PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Julia Harris, Urban Planner, on 441/467 Prospect Avenue (Arrow Linen) Rezoning
4:47:57
ยท
132 sec
Julia Harris, an urban planner and local resident, testifies in opposition to the 15-story luxury development proposed for the Arrow Linen site. She criticizes the lack of community engagement and raises concerns about flooding and misleading statements made by the applicant.
- Harris disputes claims about flood remediation, arguing that the development will exacerbate existing sewer issues.
- She clarifies that there is no public park proposed, only a private backyard.
- Harris advocates for more affordable housing and urges council members to listen to local residents' concerns.
Julia Harris
4:47:57
Yes.
4:47:58
Hi.
4:47:58
Thank you.
4:47:58
My name is Julia Harris.
4:48:00
I'm an urban planner.
4:48:01
I was born and raised in the neighborhood, and I strongly value livable cities that balance community feedback against the profit driven interests of the billionaire real estate industry.
4:48:10
I oppose this 15 story, mostly luxury development.
4:48:13
I was going to focus my testimony on the complete lack of community engagement, but that's already been covered.
4:48:18
I do wanna note that in my professional work at DCP and EDC and as a land use committee member for Community Board 7 and all the applications we've seen here today, I've never seen such a gross refusal to engage with the community as we've seen from the applicant team here.
4:48:33
I'd like to clarify instead today some things I heard from Erin Linen regarding the discussion of flooding.
4:48:37
To be clear, there is no flood remediation.
4:48:40
They are required by code to have stormwater retention.
4:48:43
Yes.
4:48:43
But Prospect Avenue in the larger area has ancient clay combined sewer pipes, which drain both rainfall and sanitary sewage together.
4:48:50
So even if they retain rainfall on their site, they're adding thousands of new toilets, showers, washer, dryers, and sinks that flow into the same pipes that flood in moderate rainstorms.
4:48:59
Surrounding neighbors will have more ground water, and we know what that is, back up into their homes.
4:49:04
Without sewage upgrades, Arrow is in no way improving the situation but exacerbating it.
4:49:09
And what they've stated is, quite frankly, misleading testimony made under oath.
4:49:13
To clarify, there is no 21,000 square foot park proposed on the block by the applicant.
4:49:17
There is a private backyard that should not be touted as a community benefit.
4:49:22
Arrow's attorney has repeatedly alluded to a lower building massing that was reviewed with city planning but never presented to the public or the community board.
4:49:28
We want to see this.
4:49:29
We want engagement.
4:49:31
Regarding deeper affordability and questions around HP's timing, I would personally rather wait a little bit longer for permanent more permanently affordable housing to serve generations to come than have permanently luxury housing with ever increasing rents versus some of the local landlords we've heard from today that keep things at a suppressed under market, cost.
4:49:49
There's only one bite of the apple, and we need to do it well and right.
4:49:52
And council members, I've read your biographies and your legislative priorities, which are very commendable.
4:49:57
You may not be involved in this slice of Brooklyn life.
UNKNOWN
4:50:00
Thank you.
4:50:00
Time's expired.
Julia Harris
4:50:01
Your constituents.
4:50:03
So to be clear, we want housing on this site, but, we want you to listen to the voices of local residents.