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The city’s controversial plan to develop a 31-acre area of Williamsburg known as the Broadway triangle still needs approval from City Council, but if it goes forward, the project will displace at least six businesses via eminent domain and throw others into limbo due to rezoning. The Daily News tells the story of some of these business owners such as Ernie Wong, 33, whose family owns Shanghai Stainless Product & Design Co. on Gerry Street, or Sara Gelb, 52, who started a bus company on Bartlett Street with her husband 25 years ago and has built it up to a fleet of 18. Borough President Marty Markowitz approved the development plan, but stressed the importance of relocating these businesses properly by finding relocation spots before acquiring the property, and funding the businesses generously. These owners are still concerned, however, that they will receive the short end of the stick. Aaron Jacobowitz, 44, told the News that he has established a customer base for his Bartlett Street flower shop, Floral Expression, over 14 years; for him, moving shop would mean starting over. “It’s a back-room deal,” he said. “We’re determined to fight it all the way to the end.” The Broadway Triangle project has already received plenty of opposition over political corruption, due to a no-bid process that granted development rights to the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and the Ridgewood-Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, which has ties to Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who has also been accused of several forms of corruption.
Williamsburg Businesses Fear for Eminent Domain [NY Daily News]
Markowitz Endorses Lopez’s Triangle Plan [Brownstoner]
The Voice Calls Out Lopez [Brownstoner]
Broadway Triangle into Bermuda Triangle? [Gothamist]
Photo by Scott Bintner/PropertyShark


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  1. Limbo because of rezoning? previous uses are always grandfathered when a rezoning takes place-unless they violated the zoning that was in place when they were started. Someone is listening to the anti propaganda.