Two weeks after Marty Markowitz came out against it, the Department of City Planning held a hearing on Wednesday night to discuss the “supported housing facility” that has been proposed for the city-owned site (now a parking lot) at 575 Fifth Avenue. This issue has electrified and divided the South Slope community since it was announced at the beginning of the year, so the standing-room-only crowd of 150-plus people was no surprise. While those against the project made up only about 20 percent of the audience, Chair Amanda Burden decide to alternate speakers from the “for” and “against” camps. Some of those against the project gave thoughtful input, saying that they wanted to see more outreach by FAC to the immediate community, a clear understanding of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and more transparency by FAC on what the screening process will be and consideration on some of the BP’s and CB7′s recommendations. Another contingent of the opposition had things like this to say about the potential inhabitants of the facility: “Park Slope is the most liberal thinking place in Brooklyn, but we don’t want those people here.”
Marty DK’s Fifth Avenue Housing Project [Brownstoner] GMAP
FAC Development at 575 Fifth Avenue [Brownstoner]
Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark