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A couple folks have let us know that the Department of City Planning is looking into measures that would encourage ground-floor business uses on 4th Avenue. The 2003 rezoning that paved the way for the thoroughfare’s many new residential builds has been criticized again and again and again for resulting in a bunch of projects that leave much to be desired at street level. City Planning has confirmed that the department is examining changes to the zoning—”in response to requests from the local community and elected officials, the Department has been studying zoning tools that would encourage more pedestrian-friendly, commercial uses as Fourth Avenue emerges as a growing residential and commercial thoroughfare”—though there’s no time frame on when the study will be complete or further specifics at the moment.
4th Avenue’s Walls of Voodoo [Brownstoner]
How the Argyle Greets 4th Avenue [Brownstoner]
4th Avenue, the Boulevard of Broken Promises? [Brownstoner]


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The rezoning that put the wheels in motion for the development of Brooklyn’s Park Avenue four years ago covered most of 4th Avenue between President and 15th streets, allowing for the construction of 12-story residential buildings on the thoroughfare. What was left out of that rezoning is now set to join the higher-rise party. One of the areas covered by the Department of City Planning’s draft rezoning proposal for Gowanus is the west side of 4th Avenue between 1st and Douglass streets. Under the proposal, the seven blocks’ zoning will be changed from manufacturing, thus allowing for the construction of 12-story residential structures. One big difference from the ’03 rezoning that gave us the 4th Avenue we have today: The new law of the land will require developers to have a active ground floor uses for a percentage of frontage on 4th Avenue. Click through for a map detailing the planned changes.
Gowanus Canal Corridor Framework [nyc.gov]
4th Avenue, the Boulevard of Broken Promises? [Brownstoner] (more…)


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  1. What’s so bad about some 12 story residential towers on 4th avenue?

    Are they somehow going to ruin the vibrant and exciting milieu generated by vacant lots, heavy traffic, fast food restaurants, auto repair shops, and sleeping homeless men?

    It’s not like this is a beautiful tree lined street full of wonderful buildings and a caring community. It’s a utility road.

    It would be hard for *any* development on 4th avenue to make it worse. Maybe if a tar pit were built that would bring the neighborhood down a little on sultry summer days.

    Some nice buildings that included commercial space on the 1st floor would be my personal preference, but I don’t think it would work to try to limit construction to 5 stories.

    What developer would want to invest in that type of construction in that neighborhood in this market?

  2. Hey I go to that car wash! Aside from that, given the amount of traffic on 4th Ave, why would anyone want to move into a condo on that street? I predict anything on the west side of the street just become a wall to the Gowanus.

  3. 11:41 -you’d think BUT considering construction is just starting at 6th St, 7th St, Douglass St and a couple of other locations – it doesnt look like the current climate is slowing much of the construction down.

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