NEW YORK | Greenpoint Landing | 10+ Towers | 400 FT+

[NYguy]

http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=6674

The Titans Cometh
Mammoth mixed-use developments get underway on Greenpoint, Brooklyn waterfront.





5.29.2013

Plans for the development of the Greenpoint, Brooklyn, waterfront have been simmering on the backburner since the 2005 rezoning that opened previously industrial land to mixed-use purposes and increased allowable building heights. Now, the heat’s been turned up. On May 6, before a crowd of local residents, developers unveiled two significant projects set to rise along the edge of Newtown Creek: the colossal Greenpoint Landing project and the development at 77 Commercial Street.

Park Tower Group, the developer of Greenpoint Landing, detailed their plans to build more than twenty towers on a 22-acre site. Most of the 30- to 40-story buildings, comprising 5,500 apartments, will be market rate with nearly 1,500-units reserved for affordable housing.

“Greenpoint Landing will reconnect this vibrant neighborhood to the waterfront, said Gary E. Handel, president of Handel Architects, which is designing the project. “Urban design, architecture, and landscape [led by James Corner Field Operation] all share a common goal, which is to make a development that links into existing neighborhood fabric, brings it down to the waterfront, and then ties into the beautiful necklace of parks that is arising on the Brooklyn waterfront.”

While the bulk of the development is residential, it will also include retail, a public school for Pre K through 8th grade, and more than a mile of promenades along the water. Handel plans on using materials, such as brick, stone, concrete, and metal, which draw upon “the industrial heritage of the site.”

A number of community members, however, expressed their concern about the integration of affordable housing in the development. Others questioned whether the already limited transit in the area could handle a growing population of commuters, and how these developments would withstand rising sea levels and flooding.

“The sense that I got from that meeting is that people are upset or discontent with aspects of the 2005 rezoning and they want to be able to voice that,” said Councilman Stephen Levin. “The fact of the matter is the zoning went through in 2005. That was eight years ago. Greenpoint Landing has a significant as of right footprint. If folks want to have an impact and work on convincing the developer to adopt or enter into conversation about these issues, they have to be organized.”

Regardless of objections from the community, Park Tower is moving full speed ahead. They will enter a 6-month Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) this June and begin construction by end of 2013 or beginning of 2014.