Gowanus Rezoning Heads To Borough Hall Hearing This Week

BROOKLYN, NY — The city's plan to rezone Gowanus will head to its second public hearing in the review process this week.

The Gowanus Neighborhood Plan — which faced split votes from local community boards earlier this month — is slated for a hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednesday, which will include an in-person and virtual contingent.

The hearing is the latest step in the review process for the proposal after a months-long legal battle over how hearings about it would be handled during the coronavirus crisis.

Last week, Community Board 6, which oversees the vast majority of the 80 block set to transform under the rezoning plan, voted overwhelmingly to approve the rezoning, though with a long list of conditions.

The majority of the board contended that a conditioned approval would go further than a "no" vote in keeping their demands in the minds of lawmakers, including the borough president, as the rezoning moves up in the review process.

Among the conditions are three demands made by the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice, including a request to fully fund public housing repairs that both City Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin have said their votes will hinge on.

Community Board 2, whose district includes only a few blocks in the proposal, voted to disapprovethe rezoning.

Wednesday's hearing will be held at 4 p.m. in the courtroom at Borough Hall. Its in-person contingent will be capped at 75 people. Find information about how to tune in online here.

Read More:

• Long-Awaited Gowanus Rezoning Hearing Brings 6 Hours Of Testimony
• Gowanus Rezoning Kicks Off After Judge Lifts Restraining Order
• Judge Stalls Controversial Gowanus Rezoning After Local Lawsuit