FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 13, 2025<\/p>\n
Press Contacts: Musarrat (Mus) Lamia, (646) 353-4549 | Alexander Liao, (973) 647-5001 New York, NY<\/strong>\u2014 Yesterday, the New York City Council\u2019s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted to approve modifications to the Zoning Application for 441 & 467 Prospect Avenue Rezoning<\/a>, also known as the Arrow Linen proposal in Windsor Terrace. The updated proposal, refined through ongoing community engagement, now features an R7A zoning designation with a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement, reducing the building height from the originally proposed 13 stories to 10 while increasing the share of affordable units from 25% to 40%, exceeding affordability requirements beyond MIH. Out of the total 250 units, 100 will be affordable. <\/p>\n This rezoning application is one of the first that includes affordable housing that the City Council will vote on after the passage of the City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity and the City For All Housing Package. Council Member Shahana Hanif, who represents Brooklyn\u2019s 39th Council District, negotiated a community-driven deal that lowered building height without reducing unit count and maximized affordability. See the Council Member’s full testimony before the Committee on Land Use here.<\/a> <\/p>\n New York City\u2019s housing crisis is largely caused by a shortage of affordable housing units. This shortage is particularly pronounced in Windsor Terrace, where the number of housing units has decreased, and little to no affordable housing has been constructed over the last decade. <\/p>\n The Subcommittee voted to approve the applicant\u2019s modification of the proposal from R7-1 zoning, which has no height cap to R7A, with a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement that caps the height of both buildings to 10 stories and 40% affordable units. The Community Benefits Agreement also includes subsidized community space for Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, an organization that serves survivors of domestic violence, and a childcare center run by a local provider. The applicant has also committed to the creation of a Construction Task Force that will engage local elected officials and constituents to ensure continued accountability and that construction is as least disruptive as possible for residents. The development plans accommodate working families by including more than 50% of the affordable apartments as two- and three-bedroom units. Further, through partnership and an agreement with 32BJ, the project will create good jobs for New Yorkers. The development will also include sustainability and resilience measures including a green roof and other stormwater management measures. <\/p>\n This was a carefully negotiated agreement facilitated in partnership with the Fifth Avenue Committee, a trusted community organization that supported the CBA and has experience holding developers accountable to their word with other rezonings, including 120 5th Ave and the Gowanus Oversight Task Force.<\/p>\n This agreement reflects a community-led approach to development, one that prioritizes affordability and neighborhood needs. As the full City Council prepares to vote on the final proposal at the February 27, 2024, Stated Meeting, this deal stands as a model for how communities and elected officials can work together to address both the housing crisis and community needs in New York City.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud to set a high standard for community-driven, affordability-focused land use policy, made possible by Speaker Adrienne Adams\u2019 leadership and support,\u201d said Council Member Shahana Hanif.<\/strong> \u201cThis project is a major win for Windsor Terrace and our city: two ten-story buildings with 250 units, 40% affordability\u2014achieved without public subsidies. We secured a shorter building, maximized affordability, and delivered critical community benefits, including green roofs, flood management improvements, a childcare facility, subsidized rent for Sakhi for South Asian Women, and strong job commitments with 32BJ. I applaud my constituents for their tireless advocacy and commitment to affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis City Council is consistently delivering housing solutions that make our city and homes more affordable amidst the housing crisis,\u201d said Speaker Adrienne Adams.<\/strong> \u201cThe revised project, negotiated by Council Member Hanif and approved by the Council\u2019s Land Use Committee, will deliver permanently affordable homes and community services that benefit the surrounding neighborhood and all New Yorkers. The Council will continue to prioritize expanding affordability and housing in every part of the city, including areas that have historically not produced affordable homes. I thank Council Member Hanif, Land Use Chair Salamanca, and Zoning and Franchises Chair Riley for their partnership to get this project across the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s vote on the revised Arrow Linen project will allow for the creation of over 250 units of housing, 100 of which will be affordable, representing a small but critical step forward in addressing some of New York City\u2019s most pressing housing challenges,\u201d said Council Member Kevin C. Riley, Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.<\/strong> \u201cIt is essential that all neighborhoods contribute to building more housing and increasing the number of affordable homes that meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers. Today\u2019s committee approval of the Arrow Linen rezoning is another important step forward for greater affordability in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe City Council\u2019s historic \u2018City for All\u2019 text amendment set out to ensure that every neighborhood does its fair share in addressing the city\u2019s housing crisis,\u201d stated Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Chair of the Committee on Land Use.<\/strong> \u201cToday, we did just that with the approval of the Arrow Linen redevelopment. In addition to a commitment to include union jobs and an ironclad community benefits agreement negotiated by the community, for the community, this approval will bring 250 units of housing, 100 of which being much-needed affordable housing, to an area that has seen little new construction. I strongly commend Council Member Shahana Hanif for her efforts to secure more affordable housing than required, and for standing firm with the needs of her community.\u201d<\/p>\n “This project would be dead in the water if it were not for Council Member Hanif’s leadership and determination,\u201d said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.<\/strong> \u201cThe Council Member weathered immense pressure to walk away from this project and instead delivered a much-needed win that raises the bar for new and affordable development in an amenity-rich neighborhood. This project achieves 40% permanent affordability and lower heights, all while preserving the original 250 proposed units. This is a win for Windsor Terrace and a victory notched in our fight against the housing crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe affordable housing crisis in New York City is more pronounced than ever,\u201d said Council Member Keith Powers. <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s far past time to build more housing for New Yorkers, and it\u2019s crucial for that housing to be affordable. The Arrow Linen project takes a step towards addressing the crisis, creating 100 newly affordable units in the beautiful neighborhood of Windsor Terrace. I hope to see more projects like this one across New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCouncil Member Hanif has demonstrated community-driven leadership in the fight for truly affordable housing,\u201d said Council Member Erik Bottcher<\/strong>. \u201cHer commitment to maximizing affordability while ensuring neighborhood needs are met is exactly the kind of bold, principled advocacy our city needs. This rezoning isn\u2019t just about housing\u2014it\u2019s about equity, stability, and a future where working families can thrive. Shahana\u2019s work in Windsor Terrace is a model for how we can deliver real affordability across New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n “I applaud today\u2019s passage of a rezoning in my backyard \u2014 because I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m not leaving,\u201d said State Senator Zellnor Myrie.<\/strong> “The Arrow Linen rezoning will create new mixed-income homes in one of the least affordable neighborhoods in our city \u2014 and this is an important step toward building more housing. Thank you to Council Member Shahana Hanif and Borough President Antonio Reynoso for their hard work in rallying support for this proposal and reaching a deal.”<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout this process, I have always advocated for a nine-story building because I felt that this struck the right balance between the need for housing development and community concerns,\u201d said Assembly Member Bobby Carroll. \u201c<\/strong>I commend Housing Not Highrises for their advocacy, which resulted in a more appropriate sized building, deeper affordability, and some protection for the adjacent small residential buildings. I commend Councilmember Hanif for her hard work, commitment to meaningful affordability at the site, and dedication to addressing New York\u2019s housing crisis. I remain concerned that a future developer will seek to change the Community Benefits Agreement and seek greater building height and additional concessions. I trust Council Member Hanif will work to ensure the owner and developers of the Arrow Linen site will meet the terms of the Community Benefits Agreement, which is largely enforceable based on her vigilance and advocacy.”<\/p>\n “I congratulate Council Member Hanif in negotiating an agreement that will bring critically needed housing and affordable housing to a community that desperately needs it while also addressing the concerns of local residents,\u201d said Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee.<\/strong> \u201cFinding a way to balance competing interests so that the needs of a broader range of New Yorkers can be met is a win for both the local community and the City as a whole. FAC looks forward to working with the Developer to ensure they deliver on the commitments that they have made.\u201d<\/p>\n “The long-term affordability of Windsor Terrace\u2014and New York City as a whole\u2014depends on building more homes,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. <\/strong>“This project is a prime example of how we can add much-needed mixed-income housing in a well-resourced neighborhood and start to make a dent in our dire housing shortage. Thanks to Council Member Hanif\u2019s leadership, the final project saw significant improvements while maintaining the same number of homes as the initial proposal. We look forward to more steps toward a more affordable and inclusive city.”<\/p>\n \u201cCouncil Member Hanif negotiated a tremendous win for affordable housing in Windsor Terrace,\u201d said Rachel Fee, District 39 resident<\/strong>. \u201cThis deal turns an outdated and underutilized commercial laundry and parking lot into much-needed housing in a transit-oriented community rich with amenities and excellent public schools. I commend the Council Member for addressing New York City\u2019s housing shortage by prioritizing affordable housing in a neighborhood that has historically added very little housing. Without her leadership, it is likely this site would have remained underdeveloped for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a renter who has lived on the block for 20 years and put up with the noise and pollution of an industrial facility in order to live in a truly wonderful neighborhood, the transformation of the Arrow Linen site into a larger-scale residential building is very exciting,\u201d said Beth Allen, District 39, Windsor Terrace resident.<\/strong> \u201cI work in the arts, and having witnessed the effects of the housing crisis on Brooklyn’s arts community in recent years – so many colleagues have been priced out of Brooklyn \u2013 the need for additional housing in neighborhoods that are convenient to public transportation, schools, shops, and parks is especially evident. I especially applaud CM Hanif and her team for securing additional affordable units and community amenities in the building, and look forward to welcoming my new neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a longtime local resident, father, and direct neighbor to the Arrow Linen site, I am heartened that CM Hanif has chosen to allow the proposed development to proceed,\u201d said Alex Weinberg, District 39, Windsor Terrace resident.<\/strong> \u201cIt is of continuing concern that a human need – housing – is a matter of public debate. New developments are subject to intense opposition by wealthy homeowners who are more concerned about shadows falling on their powdered wigs than the city\u2019s growing homeless population. Our choice is clear: more homes or more homeless shelters. I am also alarmed by the needlessly complex and time-consuming development process that must be navigated to construct new housing. Even the City of Yes zoning reforms will only enable the construction of a small fraction of the new homes that our city needs.\u201d<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n About Council Member Shahana Hanif:<\/a> Council Member Shahana Hanif represents Brooklyn\u2019s 39th District and is Co-Chair of the New York City Council\u2019s Progressive Caucus and the Council’s Task Force to Combat Hate. Born and raised in the 39th District to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Council Member Hanif has dedicated her career to advocating for working-class families and advancing a city built on care, equity, and safety. Since her election in 2021, Council Member Hanif has passed significant legislation, including <\/em>Local Law 85 (2023)<\/em><\/a>, which mandates universal residential composting; <\/em>Local Laws 75<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>76 (2022)<\/em><\/a>, which protect and expand abortion rights in NYC; and <\/em>Local Law 161 (2023)<\/em><\/a>, which created a pioneering Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights. She also enacted <\/em>Local Law 45 (2024)<\/em><\/a>, providing survivors of domestic violence with free lock changes, personal safety alarms, and door and window repairs. Council Member Hanif is the first Muslim woman ever elected to the New York City Council and the first woman to represent the 39th District in the New York City Council.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 13, 2025<\/p>\n Press Contacts: Musarrat (Mus) Lamia, (646) 353-4549 | Alexander Liao, (973) 647-5001 New York, NY<\/strong>\u2014 Yesterday, the New York City Council\u2019s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted to approve modifications to the Zoning Application for 441 &<\/a><\/p>\n …<\/p>\n
Email: mlamia@council.nyc.gov<\/a> | aliao@council.nyc.gov<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Email: mlamia@council.nyc.gov<\/a> | aliao@council.nyc.gov<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n