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Q&A
Council Member Riley questions developer about zoning and housing plans for Empire Boulevard project
0:43:19
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97 sec
Council Member Kevin C. Riley engages in a Q&A session with Eli Gewirtz, a land use attorney, regarding a proposed development project. The discussion covers the choice of zoning district, the inclusion of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH), and concerns about the mix of apartment sizes.
- Riley inquires about the selection of a C4-4D district and the reasoning behind it.
- Gewirtz explains the benefits of the C4-4D district for their commercial program and how it aligns with nearby zoning.
- Riley expresses approval of the MIH program inclusion but voices concerns about the prevalence of studio apartments in the plan.
Kevin C. Riley
0:43:19
Thank you for your presentation.
0:43:21
You answered a lot of my questions about what was the usage prior with the vacant.
0:43:27
What type of usage of retail space you said is a grocery store.
0:43:31
You said that the community said that they want community space, senior space there as well.
0:43:38
Why did you select a c four dash four d district and what other districts were you considering?
Eli Gewirtz
0:43:43
So we selected the C 44 D for multiple reasons.
0:43:47
First, it promotes the robust commercial program that we're proposing here.
0:43:52
It allows two floors of commercial use above grade, which is something that was is important for this project.
0:44:00
We also saw how it has the R 8 a residential equivalent and as noted in the presentation, you have R 8 a zoning to the immediate Northwest, like one block on the North side of Sullivan Place.
0:44:14
So we really thought it can match the existing zoning that you're that you're seeing at the site.
Kevin C. Riley
0:44:19
Okay.
0:44:20
I mean, you answered my question with MIH.
0:44:22
You're now doing MIH option one.
0:44:24
I mean, you're applying for the Mimi program, is very good.
0:44:28
Not a question, just a statement.
0:44:30
I'm not too fond of studios, and having more studios than one bedroom, I think, is inadequate to any community.
0:44:38
I think a lot of communities want that space to kind of grow and have people fellowship without living in a smaller apartment.
0:44:47
I just felt the need to say that on the record.
0:44:49
And with that being said, I have no more questions.
0:44:52
I'm gonna pass this over to council member Hudson.