PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Andrea Goldwyn, Representative of New York Landmarks Conservancy
4:00:22
·
124 sec
Andrea Goldwyn, representing the New York Landmarks Conservancy, expresses significant concerns about the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal. She criticizes the rushed process, lack of public input, and potential negative impacts on historic resources and green spaces. Goldwyn urges the council to pause and reconsider the proposal's implications.
- Calls for more time for residents to understand the proposal's impact on their communities
- Advocates for maintaining public voice in the land use process and council oversight
- Emphasizes the need to prioritize affordable housing over luxury developments
- Highlights concerns about the proposal's effects on historic buildings and green spaces
Andrea Goldwyn
4:00:22
Good day chair Riley and council members.
4:00:24
I'm Andrea Goldwyn speaking on behalf of the New York Landmark's conservancy.
4:00:28
We've submitted our full statement and have copies.
4:00:30
We have significant concerns about City of Yes for housing opportunity.
4:00:34
This would be the biggest change to the zoning resolution in decades, but it's been rolled out in less time and with less meaningful public input than any neighborhood or even site rezoning.
4:00:44
Previous rezoning relied on residents on the ground knowledge about their neighborhoods.
4:00:49
This complemented the city's planners and led to more appropriate zone rezoning, and those valuable insights are missing here.
4:00:56
We're glad to see that landmarks will have new opportunities to transfer unused development rights, but this will bring significant changes to the box where the rights land.
4:01:04
Available that the council retains its review and that the public has a voice in this process.
4:01:09
We support expanded building conversions.
4:01:12
Reuse of existing buildings is a more sustainable way to create new housing, but there's a little projection of what's City of Yes will do to older buildings designated or not.
4:01:21
The environmental reviews glossed over impacts to historic resources.
4:01:25
Another resource New Yorkers value is Green Space.
4:01:28
City of Yes prioritizes new construction over backyards and campus open spaces.
4:01:33
They'll be chipped away.
4:01:35
City of yes dramatic will dramatically change our streets and communities.
4:01:39
It will give developers so many options for new larger buildings.
4:01:42
It's hard to see how many will opt for UIP bonuses.
4:01:45
Thousands more luxury condos won't solve the affordability crisis.
4:01:49
If this is approved, many land use actions will no longer require you learn.
4:01:53
And we have to ask why you'd give up the council's voice and out of your constituents.
4:01:58
Residents have made investments in their community.
4:02:00
They shouldn't be deprived of certainty, predictability, and a say in how their neighbor hoods will evolve and grow.
4:02:06
We ask the council to press pause.
4:02:08
We ask you to give residents more time to learn about how city of yes will impact their communities, to keep the public's voice in the land use process, ensure that affordable housing takes priority over luxury developments, and protect our irreplaceable green spaces.
4:02:23
Thank you for the opportunity to express the conservancy's use.
