Construction, building workers’ unions slam Seward Park developer choices

Rendering of Broome Street section of Essex crossing
Rendering of Broome Street section of Essex crossing

Leaders of local construction and building worker unions have panned the city’s selection of developers to overhaul nine parcels that make up the the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area.

Hector Figueroa and Gary La Barbera, representing 32BJ SEIU and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, respectively, aired concerns about the labor practices of L&M Development Partners, BFC Partners, Taconic Investment Partners And Grand Street Settlement.

“Although the overall plan for the redevelopment of Seward Park is promising, we have serious concerns about the labor records of the developers selected to implement,” they said in a joint statement. “It is crucial that the jobs created by this project pay decent wages and offer job training that provides a career path and keeps workers safe.”

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

The Seward Park plan calls for 1,000 housing units, half of which are to be affordable, a large swath of Commercial Space And A New Essex Street Market.

Figueroa and La Barbera went on to urge both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the next mayoral administration to “stand up for good jobs, high-road development and a level playing field for responsible employers.” — Julie Strickland