The Repurposing of the Armory at Bedford and UNION

I concur. http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170918/OPINION/170919895

"De Blasio indicated that Laurie Cumbo's 16-point defeat of Ede Fox in Tuesday's Democratic primary was a positive sign for his and BFC Partners' designs to renovate the Bedford-Union Armory. The developer's proposal calls for a mix of market-rate and below-market housing, with the former effectively subsidizing the latter and a new recreation center in the long-vacant structure." http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170915/REAL_ESTATE/170919920

http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/7232-can-redevelopment-of-the-bedford-union-armory-be-saved

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20171030/crown-heights/city-planning-commission-vote-approves-bedford-union-armory-development City planning commission approved the project, voting 11-1 in favor.

Rick656 said:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20171030/crown-heights/city-planning-commission-vote-approves-bedford-union-armory-development City planning commission approved the project, voting 11-1 in favor.

Wow. What a difference pre- and post- election!

City Planning has always been in favor of this project. It is an entity under the Mayor's control and focused on the economic health of NYC. ...whereas CB9 is none of the above. https://commercialobserver.com/2017/10/controversial-bedford-union-armory-development-sails-through-planning-commission/

I bet Cumbo, who originally supported the project and won the primary with construction union suppport, will vote for the project as long as the City throws in some funds and the developer agrees to build a few additional units of affordable housing.

The armory debate/battle is now the subject of a documentary: https://www.facebook.com/events/384445521998191/

Rebecca provides some additional insight: https://commercialobserver.com/2017/11/armory-conflict-is-the-mayor-willing-to-kill-a-development-over-subsidies/ "A handful of developers submitted proposals, including Triangle Equities, Steiner NYC, RBH Group and a partnership between Jonathan Rose Companies and Poko Partners, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request. All of the bids included housing and community space. But each team came armed with its own ideas for retail and commercial portions of the complex. Steiner pitched a Brooklyn outpost for the artsy, Berlin-based Michelberger Hotel with a performing arts space and greenhouse. RBH proposed a WeWork, an aeroponic (soilless) farm and an Eataly, as well as public gardens and a farmer’s market. Triangle floated a grocery store, a New York Sports Club and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema."

The condos might be toast: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/city-ditch-plan-turn-armory-luxury-condos-article-1.3633293 ...which means some other source of funding will be needed to subsidize the rec center.

https://twitter.com/MichaelCorleyNY/status/930642003519516672

Some politicians dream of being exempt from pesky ULURP. http://www.citylandnyc.org/council-eases-ulurp-requirements-certain-government-officials/

Finally, after years of inaction and debate, a deal is reached: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/city-council-strikes-deal-approve-bedford-union-armory-project-article-1.3648721

Cut from a press release from Diana Richardson:

Cumbo declaring it a win: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Cumbo-Announces-Major-Wins-at-Bedford-Union-Armory.html?soid=1116258586297&aid=mxTPA1l_rwg

Please tell me what a family of three means. Does it mean up to three people in the household? Of course, it doesn't mean only exactly 3 right?

It should be thought of much like the familiar "poverty level" statistics. In this case the average median income for a family of 3 has been determined to be $85,900. Hence, a family making 60% of AMI is making $51,540. (when it is all said and done, they will agree on an income range of say $49,000 - $53,000). Meaning that if you have a family of 3 and your income is in that range, you can be one of the literally tens of thousands who is able to enter the lottery for the 152 apartments. [if you have a larger or smaller family, your income range will be different, because your family size has a different AMI]

"Nixing the market-rate homes and lowering the rents will likely require city taxpayers to contribute tens of millions of dollars in subsidies to make the project economically viable." http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20171121/REAL_ESTATE/171129966

"The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Development Corporation agreed to contribute $50 million in funding for the affordable housing part of the project, according to a spokesman for the New York City Economic Development Corporation." https://commercialobserver.com/2017/11/bedford-union-armory-gains-more-affordable-housing-and-wins-key-council-vote/

Sigh.. "The divisive Bedford-Union Armory’s rocky path to approval got even rougher on Tuesday, as the Legal Aid Society announced it would be filing a lawsuit against the plan." https://therealdeal.com/2017/11/28/legal-aid-society-is-also-trying-to-kill-the-bedford-union-armory-project/

Legal Aid is going to have a tough time winning. They will be successful only in delaying the project, with the result being that there is more time for all the people who would have gotten CB preference for the affordable units to get displaced out of the district and even further from a shot at being able to stay in their neighborhood in a brand-new, rent-stabilized, affordable apartment. Nice work, Legal Aid.

https://patch.com/new-york/prospectheights/residents-sue-stop-bedford-union-armory-redevelopment Reasons Why Legal Aid Society Will Lose: 1. The court will say that it is properly up to the legislature to make factual determinations about how to determine rates of potential tenant displacement, not the courts. 2. Correlation of development does not equal causation of tenant displacement.

I read somewhere that the judge did not issue a stay, but didn't bother to link it. Here's the step the city took as a result of the process not being stayed: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/11/30/city-council-vote-approves-volatile-bedford-union-armory-redevelopment-brooklyn

I would love to know about it when an event happens there! What kind of concerts have they had? It' be so nice not to have to go to Williamsburg and Manhattan every time!

@RhettB - There are places to see live music in the neighborhood. The Owl is on Rogers Avenue (www.theowlnyc.com), as well as KD's at 408 Rogers Avenue. Also, on Thursdays, The Breukelen has live jazz music (710 Nostrand Avenue).

In terms of the armory, while I'm happy the project is moving forward as an immediate neighbor I'm concerned about the lack of conversation about asbestos and lead in the building. The fact that DNA info has vanished doesn't bode well for these types of conversations, but still. How can I get attention to these important potentially adverse effects?

yesbrooklyn said:

In terms of the armory, while I'm happy the project is moving forward as an immediate neighbor I'm concerned about the lack of conversation about asbestos and lead in the building. The fact that DNA info has vanished doesn't bode well for these types of conversations, but still. How can I get attention to these important potentially adverse effects?

You can try hitting up Bklyner (while it's still in existence).

That's probably a good question for Council Member Cumbo.

I choose instead to have faith in NYC DOB. I force myself to believe that their staff is not corrupt, that their testing methods are sound, and that they have the actual power to protect the public in the event that real dangers exist.