New Domino Clears Council Hurdles
The New Domino on the Williamsburg waterfront was approved by City Council committees yesterday. Some concessions were made: the height of the two tallest building will be reduced to 34 stories from a planned 40, while 30 percent of the 2,200 units will be set aside for affordable housing. Another commercial building, which was planned…
The New Domino on the Williamsburg waterfront was approved by City Council committees yesterday. Some concessions were made: the height of the two tallest building will be reduced to 34 stories from a planned 40, while 30 percent of the 2,200 units will be set aside for affordable housing. Another commercial building, which was planned to be reduced to 25 stories, rose up to 30. And in response to the transportation concerns expressed at a recent public hearing, a shuttle bus service will be initiated after the first phase of development is done. Michael Lappin, the president of Domino’s managing sponsor, said in a statement, “We have worked hard to please all the interested parties, and we hope that this compromise maintains all the benefits promised to the community.” Construction is expected to start in 2011, kicking off a projected ten years of development. (Note: This was updated to reflect the inconsistencies with the New York Time’s article.)
City Council Passes the Sugar [Architect’s Newspaper]
Last Minute Deal to Save Domino Development [Brownstoner]
Details on the Domino Public Hearing [Brownstoner]
Domino Public Hearing Held This Morning [Brownstoner]
City Planning Approves Domino [Brownstoner]
Photo by ty law
wine_lover, you’ll stop at nothing to pump Williamsburg, (which I myself love), huh?
Transportation is a serious issue, because, yes the L isn’t as bad as the 6 (though it is bad on occasion), but if you add a couple thousand people, guess what? Obviously, I know about the M’s new route. I’m curious how many people will make the trek down from the northside just to avoid a transfer at Union Sq though. That can be a long walk in bad weather. So, no, the issue is not ridiculous.
As for park space, it’s actually creating less open space per person – this has been documented. More total space, but way more people. McCarren is pretty crowded on nice days as is. Infrastructure planning is essential, and it wasn’t done as well as it should have been. Sucks.
the transportation issue is ridiculous. the M just this week now goes up the V line making it an easy ride to midtown. The J and the Z go downtown. done and done.
this is going to create MORE waterfront access – not less! they will have completely public waterfront/piers or something – i am too lazy to review the plans.
this area is really not dense AT ALL! it’s a bunch on unused buildings or commercial buildings around there. it’ll never be as dense as an average Manhattan hood, and yet people still live in Manhattan. please go try to get a 6 train at 77th st. on the upper east side. it’s been packed for 20+ years, but there’s no public outcry when many new highrises get built there.
this is such a dumb argument – it’s a damn deserted factory.
sheesh.
in any case, all affordable housing including rent control is total bullsh*t and simply rewards people for not succeeding. i hate it. it’s completely and totally unfair to the rest of the people who are essentially paying for it. socialism and it sucks.
bjw – Domino addresses it in that it includes housing for people at lower income bands. Still, most of the affordable housing here is at 80 – 120 % of median income, which means that most of it won’t be going to people from the immediate neighborhood.
dh – you are right about the Edge. OTOH, I know a lot of people who have gotten housing there and at Northside, so it can be done.
BJW/Tybur – yeah, i was looking at them yesterday, and it’s pretty insane what they require.
Maybe instead of pushing for more affordable units at domino – they could make sure that the ones that do get built actually go the people who need them? What’s the point of having 600+ affordable units if most of them sit empty?
I get the kvetching about this, even though it’s way better that a deserted, crumbling, and dirty building. Very little was done to address the impact on transportation and park space. CDC could have pushed for the space under the bridge (currently wasted) as well as water taxis and better L, M, and JZ service.
“but right now they’re having trouble filling the affordable component of The Edge with tenants! I read somewhere that they’re advertising on Craigslist because they are so desperate.”
dh, that’s because the income bands to make a family eligible are so narrow, it’s ridiculous. That needs to be addressed for Domino down the road.
DH — the problem is that “affordable housing” has crazy restrictions on it to make it not really affordable. But if we didn’t have these programs, how could developers get a chance to not pay any taxes?!
dittoburg — In general, not the sugar plant. 🙂
What’s funny is there is this big push for more affordable housing in Domino (i assume rentals like in NSP and the Edge) but right now they’re having trouble filling the affordable component of The Edge with tenants! I read somewhere that they’re advertising on Craigslist because they are so desperate.