The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

mugofmead111

Ooo, partnering with Geoff Davis and First Baptist? Hard to stop that machine...

What does anyone have against First Bsptist?

crownheightster

I don't have anything against it. I was just noting that it interesting that BFC is co-sponsoring an event with them. First Baptist is arguably the most powerful church in Central Brooklyn, a real seat of power for the Democratic party in Brooklyn.  And Geoff Davis and the legacy of James E. Davis loom large. BFC is making a power move along with First Baptist. 

whynot_31

I wonder which entity Mr Davis approached first: BFC or First Baptist?

yesbrooklyn

Am I missing something?  How is BFC is involved in this event?  Bedford Courts and BFC are two very separate things.

And what is WIADCA?

whynot_31

WIADCA = http://wiadcacarnival.org

BFC is the developer behind the thin veneer known as Bedford Courts. 

http://bfcnyc.com/portfolio/bedford-courts/

yesbrooklyn

Geez I didn't realize Bedford Courts was BFC.  Thought Bedford Courts was Carmelo Anthony's organization - since disbanded.  They co-opted the name?

Wondering also if this is the case, seems they're all in bed with each other and this rec center will actually get built?!

whynot_31

BFC recruited, and then lost Carmelo Anthony.

BFC will build the rec center if the housing is "allowed to be" profitable enough..   

If "the community proponents" force BFC to only build unprofitable/affordable housing, then nothing will be be built because their won't be a large enough $ to allow for profit and subsidize the rec center.

The rec center won't happen without a subsidy. 

whynot_31

We now return to the media being sent out by BFC:

http://files.constantcontact.com/3d484e69501/0f3f862e-d9a8-47fb-94da-cb1a4352fd04.pdf

dmiami2

Some more press...  I'm not sure who the Editors at Crains are but I know they share the same ideas about Empire boulevard as others in the community pushing for re-zoning.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20161108/BLOGS04/161109884/bedford-armory-deal-faces-mounting-pressure-from-brooklyn-pols

whynot_31

Note, the term "environment" is not defined. Hence, the scoping study does not have to focus on what the opponents of this project seem primarily focused on, "gentrification contagion"

Quote:

Positive Declaration and Public Scoping

Kings County (Brooklyn) - The New York City Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Bedford Union Armory Project may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. Written comments on the draft scope will be accepted until February 10, 2017. A public scoping session will be held on January 26, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dr. Gladstone H. Atwell M.S. 061, 400 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11225.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, in coordination with Bedford Courts LLC, is seeking a series of discretionary approvals to facilitate the redevelopment of the historic Bedford Union Armory located at 1555 Bedford Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York into an approximately 542,393 gross square feet three building mixed-use development. Specifically, the redevelopment would result in approximately 390 residential dwelling units (DUs), including approximately 177 affordable DUs; up to 48,997 gross square feet of office space; up to 18,122 gross square feet of academic space; approximately 72,252 gross square feet of community facility space; and a minimum of 118 parking spaces. Should the 18,122 gross square feet of academic space be determined infeasible, 25 additional DUs (including 14 affordable DUs) would be incorporated into the Proposed Development in lieu of the 18,122 gross square feet of academic space.
The Applicant is seeking discretionary approvals including the disposition of City-owned property, zoning map and text amendments, and special permits to facilitate the Proposed Development. The analysis build year for this project is 2020.

Contact: Esther Brunner, New York City Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, 253 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Phone: (212) 6763203, E-mail: [email protected].

whynot_31

The views of the local politicians have not changed:
http://www.kingscountypolitics.com/elected-officials-op-ed-public-owned-bedford-armory-100-affordable/

They seem to have decided it is in their best interests to lose while asking for more.

If they get to choose between a rec center and non-subsidized housing, I suspect we'd get subsidized housing and a usually closed, unrenovated rec center.

whynot_31

NY1 interviews the politicians:

http://fw.to/2PicwB

yesbrooklyn

Meeting tonight at Medgar Evans 6:30pm!

whynot_31

press from said mtg:

 http://newyorkyimby.com/2017/02/potential-hud-cuts-under-trump-threaten-bedford-union-armory-affordable-housing.html

b_funk

here's a video of the meeting.  https://cmlauriecumbo.wordpress.com/2017/02/08/recap-status-update-on-the-bedford-union-armory-part-1/ 

sounds like there is some awesome programming planned for the space.  as expected there was some fireworks from some members of the community.  around 37:30 in someone asks alicia to settle down.  is that alicia boyd of the mtopp?  some good stuff in her airbnb profile...https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/4937803 (sunny personality, plugging barclays center, travels to bali). 

i'm really starting to lose the train of the opposition -- it seems like she wants the programming to be free for community members.  seems very disingenuous to insist on 100% affordable housing and then ask if all the programming and space will be free.  it's also really frustrating that the presenters aren't even able to get through their presentations.  per his intro (in case you don't sit through the whole thing) the gentleman who was being repeatedly interrupted is from the boys and girls club of new rochelle and has been working with BFC to help with youth programming at the armory.  i understand fighting about affordability levels and job creation, etc, but i'm really at a loss as to how someone who actually cares about the community can get all up in bunch over providing low cost enrichment opportunities to kids -- what is her problem?  

whynot_31

We now return to the approval process. The next step, "scoping" takes place on March 7th.

 Positive Declaration and Public Scoping (Rescheduled) Kings County (Brooklyn) - The New York City Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Bedford Union Armory Project may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. A public scoping session has been rescheduled for March 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ebbets Field Middle School 352, 46 McKeever Place, Brooklyn, NY 11225. Written comments on the draft scope will now be accepted until March 17, 2017. The New York City Economic Development Corporation, in coordination with Bedford Courts LLC, is seeking a series of discretionary approvals to facilitate the redevelopment of the historic Bedford Union Armory located at 1555 Bedford Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, into an approximately 542,393 gross square foot three-building mixed-use development. Specifically, the redevelopment would result in approximately 390 residential dwelling units (DUs), including approximately 177 affordable DUs; up to 48,997 gross square foot of office space; up to 18,122 gross square foot of academic space; approximately 72,252 gross square foot of community facility space; and a minimum of 118 parking spaces. Should the 18,122 gross square foot of academic space be determined infeasible, 25 additional DUs (including 14 affordable DUs) would be incorporated into the Proposed Development in lieu of the 18,122 gross square foot of academic space. The Applicant is seeking discretionary approvals including the disposition of City-owned property, zoning map and text amendments, and special permits to facilitate the Proposed Development. The analysis build year for this project is 2020. Contact: Esther Brunner, New York City Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, 253 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Phone: (212) 676-3203, E-mail: [email protected].

whynot_31

In a display of their savvy, Bedford Courts has begun the process of forming soccer teams. This will likely bolster their image among local children, parents, school teachers and politicians.

...throwing the ball back to the politicians.

yesbrooklyn

Protests occured this week in front of the armory with the usual people, claiming things such as "this is our land" and encouraging others to "take it back."  

I'm not sure if there's anyway to direct message me on this sight, but I'm putting together something for Laurie Cumbo in order to show my support for the project moving forward.  If any one else is interested and wants to show there's solidarity on the "pro" side of moving forward, please let me know.  Power in numbers.  Thanks

whynot_31

The folks against the project need to find some city, state, federal or private funding if they want their demands of greater affordability met.

...because they are unable to do this, they seem to have no focus.

 

crownheightster

I'm down for joining with @yesbrooklyn

b_funk

Ditto for me @crownheightser and @yesbrooklyn.  

yesbrooklyn

Thanks @b_funk and @crownheightster Will direct message you.  And @whynot_31, regardless of their lack of focus besides their general antipathy they can still kill the deal.

yesbrooklyn

https://neighborhoodsquare.com/n/item/4xlo?node_id=793313&_=1488248776941&prompt=bottom&node_id=793313

Regarding Alicia Boyd, see comments in article above.  

whynot_31

The ULURP scoping session on March 7th is poised to be either a Jerry Springer episode, or a snooze fest.

If I am in the mood, I might attend.

Marco555

whynot_31 said:

The ULURP scoping session on March 7th is poised to be either a Jerry Springer episode, or a snooze fest. If I am in the mood, I might attend.

Hmm when's that session?

whynot_31

Discussed in my Feb 16th post, above:

"A public scoping session has been rescheduled for March 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ebbets Field Middle School 352, 46 McKeever Place, Brooklyn, NY 11225"

A lot of the local politicians have been advertising the event.

I predict 5 underpaid reporters, 100 local residents, 25 politicians and their staffers, and employees of BFC and EDC.

yesbrooklyn

I'll be there

whynot_31

To prepare for the mtg, BFC has contracted with a local development corporation.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170301/REAL_ESTATE/170229876/nonprofit-joins-push-for-crown-heights-armory-project-opposed-by

Every move is designed to make the opponents of the project look like out of touch marxist idealists.

...is it working?

 

crownheightster

Marxists at least have a coherent ideology. 

mugofmead111

It'd be interesting to see what the final, realistic budget for this project would be.