Agreement will create 16,000 square-foot publicly accessible open space
City to acquire 50,000 square feet of cultural space

Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn:
“Back in 2004, the Council took preliminary steps to help grow the burgeoning neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. We took this action because it was a part of a larger vision — a vision to make the areas surrounding the Brooklyn Academy of Music the primary cultural district in Brooklyn. With today’s approval of the BAM South project, we are one step closer to realizing that vision.

“This approval will allow for the development of a new mixed-use building with city-owned cultural facilities, residential use including 60 units of affordable housing, and more than 22,000 square feet of retail and 16,000 square feet of public open space. The development will be located on the triangular block, bounded by Flatbush and Lafayette Avenues and Ashland Place in Downtown Brooklyn.”

Statement by Council Member Letitia James:
“I am pleased to again offer my support to BAM South, a project which will offer significant affordable housing to the Fort Greene community. I have always supported Two Trees’ vision for the project, and I believe it was important to ensure the project included significant community benefits such as increased affordable housing, maintaining the Pacific Street library, a commitment that cultural organizations utilizing the space will reflect the diversity of this community, and assurance that future utilization of the open space includes the input of all stakeholders. Two Trees has further recognized the importance of paying union working prevailing wages, and I congratulate them for exceeding WMBE contractor requirements in the development of this project. I believe that this plan will be successful for the Cultural District, and beneficial to the Downtown Brooklyn community.”

Specifically this project will benefit the downtown Brooklyn community by providing:

Affordable Housing:
This land use action will facilitate the development of a 32-story building containing approximately 300 residential units, 60 of which will be affordable to families making less than 50% of the Area Median Income (A.M.I). The tower would rise to 382 feet and add to Brooklyn’s iconic skyline.

Cultural Space:
The proposed building will include a new public library, movie theaters to expand the nearby BAM Cinemas, and performance space for cultural organizations on the second, third and fourth floors of the building. Upon completion of the project, the City will acquire approximately 50,000 square feet of cultural space planned to be used by the Brooklyn Public Library, BAM and 651 Arts, which would manage the performance space to allow for widespread use by City cultural groups.

Open Space:
This project will create an approximately 16,000 square-foot publicly accessible plaza at the north end of the site, fronting on Lafayette Avenue. The proposed open space is designed to accommodate a wide range of public performances, movie screenings and other cultural events, to be programmed by nearby cultural organizations.

Retail Space:
Within the proposed building, there will be 22,800 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant uses.

Parking:
This project will create up to 225 public and accessory parking spaces for automobiles; and, up to 201 bicycle parking spaces.