The site of the former Long Island College Hospital is at the center of a rezoning proposal involving developer Fortis Property Group, local residents, and the City Council.
Fortis bought the land, at the northwest corner of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, Along Atlantic Avenue, last Fall for $240 million. Along with the emergency room currently operating there, Fortis has plans on file to develop a 44-story luxury condo without affordable housing on the site. Residents are opposed to the project, but Fortis has the right to build without their consent.
A community coalition led by city council member Brad Lander is attempting to intercede, holding hearings on Fortis’ proposal to have the city rezone the area, Capital New York reported.
Fortis says it would be willing to reduce the size of the luxury tower to 40 stories and move it away from the center of the neighborhood. In place of the 44-story tower in the center of Cobble Hill, Fortis would build a less intrusive 16-story building.
If the city approves the rezoning, the developer also pledged to build a public school and create or rehabilitate almost 30,000 square feet of parkland. A rezoning would automatically trigger 25 to 30 percent of residential units being made affordable.
Still, the plan would allow Fortis to build 892,00 square feet of market rate residential space across the project, rather than the current limit of 542,000 square feet. [Capital NY] – Ariel Stulberg