Growth

An editorial cites newly released analysis of changes on the North Brooklyn Waterfront since a 2005 rezoning.

1 minute read

November 11, 2019, 1:00 PM PST

By Maven


A New York Port editorial refers to a recent report from the New York City Department of City Planning to refute recent remarks made by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez about the effects of gentrification in parts of Brooklyn, specifically Williamsburg (a "Disneyland for hippies," are how the Queens congressional representative described the neighborhood).

"The 2005 rezoning of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront sparked growth. Since 2007, the neighborhood has gained more than 12,000 new homes — including 2,000-plus new income-restricted units and over 1,000 affordable units preserved," according to the editorial.

Moreover, "the rezoned area now has more Hispanic residents, city data show — reversing a trend of decline since 1990. Oh, and Williamsburg hasn’t seen a drop in the number of lower-income households."

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