Pratt Center for Community Development

Planning, Building, & Educating for Change.

Pratt Center eNews, Fall 2004

Fall 2004
In this Issue:

A Message from Brad Lander

The outcome of the national election does not bode well for empowering low-income communities to create more equitable, more sustainable futures. But residents of many of those neighborhoods are working hard to do it anyway. Some of my own hope for the future was restored on Tuesday night, at a remarkable community hearing in Greenpoint-Williamsburg where a thousand residents turned out to call for a future with genuinely mixed-income housing, a balanced approach to preserving jobs, and truly public access to their waterfront. Over the past several years, community boards in Bedford- Stuyvesant and West Harlem have brought neighbors together, and this fall approved thoughtful and ambitious plans to guide future development.

Community planning cannot (of course) by itself create communities with less poverty and more justice, less pollution and more parks. Achieving shared and sustainable prosperity will require partners across the political, corporate, not-for-profit, and philanthropic spectrum. But I am inspired by community leaders who approach dark times by trying to light a candle, rather than curse the darkness. We hope you’ll join us in saluting and supporting them.

Best wishes for a Thanksgiving of hope and renewal,

Brad Lander
Director, the Pratt Center

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Bedford-Stuyvesant's 197-a Community Plan

Balanced development proposal builds on community assets


Brownstones in Bedford-Stuyvesant
Three years of extensive community planning – facilitated by the Pratt Center – has resulted in the Bedford-Stuyvesant “197-a plan.” A “197-a” is a comprehensive plan, created by a community board under a provision of the NYC Charter, to guide future development. In September 2004, Community Board 3 unanimously approved the plan, which is now being submitted to the Department of City Planning for formal review.

Community Board 3 partnered with PICCED to facilitate an inclusive, participatory process that allowed a broad range of people to voice their opinions on the future of the neighborhood. The resulting plan builds upon the strong social, economic, and cultural base of Bedford-Stuyvesant in order to promote future development that brings opportunity and vitality to all residents.

The plan takes a balanced approach to development, in order to preserve brownstone streets while encouraging higher-density, mixed-income and mixed- use development in appropriate locations. Other key features are a land acquisition trust to promote affordable housing, efforts to strengthen the community’s cultural heritage, and the ongoing revitalization of Fulton Street.

View the Bedford-Stuyvesant 197-a Plan at www.prattcenter.net/cp-bedstuy.php

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Manhattan Community Board 9's 197-a Plan

Creating a framework for the future


Community Board 9 Meeting
The Pratt Center has been working closely with Community Board 9 in northern Manhattan to craft a comprehensive set of recommendations for Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, and Hamilton Heights – all of which are facing substantial development pressure. The plan was developed through public forums in each of the neighborhoods, analysis by PICCED planners, and the leadership of the community board.

Recommendations include preservation of the historic neighborhoods of Morningside and Hamilton Heights, and a special mixed-use district for Manhattanville. Other priorities are affordable housing, preservation of industrial jobs, and improved environmental quality. The plan was unanimously approved by Community Board 9 at its October meeting and will soon be submitted to the Department of City Planning.

The 197-a plan provides a framework for the community to respond to Columbia University’s proposal to expand in Manhattanville. The community board is calling for an integrated approach which rejects the use of eminent domain, preserves existing businesses and buildings, and features a community-benefits agreement to insure community-accessible parks, access to jobs, affordable housing, and neighborhood services.

View the Community Board 9 197-a Plan at www.prattcenter.net/cp-cb9.php

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Greenpoint-Williamsburg Organizes

Thousands gather to critique the City's plan


Community Board 1 Hearing
Residents of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, under the auspices of Community Board 1, developed their own 197-a plans a decade ago. These plans call for development of the waterfront in a manner which guarantees substantial affordable housing, preservation of viable manufacturing jobs, appropriate height and bulk, and genuine public access to the waterfront.

Unfortunately, the rezoning proposed by the NYC Department of City Planning does too little to meet the community’s goals. It calls for high-rise, luxury residential development on the waterfront, with only modest plans for affordable housing and public waterfront access, and no plan to provide security for manufacturing businesses.

As a result, a thousand residents – organized by community groups including Los Sures, Neighbors Against Garbage, St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, the Greenpoint Clergy Cluster, and Churches United for Fair Housing – turned out for a November 16th Community Board 1 hearing to criticize the City’s plan. They are gathering again tonight for a waterfront vigil. Community Board 1 will vote on the plan in early December, and it will then proceed to be considered by the Borough President, City Planning Commission, and City Council.

Read about the community’s efforts at www.northbrooklynalliance.org, or view PICCED’s testimony at the Nov. 16th hearing at www.prattcenter.net/test-greenpoint.php.

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Make a Year-End gift to PICCED

Help strengthen communities throughout New York City

Before you ring in the New Year, please consider making a year-end charitable gift to PICCED. Your gift will help us continue to support low- and moderate-income communities in pursuit of a just and sustainable future.

To pledge your support, visit www.prattcenter.net/pledgeform.php. We currently can not accept online credit card donations. However, we will gladly accept checks made out to Pratt Institute. Visit our pledge page for information on where to send your contribution. We truly appreciate your support!

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Coming Soon...

In the next few months, the Pratt Center will issue:

… an early stage progress report on the New Markets Tax Credit program. The report will look at some of the funds that have been created, and some of the deals that are in motion. It will provide reflection and recommendations for how the program can best meet its goals to promote community development in low-income neighborhoods.

… a preliminary planning analysis of Forest City Ratner’s proposal for Brooklyn Atlantic Yards. This large-scale redevelopment – which would include 4,500 units of housing, two million square feet of commercial space, and an arena for the Nets basketball franchise – has sparked substantial debate in Brooklyn and beyond. Our analysis will help frame the issues necessary to evaluate the likely public benefits versus costs and impact, and to inform public debate and discussion on the plan.

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