De Blasio Slams 'Hot Sheet' Gowanus Hotel Boom

Councilmember Bill de Blasio isn’t seeing much good in the hundreds of hotel rooms developers are building in Gowanus. Early this evening, before the Department of City Planning presents its framework for rezoning the largely industrial neighborhood, de Blasio is going to hold a press conference asking DCP to ban the further development of hotels in areas of Gowanus that will still be zoned for manufacturing use. A press release (full copy on jump) sent out by the councilmember’s office says the following: “de Blasio is calling on City Planning to ban hotels for several reasons: in predominately manufacturing areas, hotels will likely push out existing manufacturing uses, in areas that are predominately residential, hotel uses are disruptive because hotels are 24/7, often with taxis or cars idling outside, and while we are in the midst of a hotel boom, at some point that will taper off and some of these hotels will not make it or even worse, will turn into “hot sheet” motels in order to stay afloat.” According to a spokesperson for City Planning, the department is probably not mulling a measure that would ban hotel construction outright in manufacturing zones. “The hotel industry is an important industry for the city, one that provides employment opportunities for city residents and supports additional employment opportunities in economic sectors supported by tourism,” said DCP spokesperson Jennifer Torres in an e-mail. “That being said, we are carefully examining areas in which mixed-use zoning might be appropriate so that there is a greater range of development choices, including residential, hotels, light industrial, related office uses and retail.” Of late, there’s been marked progress on two of the area’s hotel sites: Demolition of warehouses on 3rd and President is almost complete, clearing the way for the construction of a 9-story, 134-room Fairfield Inn. A few blocks south, meanwhile, a crew continues to go gangbusters on the future hotel at the corner of President Street and 3rd Ave. Latest DOB filings on this one say it’s going to have 57 rooms.
Plan for 3rd Ave Hotel Brings Gowanus Total to 7 [Brownstoner]
Gowanus Rezoning on the Horizon [Brownstoner]
Developer Plans Two Hotels on One Gowanus Block [Brownstoner]

Councilmember de Blasio to Call on City Planning to Ban Hotels in Gowanus Rezoning

Carroll Gardens—Councilmember Bill de Blasio will join community leaders at a press conference today calling on the Department of City Planning to ban the development of hotels in the rezoning of the Gowanus. De Blasio will make the announcement immediately prior to the City Planning Commission’s presentation of their latest version of the Gowanus Canal rezoning.

Councilmember de Blasio is calling on City Planning to ban hotels for several reasons: in predominately manufacturing areas, hotels will likely push out existing manufacturing uses, in areas that are predominately residential, hotel uses are disruptive because hotels are 24/7, often with taxis or cars idling outside, and while we are in the midst of a hotel boom, at some point that will taper off and some of these hotels will not make it or even worse, will turn into “hot sheet” motels in order to stay afloat.

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Who: Councilmember de Blasio, community leaders, local elected officials and others.

When: 5pm—Thursday, May 29, 2008

Where: 372 Hoyt Street (Outside of P.S. 32 in Brooklyn)—between 2nd& 3rd Street.

** Take the F Train and get off at Carroll Street- exit near intersection of 2nd St and Smith Street. Head East on 2nd St towards Hoyt St.