City Council greenlights Greenpoint Landing

Bloomberg-era development projects are moving right along, with Two Trees Management’s Domino Sugar proposal getting the thumbs up from Community Board 1 and City Council passing Greenpoint Landing Associate’s controversial 10-tower Greenpoint Landing plan.

CB 1, in its advisory vote, recommended a few changes to the Domino plan, such as adding more three-bedrooms to the affordable units and designing more offerings for residents making 30 percent of the area’s median income. The board also asked that Two Trees give preference to area businesses when doling out the retail space.

“After more than a year of outreach and collaboration with local leaders, the community board vote makes it clear that neighborhood residents strongly prefer our new vision for Domino to the existing zoning,” Two Trees’ Director of Special Projects David Lombino told Brownstoner.

Two Trees will also be working to guarantee 660 units of “integrated affordable housing” and other community demands throughout the public approval process, he said.

The City Council similarly pressed for promises from Greenpoint Landing developers, upon which the latter promised to provide a site for an elementary school and to operate a free shuttle between the complex and public transportation. An additional 431 permanently affordable units were also part of the deal, available to families earning from 40 to 120 percent of the area’s median income. Greenpoint Landing Associates will also donate a total of $5.5 million to expand Newtown Barge Park.

The community board had previously voted down the Greenpoint Landing proposal, citing a need for more affordable and senior housing. [Brownstoner] — Julie Strickland