Housing Projects Could Overload Prospect Heights, Neighbors Say

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Neighbors are worried two city-led housing projects a block from the Atlantic Yards development could be the last straw to overload a rapidly-changing section of Prospect Heights.

The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development is moving toward a years-long plan to bring affordable housing developments to 516 Bergen St. and 542 Dean St., sites once used as office and parking space for the city agency.

But despite the department's insistence that specifics haven't yet been decided, neighbors say details floated for the sites so far have them fearful, particularly given other development in the area. Both new sites neighbor the controversial 22-acre project known as Pacific Park, or Atlantic Yards.

"Atlantic Yards being built will eventually add 6,200 units to this four-block radius, which is a huge increase in the number of people using buses, trains or trying to get through on bikes," said Alyssa Kiel, acting president of the North Prospect Heights Association. "These are all coming online around the same time."

Kiel and others contend that while they support affordable housing at the Bergen and Dean street properties, it should be part of a more comprehensive plan for the neighborhood that takes all the development into account. So far, in kick-off meetings and workshops held about the sites, they haven't seen that level of context, Kiel said.

They are particularly worried about the possibility of the city changing zoning rules at one or both of the properties to accommodate the Bergen and Dean street buildings.

Housing officials told Patch that "no specific zoning changes are being proposed at this time." But on an online page about the projects and in meetings, they have said the plan is to change zoning to allow for 80 units of senior housing on one site and 70 to 100 units of affordable housing on the other, up from the 58 units currently allowed on each.

This upzoning, residents say, could lead to further zoning changes down the line that might put longtime tenants of rent-stabilized buildings at risk. Some of those longtime residents say the fear is already top-of-mind.

"We don't know the neighborhood anymore," said Beulah Towns, who has lived in one of the rent-stabilized buildings next to the Dean Street site for 40 years. "It happened within the last 10 or 12 years — all the buildings are changing to condos. It puts fear in us just the thought of being displaced."

When asked about this concern, housing officials said that it is their "desire to maintain the preservation of rent stabilized housing."

"[We will] use all the appropriate tools in our toolkit to keep people in their homes and community," the department told Patch, adding that state oversight will ensure units are not illegally de-regulated.

Elicia Howard, whose mother lives in the same building as Towns, said the fear extends beyond the possibility of changing rents. The influx of development has made it so her mother and others are living in a constant construction zone.

"More tall buildings is not conducive to anyone's health," she said. "I understand this is a city lot and it can be utilized, but there needs to be at least some sort of compromise or understanding or acknowledgement of what the neighborhood has already endured."

Each of the residents say the struggle will now be making these concerns heard despite limited virtual meetings. Many feel the department's plans seem to already be a "done deal."

HPD is set to present on the projects at Community Board 8's Dec. 10 meeting after holding at least one community workshop since a kick-off meeting in late October.

"We're learning new information every time we have a meeting with about a month to go," said Peter Kashes, a NPHA board member. "This is a profound change we're bearing the risk of that seems really short shrift. I'm astounded this is unfolding as fast as it is."

Housing officials say they are still in the very early stages of the process. The community feedback meetings are being held in anticipation of a Request for Proposals for the site, which will ask developers to send in their designs.

The projects are both at the first stage of a five to eight year process before construction would start, according to the department.

"We have taken every effort to make community workshops as accessible as possible," the department said. "Community engagement for this project is just beginning and future engagement around the development and zoning, are being planned for the next year."