BK Fourth Avenue Apartment Tower Gains Council Member's Support

BROOKLYN, NY — What has become a controversial apartment tower on Fourth Avenue gained key support from local Council Member Carlos Menchaca on Tuesday, likely signaling its approval as it moves toward the final stages of the city's review process.

Menchaca — who represents Sunset Park, where the 737 Fourth Ave. building is proposed — unveiled his support as the City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted unanimously in favor of the rezoning needed for the project on Tuesday.

The Fourth Avenue project proposes changing zoning rules to replace a Dunkin Donuts and parking lot with a 14-story apartment complex, and has sparked fierce debate about an affordable housing crisis in the neighborhood.

As he hinted during a hearing about the project, Menchaca said Tuesday a Community Benefits Agreement signed by the developers was a tipping point in his support for the project.

"The proposal is not perfect....But it does represent the clearest example yet of the only thing that will break and reverse the cycle of displacement and gentrification forever — community-driven and accountable development," Menchaca said.

Menchaca's support comes after two fraught approvals from Community Board 7 and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. It likely signals the full City Council will support the project, as members typically defer to the local council member's stance.

The project will head to the full Land Use Committee before facing the full council.

Menchaca noted that, like activists opposed to the rezoning, he would have preferred 100 percent of the building's units be affordable.

But he pointed to the developers' willingness to meet conditions — and sign a legally-binding document — to bring other perks to the building, including reserving space for local businesses, hiring union workers, creating 150 bike stations and granting an easement to the MTA to build an elevator at the nearby 25th Street subway station.

"Not only are these things required by the CBA, but they are required regardless of who owns the land. That means the developer cannot turn around and sell this property and thereby undo these commitments," he said.

The Fourth Avenue development would bring about 135 apartments, 33 of which would be set aside as affordable.

Developers have told opponents pushing for more affordability that the number of affordable spots is the most it can offer given the high land costs and lack of a subsidy from the city.

The 34 affordable units will be a 30 percent increase in the number of affordable apartments in Community Board 7 in the last six years, according to the Fifth Avenue Committee, who support the project.

Read the full Community Benefits Agreement below:

Read More:

• Fourth Ave Apartment Tower Developers Sign 'Community Agreement'
• City Planners Approve Fourth Avenue Apartment Tower In BK
• Brooklyn Board OKs Fourth Ave Tower Amid Debate On Housing Crisis
• Controversial Fourth Ave Apartment Tower Wins Committee Approval
• 'Who Is This For?': BK Neighbors Rally Against Fourth Ave Tower
• Developers Plan 14-Story Affordable Housing Complex On Fourth Ave