City Council OKs 55-block Crown Heights rezoning

Park Place in Crown Heights, and Council Member Albert Vann
Park Place in Crown Heights, and Council Member Albert Vann

The City Council signed off yesterday on a 55-block rezoning of the western section of Crown Heights.

The rezoning, which Community Board 8 had recommended, will allow for new development on Bedford and Franklin avenues, but will limit the properties’ height. Residential developers who choose to include affordable units will receive an incentive.

A group of Former Occupy Wall Street members known as the Crown Heights Assembly pushed for a “no-harassment zone,” where landlords would face increased penalties for intimidating tenants, and mandatory affordable housing. But the council did not include those requests in what was approved.

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The Crown Heights Assembly had created an online petition shortly before the City Planning Commission approved the rezoning plan in August. The area affected by the changes is bounded by Eastern Parkway to the south, Grand Avenue to the west and Nostrand Avenue to the east.

Council Member Al Vann supported the plan, but said more could be done to make housing “truly affordable to individuals at the median income level” in Crown Heights, Brownstoner reported. [Brownstoner]Mark Maurer