Government Briefs

EDC takes Brooklyn Marine Terminal

The city Economic Development Corp. will take over the vacant Brooklyn Marine Terminal along the waterfront in Sunset Park, following an agreement between the city and local City Council member Carlos Menchaca, to develop the site. In January the city  abandoned plans for the waterfront property because Menchaca was aiming for too much control over the project, but the council member eventually re-entered negotiations with the city, the Wall Street Journal reported.  EDC could potentially lease 72 acres of the site to a shipping or marine-cargo tenant, a move that could bring hundreds of high-wage industrial and manufacturing jobs to the district.

Fire escapes going extinct

The classic New York City outdoor fire escape is disappearing, thanks to efforts to restore buildings and rethinking about the best way to save people from a burning building. Fireproof interior stairwells are now seen as a better emergency exit, the New York Post reported. Many of the fire escapes attached to buildings were added in the early 20th century, after laws were passed following the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which killed 146 people. A 1968 building code law essentially banned exterior fire escapes for new buildings, as buildings got taller and fire detectors became more common. Now older buildings are having their fire escapes removed amid renovations, as long as building owners can prove there is a safe way to exit.

Gracie Mansion

Asbestos found in Gracie Mansion roof

Asbestos removal was scheduled to begin at Gracie Mansion in April, following the discovery of the potentially cancer-causing material in the mansion’s roof. Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family plan to remain in the residence during the removal, as it has been deemed safe for them to stay, the Associated Press reported. The $250,000 contract for removal was awarded to Regional Management Inc. Replacing the landmark’s 30-year-old roof follows several emergency patches throughout the winter months. The complete repairs will cost closer to $3.4 million, city officials said.

Rezoning sparks gentrification fears

The city has promised to build up to 7,000 new affordable housing units as part of the plan to rezone East New York, in an effort to avoid gentrification in the area, DNAInfo reported. The plans include turning Atlantic Avenue, from North Conduit Boulevard to Jamaica Avenue, into a dynamic space with buildings reaching 12 stories and shopping services, city officials stated. The Department of City Planning proposal aims to preserve the neighborhood’s character with low-scale duplexes and row houses permitted throughout the area. The massive development plan will also consider the relative income of residents, in an effort to avoid large-scale gentrification.  Compiled by Andrea Cetra