Dock Street Project Progresses Through ULURP: Borough President to Render Decision Soon
The “Dock Street Dumbo” project, an 18-story mixed-use tower proposed for next to the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO, is going through ULURP after having been approved by Brooklyn Community Board 2 a few weeks ago. The project is the second attempt by prominent local developers, Two Trees, to build on the site. The first effort was abandoned four years ago in the face of fierce local opposition, centering around the effect the project would have on the Brooklyn Bridge 70 feet away, which would be to essentially block it off from the upland view. Two Trees has enlarged the development site to pull the building 15 feet further away from the bridge than it was before and has offered to build a middle school for 300 students on the site, as well as providing 65 affordable residential units (out of a total of 325). The building is also intended to be built under the LEED certification program. In exchange for these concessions, Two Trees is seeking a zoning change to development this project; currently they would only be allowed to build an approximately 40-foot tall manufacturing building.
HDC joins our colleagues in the Brooklyn Heights Association, the Dumbo Neighborhood Association and the Fulton Ferry Landing Association in vigorously opposing this proposal. The building is too bulky, too tall and too massive for the site – it would obscure views from and of the Brooklyn Bridge and actually visually overpower the bridge’s tower. Furthermore, it would loom above the basin of Dumbo’s medium-rise historic buildings like a mountain. Finally, this proposal flies in the face of a decade of community-based planning initiatives, which started with the inclusion of Dumbo on the State and National Registers and has culminated in a community-sponsored rezoning proposal which would allow for reasonable and appropriate development on this site.
On Tuesday, Borough President Marty Markowitz held a hearing on the project, at which a large majority of speakers spoke out against it. President Markowitz has stated that he will be making his decision soon (he was opposed to the 2004 proposal). We’re asking all our Friends to write a brief note to President Markowitz ([email protected]) and say:
“Please don’t allow this enormous development to block the Brooklyn Bridge and overwhelm Dumbo. A reasonable, profitable development can happen on this site which can provide a school and affordable housing without sacrificing Brooklyn’s greatest icon.”
Make sure to copy this message to local Council member David Yassky ([email protected]) who’s been a strong supporter of the community on this, as well as [email protected]. Together we can make a difference and save the Brooklyn Bridge!