Housing, Land Use, Zoning, NYCHA - New York City



Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee

Tuesday, June 21, 2010 - 6:30pm

University Settlement, Speyer Hal

184 Eldridge Street (between Rivington & Delancey Sts)

Other Members:

Dominic Pisciotta

Public Officials/Reps:

Margaret Chin

Patricia Olan for Margaret Chin

Zack Bommer for Speaker Silver

Xiao Min Zhao for Congresswoman Velazquez

Jen Hong for Borough President Stringer

Alex DeLisi for State Senator Squadron

Public Session Topics:

Members Present at First Vote:

David McWater, Chair [X ]

Harvey Epstein [ X ]

Rabbi Y. S. Ginzberg [ ]

Gloria Goldenberg [X ]

Herman F. Hewitt [X ]

Joel Kaplan [X ]

Ricky Leung [X ]

Gigi Li [X ]

Bernard Marti [X ]

Barden Prisant [X ]

Mary Spink [X ]

Samuel Wilkenfeld [ ]

Karen Blatt [X ]

Harriet Cohen [X ]

Pietro Filardo [ ]

Steve Herrick [X ]

Linda Jones [X ]

Jessica Loeser [ ]

Val Orselli [X ]

Damaris Reyes [X ]

Michael Zisser [X ]

▪ Facilitated discussion on program specifics for SPURA sites development

DISCUSSION:

Councilwoman Margaret Chin stated that she was here because development of the SPURA sites is so important. She hopes we can come together with some great ideas and create affordable housing.

Our facilitators are John Shapiro and Eve Baron.

At this second task force meeting, John Shapiro led a discussion of what the facilitators have heard so far during interviews with stake holders. Mr. Shapiro stated his intention to present some of the hard choices. The July meeting will be more about specifics. He wants to help bring the committee one step closer to a plan that is not only worth doing, but will garner support from the constituencies that the Committee members align with. The objective is a Community Board resolution that can serve as a precursor to ULURP and CEQR.

Areas of agreement:

• Maximize economic development potential

• Provide housing for a variety of needs

• Attend to neighborhood character

SPURA is at the juncture of three plus communities whose aspirations must be met. The block by block character is highly disparate. There are a variety of retail layouts and rents (public market, local / community stores). The total development potential is about 1.5 million square feet under existing zoning. Up-zoning to allow more square feet has significant financial and timing implications. It would require more extensive improvements ($10-30 M in infrastructure costs) and add significant time delays.

For the time being Mr. Shapiro asked us to assume conservatively to keep the same square feet, including commercial uses.

Why develop SPURA now?

• It is a big site.

• Hard work has been done over the past year engaging multiple constituencies

• There is an unusual level of inter-agency cooperation (EDC, HPD, DCP) in the City right now.

• Political leadership is a known quantity, and supportive if the community unites.

Some Facts:

SPURA

6 acres

1.5 million square feet

600,000 square feet non-residential

800-1000 units

Cooper square

4 acres

A balance of uses is necessary for financial success and to meet multiple aspirations. For now, assume that the project will finance itself internally. City agency view is that discretionary money is best spent to build community. SPURA has enough income-earning potential in it to self-finance. Federally funded development would be ok.

EDC needs to track down the “lumpy impact” (sewer lines and their capacity and water) of up-zoning and adding bulk. Cooper Square did involve up-zoning. If we want to up-zone, it will take 10 years and 2-3 mayors.

Development Game:

We played a game designed to help us understand how to self-finance SPURA with a balance of retail, a mix of housing, cultural uses and commercial uses. The results of this game will set the stage for the next meeting.

The next facilitated discussion will be held on Thursday, July 9.

MOTION: At its ____________________ monthly meeting, Community Board #3 passed the following motion:

SEND TO:

CC TO:

VOTE: 0 YES 0 NO 0 ABS 0 PNV

NO VOTE NECESSARY [X ] (mark with X if no vote is necessary)

Members Present at Last Vote:

David McWater, Chair [ ]

Harvey Epstein [ ]

Rabbi Y. S. Ginzberg [ ]

Gloria Goldenberg [ ]

Herman F. Hewitt [ ]

Joel Kaplan [ ]

Ricky Leung [ ]

Gigi Li [ ]

Bernard Marti [ ]

Barden Prisant [ ]

Mary Spink [ ]

Samuel Wilkenfeld [ ]

Karen Blatt [ ]

Harriet Cohen [ ]

Pietro Filardo [ ]

Steve Herrick [ ]

Linda Jones [ ]

Jessica Loeser [ ]

Val Orselli [ ]

Damaris Reyes [ ]

Michael Zisser [ ]

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