PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alex Maza on 441/467 Prospect Avenue (Arrow Linen) Rezoning
5:09:31
ยท
92 sec
Alex Maza, a resident of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, expresses support for the Arrow Linen site rezoning proposal, emphasizing its importance in addressing the city's housing crisis and affordability issues. He argues that the project balances community needs with affordable housing and climate resilience measures.
- Maza acknowledges concerns about the building's height but argues it's necessary to maintain affordable housing units and appropriate unit sizes.
- He highlights the project's focus on flood mitigation, sharing a personal experience with flooding in a Brooklyn apartment.
- The speaker urges the council to support the proposal to keep the city more affordable and sustainable for families.
Alex Maza
5:09:31
Thank you.
5:09:32
Good afternoon.
5:09:33
My name is Alex Maza, and I live across the park in Crown Heights.
5:09:37
First, I wanna thank the council and council member Hanif for your efforts to make the city more affordable for all New Yorkers.
5:09:42
I'm here like so many other Brooklynites because I'm deeply concerned about the housing housing crisis in our city.
5:09:47
Rent prices keep climbing and too many families are being pushed out of their neighborhoods.
5:09:51
To address this, we need more housing overall, and that's why I support the rezoning for the Arrowlinen site.
5:09:56
This proposal takes an important step forward.
5:09:59
It provides affordable housing by respecting the character of the community with a thoughtful setback design.
5:10:04
I've und I understand concerns about the height, but we have to be realistic.
5:10:08
We can either maintain the proposed height or reduce the number of units or shrink the size of the units to make it harder for families with children or have fewer affordable units.
5:10:16
But the only way to have all of these things is to maintain the proposed height and to achieve affordable housing, we need more housing, period.
5:10:24
And key element of this proposal is its focus on, flood mitigation.
5:10:28
Having lived in Brooklyn in a Brooklyn apartment that experienced frequent flooding at one point with over a foot and a half of water, I know firsthand how disruptive and emotionally draining it can be.
5:10:37
I lost many belongings, and it was deeply unsettling experience.
5:10:40
By incorporating measures to address flood risk, this project ensures that future residents will have to endure similar hardships.
5:10:46
This rezoning balances community needs and addresses pressing issues like affordability and climate resilience.
5:10:51
We need developments like this to make our city more affordable for families.
5:10:54
I'm worried that about being priced out of the city I love, and I know many others feel the same way.
5:10:58
So I urge you all to support this proposal and help us keep a more affordable and sustainable city.
5:11:03
Thank you.