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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


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Hey John718, or 16th st. res, or anonymouse, or whatever you want to call yourself,
    You want facts: “16th st action” and all those involved never existed until a bunch of NIMBY’s decided to try to stop this project. Nothing they have done has been above board or transparent. They hand out, misleading and inflammatory questionnaires. With no contact names or numbers. The return address is nothing more than a street address at Methodist Hospital. Is Methodist Hospital aware that it’s property is being used by this surreptitious organization? All with the sole purpose of dividing the nabe. They and you (just like the rest of us) have a right to ask questions, but not when they are not being asked in a forthright manner. The questions are never ending and they don’t really want to hear the answers. Everything done by these people is designed to inflame not find answers. Ex: “some may have schizophrenia or other serious mental disorders. Do we know for sure? Can anyone tell me? Some of these people had issues with drugs. What happens if they become active in addiction again?”
    What happens when you go off your drugs? What right do I have to question your mental stability or your ability to be a functioning part of the community? They ask questions that even the legal system can’t answer. Even those answers are vague. If you have a problem with that – As do many of us – Then maybe you should use your considerable knowledge and energies to rectify those problems. You won’t because you and others like you live for those gray lines. It gives you the opportunity to never commit to anything and still reap the benefits of either side.
    Here is another interesting one: “I submit that a condo owner or home owner who is a drug user will probably be defaulting on his mortgage long before someone is removed from this SRO”
    “I submit” Sounds very legal, but not true. There are many drug addicts and loons who own properties and still manage to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Besides if you know anything about the law you should know that it is actually faster (obviously not fast enough for people like you) to evict someone than it is to foreclose on them. I bet you knew that. In fact I bet that if you were the one being foreclosed on you would know how best to drag the process.
    “Spouting Garbage” & “hyperbole” – You should know about both.
    Those opposed keep spouting about “their” issues with no regard for the issues of the rest of the community.
    Why don’t you stop playing games that divide the community and just come out and admit that you are a hipocritical, bigot.

  2. “lostinbrooklyn” you have consistently misrepresented the position of those who would like to see the plan altered by resorting to mischaracterizations, name calling, and swearing. it’s pretty sad. you don’t do you or your FAC pals much good when you start spouting garbage. stick to the facts and avoid the hyperbole you claim to be concerned about from the opposition.