Councilman Reynoso Calls for Affordable Housing at Rheingold Brewery Protest

@CMReynoso34 says #rabsky hasn’t felt the wrath of the #Bushwick community @democracynow @WNYC @BrianLehrer #zoning pic.twitter.com/nIfU2U4YW5

— matt mottel (@mmottel) July 30, 2015

Bushwick residents packed a town hall meeting convened by a local community group to push for affordable housing at the massive Rheingold Brewery development in Bushwick. City Council Member Antonio Reynoso called on developer Rabsky to live up to a 2013 promise made by its predecessor, developer Read Property, to include affordable housing.

The former industrial space, which is being redeveloped as apartments and shops, covers about 10 city blocks close to Flushing and Bushwick avenues. However, the protest may be much ado about nothing.

Rabsky already said in June it has every intention of including affordable housing in its developments. The community group, the Rheingold Construction Committee, apparently isn’t buying it. 

And now we march! #Bushwick pic.twitter.com/vbEN7UQyIc — Antonio Reynoso (@CMReynoso34) July 30, 2015

The group contends Department of Buildings filings show the developer has reneged on its promises for affordable housing because those plans aren’t specified in the filings.

However, Brownstoner would like to point out, DOB filings rarely if ever specify details about affordability (or even whether units will be rentals or condos).

At best, if an application permit specifies more units or square feet than allowed by FAR, one might speculate affordable units are in the works — or it could be a filing error.

That all said, the original agreement — a non-binding one — made by Read was to include 30 percent affordable housing, not 20 percent. We’ll see if Rabsky does it.

Bushwick’s beautiful people fighting to ensure promises are kept by the Rabsky group! @CUFFH @Los_Sures @nwbuschwick pic.twitter.com/hi3N8e78Wn

— Antonio Reynoso (@CMReynoso34) July 30, 2015

#rheingold rezoning townhall debrief on the street #Bushwick @astradisastra @democracynow @mikeburke999 @BrianLehrer pic.twitter.com/DmzEVTxm6P — matt mottel (@mmottel) July 31, 2015

#rheingold morning @democracynow @BrianLehrer #zoningforus #development #Bushwick pic.twitter.com/VMmLKLy7LC

— matt mottel (@mmottel) July 31, 2015

A rendering by ODA Architecture of an innovative design Rabsky is planning at 10 Montieth Street on the former Rheingold Brewery property

Rheingold Brewery Coverage [Brownstoner]