If you haven't yet, do check out the proposed zoning changes in the neighborhood (though basically bordering Borough Park, folks are expected to use the Church Avenue F stop):
At the request of local elected officials, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of City Planning (DCP) are requesting approval of several actions to facilitate the Culver El Proposal. The Proposal would map lower- , mid-density and contextual zoning districts on all or portions of seven blocks to recognize the existing mix of uses in the area and facilitate the development of 68 units of affordable housing and 48 accessory parking spaces for neighborhood community facilities on two parcels of city-owned land in the Greenwood Heights section of Brooklyn’s Community District 12.
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The Proposal area is generally bounded by 36th Street on the north, 14th Avenue to the east, 40th Street to the south, and 12th Avenue to the west. The Proposal area includes two parcels of city-owned land which are part of the former right-of-way of the Culver Elevated Shuttle and which are proposed to be disposed of to facilitate the development of affordable housing and community facility parking as part of this project.
The proposed actions include: a zoning map amendment, a zoning text amendment to establish a Special Mixed Use District, an Urban Development Action Area and Project Designation, a disposition of two parcels of city-owned land, and special permits for development within or over a railroad or transit right-of-way.
Concurrent with the review of these applications, the HPD-selected developer of the city-owned parcels proposes to file an application for a variance at the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals to seek relief from section 23-861 (General Provisions, Minimum Distance Between Legally Required Windows and Walls or Lot Lines) and section 23-47 (Minimum Required Rear Yards) of the New York City Zoning Resolution.
The rezoning is currently undergoing public review, and CB 12 has until July 12 to provide comments:
The Culver El Proposal began formal public review on May 10, 2010 with the Department of City Planning’s Certification of the Uniform Land Use Review (ULURP)applications (C 100345 ZMK and N 100346 ZRK, C 100347 HAK, C 100348 ZSK – C 100361 ZSK).
Milestones
Target Dates
Department of City Planning Certification
May 10, 2010
Community Board 12 Review
Must be completed by July 19, 2010
Brooklyn Borough President Review
30 days
City Planning Commission Review
60 days
City Council Review
50 days
For more information about this proposal please contact the Brooklyn Office of the Department of City Planning at (718)780-8280.
I'm curious why they could not squeeze in some green public space with the rezoning and "a disposition of two parcels of city-owned land".