City Council-Led Conference to Consider Future of Brooklyn Zoning

Brooklyn has changed a whole lot over the last century — now there’s a plan to discuss the future of how the borough will be zoned over the next 100 years.

In the last decade, many areas of Brooklyn have been rezoned to allow taller and denser buildings, sometimes in the face of strident community opposition.

New York City Council is holding a conference with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Brooklyn Law School called “The Next 100 Years of Brooklyn Zoning.” The 19 or so speakers are elected officials and developers, as well as representatives from two community organizations.

The day-long seminar kick offs Friday, December 3, with comments by Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen. Around lunch time, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will give his views on zoning and development in the borough.

Three panels will consider zoning for diverse communities in Brooklyn, how development works in the borough, and the future of manufacturing and specially protected Industrial Business Zones in Brooklyn.

Speakers include Jed Walentas of Two Trees, known for redeveloping industrial areas such as Dumbo and Williamsburg’s Domino Sugar Factory, Toby Moskovits of Heritage Equity Partners, which is developing office properties in industrial areas in Williamsburg and Bushwick and recently suggested a tweak to the IBZ rules, and Lisa Gomez of L+M Development Partners, which is known for affordable housing.

The conference comes as the city is considering rezoning industrial areas in Gowanus. In recent years, the city has indicated an interest in changing the zoning rules in protected Industrial Business Zones in areas such as Gowanus, Bushwick and Williamsburg.

City Council Member David Greenfield, who chairs the council’s land use committee, organized the conference.

The confab will take place from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at Brooklyn Law School at 250 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn. For more information or to purchase tickets, go here.

General admission tickets can be bought by December 1 for $50, and Brooklyn Law students and faculty can gain free admission by reserving a spot by November 30. No tickets will be sold at the door, according to the organizers.

Related Stories

• State Bills Propose Major Zoning Change, Allowing Housing Towers of Any Size
• Should the City’s Community Boards Have More Power?
• From the Forum: How Can You Find Out About Local Zoning Restrictions?

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.