Brooklyn Neighbors Split Over Fourth Avenue Apartment Tower

BROOKLYN, NY — Neighbors remained divided Thursday about whether a partly-affordable apartment tower proposed on Fourth Avenue would worsen the neighborhood's housing crisis, or make needed steps towards fixing it.

The 737 Fourth Ave. application — which proposes rezoning a lot near 25th Street to build a 14-story, mixed-use complex — had 46 speakers split just about evenly during its first public hearing with Community Board 7.

Despite a rally against the project earlier this week, many neighbors speaking Thursday said they agree with developers that the 33 or so affordable units included in the project are an important contribution to a neighborhood starving for low-cost housing options.

The affordable spots will be a 30 percent increase in the number of affordable units built in Community Board 7, which extends from Sunset Park to Windsor Terrace, in the last six years, according to developers and the Fifth Avenue Committee.

"This is exactly the time we should be supporting projects that commit to affordable housing, especially if the alternative is a parking lot," said Sunset Park resident Craig Schoenbaum. "I don’t believe any one project can solve the housing crisis we’re going through right now, but it’s really important to recognize the ones that are contributing to the solution."

The Fourth Avenue building plans to build 135 one-to-three bedroom apartments, 25 percent of which will be designated "affordable" under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.

But opponents of the project remained firm Thursday that the 75 percent of market-rate units are too high a price to pay for the batch of affordable spots.

"Some people say it’s better than nothing…but I think it’s a very high price to pay for a small number of allegedly affordable apartments for our neighborhood," said Elena Schwolsky, who lives on 44th Street.

Many who are opposed to the project pointed to the need for a larger, city or nonprofit-led plans to tackle the housing crisis, including converting empty hotels to affordable housing or creating a community land trust.

They contend only 100-percent affordable buildings can stave off gentrification caused by new, higher-income residents moving to the neighborhood and driving up rent costs. Sunset Park has grown by nearly 18,000 residents between 2010 and 2018, according to the FAC report.

Supporters of the Fourth Avenue project, though, argued that those solutions would require subsidies or funding unlikely from a coronavirus-stricken city budget.

Totem, the developers of the project, have said 100-percent affordability would make a financial return infeasible given the $14 million they spent on the land.

"I know a lot of folks would like to see 100 percent affordable housing here — quite frankly, in our hearts, we do too," Principal Tucker Reed said. "Unfortunately we paid market rate for this land and there are no subsidy programs available to us to provide that."

The developers have contended they have "stretched the building" for as many community benefits as possible, including eliminating studio units, lowering some of the affordable units to a $500 monthly rent and adding an agreement for the MTA to build an elevator for the 25th Street station.

Below the apartments the building will include retail, underground parking and sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements, which some supporters pointed to Thursday as a needed facelift for the underdeveloped street corner.

The 737 Fourth Ave. project will face Community Board 7's Land Use/Landmarks Committee on Monday before heading to the full board on Wednesday. The proposal will then head to the Brooklyn Borough President, who has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 30.

Read More

• 'Who Is This For?': BK Neighbors Rally Against Fourth Ave Tower
• Developers Plan 14-Story Affordable Housing Complex On Fourth Ave