Downtown Brooklyn rezoning effects criticized

When the city rezoned Downtown Brooklyn in 2004 its stated goal was to encourage office construction that would help New York compete with New Jersey for jobs. Now that developers are taking advantage of the new laws to build high-rise residential buildings, like the one that will replace Albee Square Mall, advocacy groups such as Families United for Racial and Economic Equality are criticizing the city for a failed plan. A couple years ago community groups complained that the bank offices coming into the area would displace long-time residents and businesses by causing drastic increases in land values while not providing jobs for locals. Many of these groups now argue that condominiums don’t bring jobs at all. more [Gotham Gazette]

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