The Brooklyn Army Terminal Building site
Possible approaches that seek to address the issues:
- Retain existing M2-1 industrial zoning to encourage a return of traditional maritime uses to the waterfront site and create incentives to encourage new industrial and commercial uses to the waterfront site thus creating new local jobs, building and supporting the local economy. The site is currently zoned M2-1 medium manufacturing, which allows retail and commercial
- Amend existing zoning to M1 to allow a variety of uses including light manufacturing at the waterfront site. The aim of M1 zoning, light manufacturing is to protect light manufacturing and to encourage stability and growth in appropriate mixed-use areas by permitting light manufacturing and controlled residential uses to coexist where such uses are deemed compatible. The site is currently zoned M2-1 medium manufacturing, which allows for recreational activity, no new residence or community facilities are permitted.
- To establish a public leisure access to the water’s edge.
- A combination of public and or private investments to renew and reuse the waterfront spaces to develop resources that cater to the social needs of the community and that create social mechanisms that provide opportunities and enable economic regeneration. (A slower but perhaps a more stable manner to approach revitalization with longer term and more equitable results)
- A combination of the above.
- To pursue economic development through property development with public subsidies and private investments. The waterfront site contains two warehouses with the potential for commercial and residential development at market rates, the rebuilding of the piers to create recreational and leisure space. One pier serves as a ferry terminus Lower Manhattan providing ease of access to the site. Economic regeneration would create local jobs in the community. Higher income earners would increase the community’s tax base. Targets include commercial clients, middle and upper income earners, and the tourism market.
Steps in developing the plan
- Establishing the primary client
- Listening to and understanding the needs of the community. Community District Needs 2002-2003.
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Observation of the New York City waterfront revitalization policy to see if the projects proposals are in line with city policy. New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and New York City Waterfront Revitalisation Policy.
- Zoning changes to allow change of use at the waterfront site.
- Securing investment capital from public or private sources.
- Environmental considerations. Is the site protected- wetlands, an environmental hazard- brownfield, or if dredging is required for development.
Involved Parties
- The Sunset Park community- CD 7
- New York City
- New York State
- US federal government
- The property owners-the City of New York
- New York City Department of City Planning
- The New York City Department of Housing
- The New York City Historic Preservation Commission- the building was designed by Cass Gilbert
- Interested investors
Pros and cons of the plans
Retain industrial zoning and encourage a return of traditional maritime uses back to the waterfront site thus creating local jobs.
Department of City planning Policy on Waterfront Revitalisation
Policy 1: Support and facilitate commercial and residential redevelopment in areas well-suited to such development.
Where traditional industrial uses have declined or relocated, many coastal areas offer opportunities for commercial and residential development that would revitalize the waterfront. Benefits of redevelopment include providing new housing opportunities, fostering economic growth, and reestablishing the public's connection to the waterfront. This redevelopment should be encouraged on appropriately located vacant and underused land not needed for other purposes, such as industrial activity or natural resources protection. New activities generated by redevelopment of the coastal area should comply with applicable state and national air quality standards and should be carried out in accordance with zoning regulations for the waterfront.
Policy 9: Protect scenic resources that contribute to the visual quality of the New York City coastal
area.
The intent of Policy 9 is to prevent the impairment of natural and manmade scenic resources in the coastal area.
High quality coastal landscapes may consist of waterbodies, landforms, vegetation and components of the built
environment such as buildings, highways, bridges, piers, and other structures. In New York City, visual quality
and scenic resources are recognized and protected through historic preservation, natural resources protection,
parks and open space planning and acquisition, zoning special districts, waterfront zoning controls on overwater
development, and urban design standards that shape new development.
9.1 Protect and improve visual quality associated with New York City's urban context and the
historic and working waterfront.
A. Ensure that new buildings and other structures are compatible with and add interest to existing
scenic elements, such as landmarks, maritime industry, recreational boating facilities, natural
features, topography, landforms and the botanic environment. Among the measures that may
be considered are grouping or orienting structures to preserve open space and maximize views
to and from the coast, and incorporating sound existing structures into development where
harmonious with their surroundings.
B. Where feasible and practical, provide views of visually interesting elements of waterdependent
uses.
C. New development should be compatible with the scenic elements defining the character of the
area. The New York City Zoning Resolution provides standards for waterfront landscaping.
D. Preserve existing vegetation or establish new vegetation where necessary to enhance scenic
The New Waterfront Revitalization Program 29
quality.
E. Minimize introduction of uses that would be discordant with existing scenic elements, and
screen unattractive aspects of uses that detract from the visual quality of nearby public parks
and waterfront open spaces.
9.2 Protect scenic values associated with natural resources.
A. In the Special Natural Area Districts (SNAD), SNWAs and Recognized Ecological
Complexes, avoid structures or activities that interrupt landscapes, including introduction of
discordant elements. such as intrusive artificial light sources, fragmentation of and structural
intrusion into open space areas, and changes to the continuity and configuration of natural
shorelines and associated vegetation.
B. In SNADs, SNWAs and Recognized Ecological Complexes, design new development to
complement the scenic character of natural resources. Minimize and screen discordant
elements which cannot be inconspicuously located.
Policy 10: Protect, preserve and enhance resources significant to the historical, archaeological, and
cultural legacy of the New York City coastal area.
Archaeological sites and historic structures are tangible links to the past generations, events and cultures
associated with New York City's coastal area. The intent of this policy is to protect, preserve, and revitalize
those historic, archaeological, and cultural resources that have a coastal relationship or significance. All
projects involving historic and archaeological resources need to comply with national, state, and local laws and
regulations regarding designated historical resources, specifically New York City Administrative Code §25-
303, and pertaining to the discovery, investigation, and recovery of archaeological resources.
10.1 Retain and preserve designated historic resources and enhance resources significant to the
coastal culture of New York City.
A. Protect designated historic resources, including those structures, landscapes, districts, areas, sites, or underwater structures that are listed or designated as follows:
• any historic resource in a federal, state, or city park established, solely or in part, to
protect and preserve the resource;
• any resources listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places;
• any resource designated as a New York City Landmark or Historic District; and
• any resource that is a significant component of the New York City Urban Cultural
Park.
B. Protect resources, including those nor listed or identified in 10.1 A, which are related to the historical use and development of the waterfront, including shipwrecks, lighthouses and other aids to maritime navigation, points of entry and embarkation, and structures related to the defense of the Port of New York.
C. Foster efficient and compatible use of historic resources to maximize retention of the historic character and minimize their alteration.