Just a few short weeks ago, we hosted a community forum on the new proposed development plan for the Domino Sugar Factory property by the current owners, Two Trees. We have been engaged in a lot of thought, a lot of discourse, and a lot of good conversations with forces both in favor and against the new plan. A lot of people have been asking our opinion and while it is too early to put out an official statement since we tend to do that during the hearings that are a part of the official ULURP process, we would like to share our thoughts on the plan so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NAG calls on the City to work with Two Trees and bring the new new Domino plan forward for formal public review.\u00a0We believe that the Two Trees proposal is an improvement on the existing approval in many ways, and we encourage Two Trees to continue to work with the community to make further improvements. The City should pursue these changes, working with the developer and the Williamsburg community to ensure that all promises to the community are enforceable and transferable to any future owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2010, NAG opposed the Domino rezoning because the proposed density was an unsustainable burden on our community and because the developer\u2019s promises were not backed by sufficient guarantees. The density proposed in 2010 was higher than that approved for the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Rezoning and could cause a series of unmitigated community impacts, including a reduction in per capita open space, year-round shadow impacts on our local park, excessive waivers to provide additional parking, large-footprint neighborhood-unfriendly retail, and added burdens to our already over-taxed public transit system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite our opposition, the rezoning was approved. The primary community benefit, 660 units of affordable housing, was not guaranteed \u2013 a fact that became sadly relevant when the previous developer ran into financial trouble and was forced to sell the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, a new developer \u2013 Two Trees Management \u2013 has acquired the property and proposes to change the zoning. The choice presented to the community is the previous flawed zoning with its unenforceable promises, or a new plan that, in our view, addresses some of the flaws of the previous zoning. The Two Trees plan does not correct the central flaw of the density of the 2010 approval, and it does add considerable height to the development as a trade-off for improvements in other areas. However, based on what we have heard to date, these trade-offs could lead to a better plan for the community. In our view, the Two Trees proposal appears to make significant improvements over the existing zoning in the following areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, this is not an endorsement of the Two Trees plan \u2013 that plan is still in formation, and there are many details yet to be worked out. An endorsement of the plan itself is something that can only come with more information and a clear idea of the commitments behind their plan. However, we do recognize that Two Trees has proposed significant and meaningful changes to the existing approval, changes that we believe the City and the community should give full and careful consideration to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"