Category: Latest News

Embattled Bedford-Union Armory conversion clears City Planning Commission

Despite protestors disrupting the meeting, the City Planning Commission approved the embattled conversion of the Bedford-Union Armory at a meeting on Monday. The city’s Economic Development Corporation is the lead city agency pushing this project forward through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), and following the CPC’s verdict, EDC released the following statement from its senior vice president of public affairs, Anthony Hogrebe:

“As we move to transform the historic Bedford-Union Armory into a world-class recreation center and much-needed housing, we will continue to work with Council Member Cumbo and other stakeholders to ensure this project serves the Crown Heights community.”

Controversial Bedford Union Armory Development Sails Through Planning Commission

The City Planning Commission voted 11 to 1 this afternoon to approve the contentious plan to redevelop the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights into a mix of condominiums, rentals and a recreation center… City Council candidate Jabari Brisport, who is running on the Green Party line against incumbent Laurie Cumbo for the council seat that represents Crown Heights, and Crown Heights tenant union member Joel Feingold were arrested and hauled away from the hearing in handcuffs, according to NYCC organizers.

Commissioner Michelle de La Uz was the lone dissenting vote against the armory plan, which has inspired protests and charges of gentrification since entering the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) in March.

Bedford-Union Armory Plan Puts Luxury Homes On Public Land, Residents Tell City

Angry Crown Heights residents filed into the latest in a seemingly endless string of public hearings about the future of a vacant armory Tuesday, this time before the City Planning Commission.

“It is a shame that we are even here to discuss this today,” Bertha Lewis told the panel. “It’s an outrage that this sham of a deal is even coming before this body in this form. And it’s yet another example of the mayor putting the needs of the people who funded his campaign above the people who elected him.”

City Hall open to pumping more money into Bedford-Union Armory project

Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Thursday that his administration will work with Crown Heights Councilmember Laurie Cumbo to meet her concerns about the project, Politico reported.

“The plan as it’s written now is a sustainable plan that can actually keep that facility open for the community for the long haul at an affordable level,” the mayor said. “In the end, we’re going to work with the council member to see if there is a way to improve the project that would win her support and be more comfortable for the community.”

Note: Leave it to the Mayor to turn popular opposition to BFC Partners into a reason to give them more money from public coffers.

Mayor’s Affordable Housing Not Helping People Who Need it Most, Study Says

In order to make a dent in the homelessness crisis, we must increase the number of units developed for households who earn less than $25,000 a year — households that are not served by the private market,” states the report from the RAFA coalition, which includes groups such as Legal Aid Society, United Neighborhood Houses, and Tenants & Neighbors.

The group, for instance, is critical of the plan for the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights where an entire city-owned block will be used for 386 units of luxury housing while just 18 units would be affordable to the local community earning about $34,000 for a family of three. In order to make a dent in the homelessness crisis, we must increase the number of units developed for households who earn less than $25,000 a year — households that are not served by the private market,” states the report from the RAFA coalition, which includes groups such as Legal Aid Society, United Neighborhood Houses, and Tenants & Neighbors.