Q&A
Council Member Kevin Riley questions applicants about 150 Mill Street rezoning proposal
0:29:43
·
3 min
Council Member Kevin Riley questions the applicants about the 150 Mill Street rezoning proposal in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The discussion focuses on the appropriateness of developing an office building in an Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) and the team's interactions with the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation.
- The proposed building would be approximately 80% office space.
- The applicants argue that their proposal contributes to job creation and includes light manufacturing space, aligning with IBZ goals.
- There is debate over the applicants' engagement with local industrial development organizations and their willingness to accommodate requests.
Kevin Riley
0:29:43
Thank you, Richard.
0:29:44
Just a few questions for you.
0:29:46
Until I turn over to council member, Velez.
0:29:49
What percentage of the building will be used for office space?
Richard Lobel
0:29:53
Nick Deanna numbers.
Nicholas Liberis
0:29:55
It's about fit 65,000 square feet less, let's say, 17,000 square feet.
0:30:02
So 48 Divided by 60 maybe, like, 75% 80 like, 80% almost.
Kevin Riley
0:30:10
Given that the size located in the area specifically for industrial businesses, could you explain why you think developing an office building here is appropriate and consistent with the IBZ designation?
Richard Lobel
0:30:23
Yeah.
0:30:23
I'm gonna start because, you know, one of the things that's important, I think, in Euler generally is that people operate in good faith.
0:30:31
And when we were in this for maybe 6, 7 months, we took a meeting with the Industrial Development Corporation.
0:30:37
And so at some point, if you come to the table, someone has to come back to the table and talk to you.
0:30:43
There's other applications that have been approved by this owning some committee and by the council For example, 41 Richards Street, 200 Huntington Street, which sought larger buildings and which the IDC was involved in.
0:30:57
With regards to 41 Richards Street, You had a rezoning there, which was an M112 and M15, much like our rezoning.
0:31:05
And the the IBC came out and the IBC came out strongly in favor of that application.
0:31:10
There were no restrictions on that property.
0:31:12
It's not located in the IBC.
0:31:14
But the the IDC actually came out and made strong statements in favor on the record saying how important it was for them to have this property.
0:31:21
The IDC themselves has an interest in that property.
0:31:24
They have a grant from the EDC to allow them space in that building.
0:31:27
So the the truth is that we we came out to the IDC.
0:31:32
We have agreements in place.
0:31:33
We gave them the same documentation that they've signed in 200 Huntington Street, almost to the letter, the exact same document that they signed.
0:31:41
And they basically said, no.
0:31:42
Thank you.
0:31:43
So the truth of the matter is we do contribute to the central goals of the of the IDC in terms of job creation, in terms of training, and also in terms of light manufacturing space, But, yes, the building itself, you know, needs to have a host of uses.
0:32:01
And frankly, the office use here will be harmonious with the light industrial use, will able to, in some sense, subsidize some of the buildings so that the nonprofits and other light industrial potential users can use the space.
Kevin Riley
0:32:15
And my last question, have you explored other uses at this site within with the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, which assists in overseeing the IBZ?
Richard Lobel
0:32:25
Yeah.
0:32:26
We've we've we've been exploring uses with them, and we also, interestingly, as they requested, and again, we're happy to provide all of this correspondence to the zoning some committee.
0:32:36
We we basically wanted to limit the industrial space in accordance with their request to certain industrial uses.
0:32:43
And, essentially, the email came back yesterday that they weren't interested because they weren't interested in being a party to restrict the declaration when they had already served as a party to other restrictive declarations that have been approved for rezoning.
Kevin Riley
0:32:56
Thank you, Richard.
0:32:57
Just remember, Villas.