Opponents of a city plan to demolish seven Downtown Brooklyn homes that might have been part of the Underground Railroad spoke out at a public hearing yesterday. Councilwoman Letitia James said the Economic Development Corp. is “an agency that has no oversight and does not take social or historical impacts into consideration.” A city study found that the there was no conclusive evidence that the historic Duffield Street homes were used to move runaway slaves. The homes, 40 rent-stabilized apartments and businesses would be cleared to make way for Willoughby Square Park and 700 underground parking spaces. Nearby, developers with plans for a 22-story boutique hotel just closed on 237 Duffield Street for $9.5 million. [AMNY] and [Brownstoner]