Rose Plaza Gets Political at Borough Hall

For the third time in three weeks, the plan for Rose Plaza—a high-rise development slated for the Williamsburg waterfront—was presented at Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office for public review on Monday evening. Last week, CB1 rejected the plans, with several proposed modifications, after the ULURP Committee voted against the project the week prior. Monday’s hearing, however, brought to light, for the first time, some significant political undertones that have dictated the debate over the plans thus far.
The Rose Plaza development is designated for 470-490 Kent Avenue, the Certified Lumber site, adjacent to Shaffer Landing. The plan calls for three high-rise towers, each with retail space on the bottom floor and approximately 801 units of residential housing, 160—or 20 per cent—of which will be affordable. In addition, Rose Plaza aims to establish 33,000 square feet of public open space, including a waterfront esplanade; 496 below-ground parking spaces for residents of the development and a 9,000-foot extension on N. 11th Street, stretching to the river’s edge.
Much like the community board, and the members of the ULURP Committee, Markowitz voiced his disapproval of 20 percent affordable housing—the bare minimum required for the height variances the developer is seeking, and his misgivings about the practicality of the project given the diverse demographics of the Williamsburg communities.
“These are my appointments on the community board, and they rejected this plan,” Markowitz said. “20 per cent is absolutely unacceptable to me. There need to be fewer studio apartments, more three-bedroom units for families, and you must give some thought to including four bedrooms as well. There is a range of affordability in this neighborhood.”
United Jewish Organizations Executive Director Rabbi David Niederman also voiced his disapproval of the Rose Plaza plan, explaining that “very few people in the communities will be able to afford to live here,” and expressed the dire need for more diverse types of units, including those designed to accommodate families. CB1 member Simon Weiser added, “This plan is an insult to the community board, and to the borough president. They didn’t even change the plan from the one they presented last year.”
Discussion of the Rose Plaza development plan—which was rejected partially on the grounds of providing the minimum amount of affordable housing—prompted mention of the Broadway Triangle rezoning, which was approved by the city council land use committee on Monday and will go to a full council vote sometime before December 21st. Opponents of the Broadway Triangle rezoning claim that it too does not provide the community with the maximum amount of possible affordable housing, much like Rose Plaza, while Broadway Triangle proprietors believe that a comparison between the two projects is inappropriate, considering that Rose Plaza is a private development, while Broadway Triangle is largely comprised of city-owned parcels. Though, the debate surrounding the Broadway Triangle has become politically heated—only two organizations were given permission to develop on the site thus far: United Jewish Organizations and Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council.
“I am here to support this project,” said Rabbi Leib Glanz, a longtime Williamsburg resident. “I know the importance of housing, and I’ve always fought for it. But, there seems to be a double standard with the Broadway Triangle. Whatever has to be done, should be done for the community.”
In response, CB1 member Moishe Elder spoke up, explaining that there are two distinct factions of Hasidic Jews involved—including Rosenberg, Rose Plaza’s developer—and that internal politics are impacting the discussion of the plan.
“There are two communities here,” Elder said, addressing Markowitz. “On one side, there is Rabbi Niederman. On the other side, there is Rabbi Glanz,” to which Markowitz responded, “Your dirty laundry should be discussed in your own community. To everyone else in Brooklyn, you are one, and 99.9 per cent of New York City doesn’t even know what we’re talking about.”