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Community Board One gave the thumbs up to Two Trees’ innovative Domino proposal last night. The developer already had the right to build a previously approved complex, but scrapped it in favor of an unusual design from SHoP, above, that features taller buildings with views through cutouts and more publicly accessible green space, among other things.

The board recommended some changes, such as adding some three bedrooms to the affordable units, designating some affordable units for residents making 30 percent of the area median income, and giving preference to area businesses in some of the retail space.

“After more than a year of outreach and collaboration with local leaders, the community board vote makes it clear that neighborhood residents strongly prefer our new vision for Domino to the existing zoning,” Two Trees Director of Special Projects David Lombino told us. “We also heard a number of other community demands, including a guarantee of 660 units of integrated affordable housing, and we will be working with the two local council members, along with the city, to make that a reality during the remainder of the public review process.”

Meanwhile, yesterday, the City Council passed the 10-tower Greenpoint Landing proposal after extracting promises from developer Greenpoint Landing Associates and the city concerning schools and transportation. The whole complex can be built as of right, so the vote affected only portions of the development. The developer and the city agreed on plans for a K through 8th grade public school, open space, and transportation, according to a press release sent out by Council Member Stephen Levin, who helped negotiate the agreement.

The developer will provide a site for the school and will run a free shuttle between the complex and public transportation, and the city will create a transportation plan. The developer agreed that an additional 431 affordable units in the complex will be permanently affordable and available to families earning from 40 percent to 120 percent of area median income. Greenpoint Landing Associates will also donate an additional $3,000,000 (bringing its total donation to $5,500,000) to expand Newtown Barge Park.

Rendering by SHoP via Two Trees


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