New York City Council
Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings and Dispositions
Feb 29, 2024
·
11:00 AM
1 hr 26 min
Summary
A hearing on the Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments proposal in Brooklyn. Features testimony from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), building developers, arts organizations, and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Kamillah Hanks opens meeting on the Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments Proposal
Council Member Kamillah Hanks chairs the meeting on the Brownsville Arts Center and Apartments proposal in Brooklyn, outlining hybrid participation options. - Hanks welcomes participants to the Subcommittee on Landmarks …
0:00:36
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115 sec
Anthony Drummond, Katherine Gray, Serin Choi Present the Brownsville Arts and Apartments Project
Anthony Drummond, Katherine Gray, and Serin Choi present the Brownsville Arts and Apartments Project, focusing on its affordable housing, cultural benefits, and community engagement initiatives. - The project entails creating …
0:04:12
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15 min
What was the purpose of attending the community board meeting without discussing promised apartment size upgrades?
Council Member Darlene Mealy critiques the decision not to discuss promised upgrades to apartment sizes at a community board meeting. - Mealy questions the purpose of attending a community board …
0:20:21
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71 sec
What is the discussion about the proposed parking plan involving 1000 parking spaces and how does it relate to the development by Gilbane Development Company?
Council Member Darlene Mealy inquires about the discrepancy in the proposed parking plan from a prior meeting, emphasizing the parking crisis in Brownsville and the issue with the Gilbane Development …
0:21:35
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151 sec
Why are housing developments prioritized over parking, and what are the sizes of the proposed units?
Council Member Darlene Mealy questions the prioritization of housing over parking and seeks clarification on the sizes of the proposed housing units, receiving answers from Aleena Farishta and Katherine Gray. …
0:24:06
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7 min
How will adding parking and larger apartment sizes affect the project's affordability?
Council Member Hanks seeks to understand the trade-off between adding parking, larger apartment sizes, and the affordability of a project. - Hanks expresses a need to analyze the impact of …
0:31:53
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56 sec
When was the Brownsville community first engaged by HPD for the proposed project?
Aleena Farishta details the Department of Housing Preservation and Development's (HPD) engagement with the Brownsville community from 2016 to 2017 regarding a project proposal. - HPD initiates a community engagement …
0:33:03
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31 sec
What other sites are included in the Brownsville plan?
Aleena Farishta confirms two additional sites are part of the Brownsville plan. - Site B is identified as Glenmore Manor. - Site C consists of a cluster of sites on …
0:33:38
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19 sec
Why did this project's predevelopment process take so long?
Aleena Farishta states that the predevelopment process's length is due to comprehensive tasks like site surveying, diligence, and preparing a site plan, alongside pandemic-related delays. - The predevelopment process is …
0:33:57
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53 sec
How many revisions has the affordable housing project undergone, and what key changes have been made from 2018 to 2024?
The affordable housing project by Gilbane Development Company has undergone significant changes from 2018 to 2024, including multiple reiterations and updates to increase the number of housing units and to …
0:34:57
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165 sec
How can apartment sizes be increased in low-income housing projects to ensure dignity for residents?
Council Member Oswald Feliz inquires about the possibility of increasing apartment sizes in a low-income housing project, highlighting the need for low-income families to live in dignified conditions. - The …
0:38:19
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4 min
Can the number of studio apartments be reduced in favor of larger units?
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is open to reevaluating the unit mix in housing projects to better accommodate varying demands and family sizes. - HPD tries to …
0:42:51
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123 sec
What are the commercial goals for the C4 commercial overlay, and is there potential to adjust its designated space for additional residential units?
The commercial goals for the C4 overlay aim to establish a cultural center, with no plans to adjust the space for residential purposes. - The ground floor is designated as …
0:44:57
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3 min
How did Gilbane Development Company adjust square footage in housing units?
Gilbane Development Company adjusted square footage in housing units by moving walls, especially in living rooms, and reallocating space from studio apartments to expand other units. - The adjustments aim …
0:48:38
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3 min
Who is working on the place making component of the cultural community project?
Youth from the Brownsville Community Justice Organization are working on the place making component, collaborating with the Youth Design Center. - The Youth Design Center and candidates from the Brownsville …
0:52:43
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37 sec
How is the facade redesign addressing community feedback?
The facade redesign incorporates community board feedback and aims to minimize its institutional appearance. - Council Member Amanda Farías inquires about the facade's design and community board feedback. - The …
0:53:22
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3 min
Darlene Mealy critiques the adequacy of the proposal
Council member Darlene Mealy critiques the adequacy of housing proposals, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and inclusion of parking in new developments. - Expresses frustration over lack of detailed …
0:56:27
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157 sec
Masuki Glover on the Need for a Free and Accessible Cultural Arts Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn
Masuki Glover, a resident of Brownsville in Brooklyn, speaks in support of establishing a free and accessible cultural arts center in his neighborhood to enrich children's lives. - Glover emphasizes …
1:00:57
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123 sec
Kofi Williams, Executive Director of the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, on the Importance of Cultural Arts for Community Development in Brownsville
Kofi Williams testifies on the critical role of cultural arts in community and child development in Brownsville. - Kofi Williams, as the Executive Director of the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts …
1:03:05
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125 sec
Kevin A. Joseph, Executive Director, Purelements in Evolution And Dance on Enhancing Youth Engagement through Arts in Brownsville
Kevin A. Joseph discusses the pivotal role of Purelements in providing dance and arts spaces for youth in Brownsville, highlighting challenges and future plans. - Joseph reflects on his personal …
1:05:17
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144 sec
Quardean Lewis-Allen, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Design Center, on the Need for Support in Youth Design and Technology Education in Brownsville
Quardean Lewis-Allen discusses the challenges and needs of the Youth Design Center in Brownsville for supporting youth in design and technology education. - Lewis-Allen highlights the center's role as an …
1:12:36
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3 min
Catherine Green Johnson on the Necessity and Challenges of Establishing an Art Center in East Brooklyn
Catherine Green Johnson addresses the critical need for an art center in East Brooklyn, emphasizing its potential community benefits and the challenges faced due to inequitable resource distribution. - Johnson, …
1:17:16
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129 sec
How has funding inequity affected Brownsville since 2016?
Catherine Green Johnson highlights the financial struggles of local institutions in securing equitable funding and development opportunities. - Compares a past development project's high costs to a new opportunity providing …
1:19:28
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75 sec
Can cultural space be flexible for additional housing units while enhancing collaboration and access?
The dialogue explores the potential for flexible cultural spaces to allow for more housing units while still promoting collaborative, accessible spaces for arts and STEAM programming. - Council Member Amanda …
1:20:44
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64 sec
What kind of sustainable jobs will the project provide for the community, and how will it impact local income?
The discussion focuses on the sustainable job opportunities that organizations like Pure Elements and Brick, Brownsville Arts Center will provide as part of the project, aiming to benefit the local …
1:21:52
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3 min