), about the proposed Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, I was surprised at just how many parallels exist between Brooklyn's struggle with that project, and our own issues regarding the three condominium projects proposed for the Bulova factory on Division Street, Rocco's nightclub on West Water Street, and the Professional Building near Long Wharf.Ms. Egan cites problems with traffic, local schools, and affordable housing, all topics that were brought up in the recent Sag Harbor Village Planning Board work session by the Village's planning consultant, Richard Warren, in his seven-page memo about the Bulova project.
According to Ms. Egan, Atlantic Yards is virtually a done deal, in spite of considerable opposition from many groups in Brooklyn. Many Brooklynites feel that the mayor, governor, and Brooklyn borough president are "in lockstep" with the developer, Bruce Ratner, and that the news media have been susceptible to Mr. Ratner's spin, which painted a rosy picture of the project's supposed benefits in order to gain approval.
However, Ms. Egan goes on to note, "That approval came despite sobering revisions by the city and the developer of his initial heady claims about the project’s benefits to Brooklyn: the proportion of affordable housing has slipped, and much of it won’t be completed until 2016; the public park on the arena’s rooftop is now only for residents; the number of promised jobs has shrunk; the projected tax revenue has fallen; and the taxpayers’ bill is colossal and apparently open-ended."
She then compares this situation to two other high-profile development projects in the City that were voted down: The Norman Foster tower on Manhattan's Upper East Side and the Jets stadium on the Far West Side. Why, she wonders did things turn out so differently for Atlantic Yards? Answering her own question, she says that in part it's because many Brooklynites, while opposed to the project, were not motivated to do anything to stop it due to the perception that the project was a done deal.
Did a light just come on in your brain too? Bells went off in mine when I read that sentence in Ms. Egan's column. The Bulova condos, while far from a done deal, often feel that way, as do the other two condo projects proposed for the downtown area. Even taken separately, these projects will have a considerable impact on the Village of Sag Harbor, together they will irrevocably change the character of the Village. Speaking of Bulova alone, Mr. Warren, the planner, advised the Village's Planning, Zoning and Architectural Review Boards to consider the development's effect on the sewage treatment plant, water consumption, storm water drainage, traffic congestion, school system finances, workforce housing and more. What he's saying, in effect, is that this project needs to be rigorously scrutinized before any approvals are granted. Wisely, he also advised the various boards to leave lots of time for public input.
But, will the Sag Harbor public have much to say? My impression so far is that most people are so happy that at long last the rotting hulk that is the Bulova factory will be renovated, that they're not looking too closely at what effects that renovation will have on the Village. Ditto for the Maiden condos that are replacing the reviled Rocco's nightclub. So, here's where we can take away a valuable lesson from Ms. Egan's tale of Brooklyn's meltdown. The community must find its voice and speak up for the preservation of our village, not just the for the buildings, but for all the other intangibles that make Sag Harbor such a desirable community.
The good news is that our planning, zoning and architectural review boards seem to be getting the message. Comments made by the chairpersons of those boards at the meeting mentioned above were promising, but that doesn't mean we're off the hook. The boards need to hear from us so that they know that they're moving in the right direction (or not).
One of the toughest fights will be to persuade the developers to include a percentage (say 20%) of affodable units in their projects. The idea has already been raised at public meetings, and, of course, the developers say it is impossible. Well, it's far from impossible, in fact, it's quite doable, if...and this is a big if...the developers are willing. Incentives and assistance from government and private agencies are available. Ask Diana Weir of the Long Island Housing Partnership. Ask Marian Zucker, former Suffolk County, and now New York State Director of Affordable Housing. The Sag Harbor Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) did just that at their last meeting and learned that by including affordable housing, developers can benefit from increased density, subsidies, money for infrastructure improvements, and more. What the CAC learned is that it is not a hardship for developers to include affordable units in their projcects. As Diana Weir told the CAC, "these developers will make millions of dollars in profits from these projects; don't let them tell you they can't afford to include some affordable units."
Ms. Egan concluded with a plea to Brooklynites to come together to plan for the kind of community they want, so that they will be ready with an alternative vision should Mr. Ratner's plan for Atlantic Yards fail. We're a little luckier here in Sag Harbor, we still have time to make sure that developers who want to profit from our desirable little village don't destroy the very things that make it such a sought-after place to be. Thanks to Brooklyn's Jennifer Egan, we've been warned.
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