PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nichola Cox, Board Member of Brooklyn Community Board 9, on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
12:54:22
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123 sec
Nichola Cox, a resident of Crown Heights South and board member of Brooklyn Community Board 9, expresses opposition to the City of Yes proposal, particularly focusing on concerns about the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) and its potential impact on medium to high-density areas. She argues that the proposal disproportionately targets areas that are already experiencing high levels of development, gentrification, and displacement.
- Cox highlights the potential 77% zoning density increase for R6 lots on narrow streets, which she argues is not modest or contextual development.
- She expresses specific concern for 1 and 2 family homes in areas zoned R6 and R7, which were often targeted for people of color in the 1961 rezoning.
- Cox argues that her community (CB9) has already "done our fair share" in terms of development and cannot handle more overwhelming changes.
Nichola Cox
12:54:22
Okay.
12:54:22
Good evening.
12:54:23
My name is Nicola Cox.
12:54:25
I'm a resident of Brooklyn's Community Board 9 in Crown Heights South.
12:54:29
I am also on the Lanyue's committee.
12:54:33
We voted no on city of yes because of a number of concerns about including about a UAP.
12:54:41
Tonight, I'm speaking for myself.
12:54:45
And I've agreed with many of the concerns expressed today.
12:54:51
It gives it reassures me that there are other people that have read between the lines.
12:54:57
While City of YES is marketed, is developing a little bit of housing everywhere, The bulk of development, especially affordable housing development, focuses on UAP, which currently targets medium to high density areas defined as R6 and higher.
12:55:11
Many of these areas already have high levels of development, gentrification, and displacement.
12:55:17
We are I'm specifically concerned about the 1 and 2 family homes on lots of zone r 6 and r 7 during the 1961 rezoning.
12:55:28
These were mostly in areas targeted for people of color.
12:55:31
As a result of this zoning, our 1 and 2 family blocks are now deemed to be under built and are being targeted for UAP.
12:55:41
UAP is giving a 77% zoning density increased to R6 lots on narrow streets compared to the zoning increases on a contextually zone communities which are much lower.
12:55:56
This will increase the teardown and rebuild speculation areas like mine, which are already overwhelmed by development.
12:56:04
As we have said in CB9, we've done our fair share.
12:56:09
Does a 77% far increase sound like it's a modest contextual development.
12:56:17
No.
12:56:20
When I review DCP's Pluto data, I noted a few things, approximately 80%.
UNKNOWN
12:56:25
Thank you.
