Q&A
Housing considerations and restrictions due to special permit
1:06:57
ยท
86 sec
Council Member Powers raises concerns about the special permit restricting housing opportunities on the property. He inquires about the rationale behind this decision and whether it precludes future housing development.
- The special permit may limit opportunities for housing and affordable housing on the property.
- There are complications in mixing housing with school buildings, healthcare facilities, and life sciences spaces.
- Powers questions whether the special permit allows for future flexibility if priorities change regarding housing development.
Keith Powers
1:06:57
So look.
1:06:57
I I I certainly think it would be helpful if we had a better understanding of exactly what what we're talking about because that's a specific zoning action Mhmm.
1:07:03
Relative to the counterpart across the street without a clear understanding of whether or how it might be utilized.
1:07:08
It's my understanding that because of that special permit, we also lose some opportunities to do housing and affordable housing on this property, which has been something the community's been asking for and others have been look asking for as part of this site and certainly recognize the complicated nature of putting different school buildings and health care facilities and life sciences in one place and then trying to mix in housing as part of that and whether that would even be desirable for someone to live on top of a lab or space anyway.
1:07:38
But but it still seems like we're getting restricted by that.
1:07:41
And perhaps flexibility does benefit us in case the world does change in a way that we might wanna add that in later.
1:07:47
Or or, or housing becomes a a new set of priorities.
1:07:51
We have a state of the city right now.
1:07:53
We're talking about a Manhattan plan that certainly talks a lot about that.
1:07:58
Talk can you talk to us about about specifically the choices around the special permit, for housing and and why there's that choice was made.
1:08:08
Also, why, what it precludes, I guess, when it comes to housing.
1:08:12
And does it preclude housing there as a result of putting the special permit if thought processes change even in the next few years or priorities change or, you know, thought process around that?
Cecilia Kushner
1:08:23
Yeah.