PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jonathan Booker, Resident of South Park Slope, on 441/467 Prospect Avenue (Arrow Linen) Rezoning
3:24:12
ยท
125 sec
Jonathan Booker, a 15-year resident of South Park Slope, urges the council to vote against the Arrow Linen rezoning proposal. He argues that while affordable housing is necessary, this development is not the right way to achieve it, citing concerns about building height and the developer's profit motives.
- Criticizes Arrow Linen for leaving the community and only caring about maximizing profit
- Points out that the neighborhood has already accommodated new housing developments on 4th Avenue and in Gowanus
- Argues that denying the proposal would lead to a more community-aligned development plan
Jonathan Booker
3:24:12
Hello, and, thank you to the members for this time.
3:24:16
I'm a 15 year resident of South Park Slope, and I'm here, urging you to vote against this proposal.
3:24:24
We in the community and I am not in any way against affordable housing, and we believe that it is necessary and something that we want, But this development is not the way to do it.
3:24:34
You asked about could they have a a a lower, height limit on this building and have the same number of units, and their answer was very unsatisfactory.
3:24:45
They basically did not answer that question.
3:24:48
It's clear that you could have a much lower height for this for this development and still have the same number of units.
3:24:55
So they have not in any way answered that question satisfactorily.
3:24:59
This is about the profit for Arrow.
3:25:01
Arrow is out the door.
3:25:03
They are leaving our community.
3:25:04
They are leaving Brooklyn.
3:25:06
These jobs are going to Garden City where they already are.
3:25:09
They don't care about this neighborhood.
3:25:11
They don't care about Brooklyn.
3:25:13
All they care is maximizing the profit of this transaction.
3:25:17
The neighborhood has done plenty to bring new housing to this area.
3:25:22
4th Avenue is replete with tall buildings.
3:25:26
There's a tall building on the other corner of of Prospect Park, the huge apartment building that's been built.
3:25:32
Gowanus is it it's a horosity what's going on in in Gowanus, the overbuilding in that area.
3:25:39
This is about profit.
3:25:40
It's not about benefiting the community.
3:25:43
It's not about affordable housing.
3:25:45
They are doing the absolute minimum to get this thing built so that they can make the maximum profit.
3:25:50
If you deny them, they're not gonna go away.
3:25:52
They're gonna come back and they're gonna propose another development that's more in line with what the community wants.
3:25:59
I also would note that Arrow didn't show up here.
3:26:01
They sent hired guns, people who were paid to advocate for this development.
3:26:05
Did they show up?
3:26:06
No.
3:26:06
Did they show up at our community meetings?
3:26:08
No.
3:26:09
They refused to engage with us because they have no argument for this except for their own profitability.
3:26:14
That's the only thing they're interested in.
3:26:15
Thank you for your time.