City Planning unanimously approves Domino Sugar condo plan

The City Planning Commission has approved Two Trees Management Company’s redevelopment plan for the landmarked Domino Sugar site in Williamsburg.

Two Trees plans to convert the shuttered waterfront factory at 292-314 Kent Avenue into 2,184 apartments and 631,000 square feet of office space.

The approval comes two days after Two Trees’ Jed Walentas agreed to include 537,000 square feet of affordable housing in the 2.9 million-square-foot project, following a push from Mayor Bill de Blasio to increase the allotment from the previously planned 427,000 square feet.

“If you want zoning from us, find a way to contribute to the city,” Commissioner Irwin Cantor told Crain’s. “We’re not asking for hard dollars, we’re asking for concrete, steel, bedrooms, living rooms (and) kitchens.”

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the project in January, but required that architecture firm Beyer Blinder Bell make changes to the glass facade design to make it more visible. The project now awaits approval from the New York City Council, which has until early May to deliberate. [Crain’s] — Angela Hunt