Board 4: Population Growth Requires Action
Members of Brooklyn’s Community Board 4 will ask elected officials to consider rezoning the Bushwick neighborhood to help manage new growth and rebirth in the area, it was announced during the board’s meeting at Hope Gardens Multi- Service Center last Wednesday, Mar. 20.
The draft letter, which was penned by Housing and Land Use Committee Chair Martha Brown and approved by the board, will undergo some revision before being sent to the city, District Manager Nadine Whitted said in a phone interview last Friday, Mar. 22.
In the draft, the board stated it aims to identify key commercial corridors, examine transportation hubs, identify locations for larger, higherdensity buildings and address the proliferation of night life in the area.
Whitted stressed that the move would not pave the way for wholesale expansion, but would select places where building taller makes sense while also identifying spots that need to be preserved.
She said the process will involve a dialogue between the board, its residents and elected officials that asks “what does the community envision?”
The board has not yet chosen specific commercial or residential areas to target, Whitted stated.
During the meeting, Brown stressed the need to get the ball rolling before term-limited representatives leave office.
“We need to begin working on this as soon as possible,” Brown said.
Block parties
With warm weather fast-approaching, some blocks may not be allowed to close off for parties this summer.
“Thirty-five blocks in our community- because of negativity, whether it’s quality of life, stabbings, shootings, or homicides-they are on the list that block parties or street activities will be denied,” Whitted said.
Blocks on the list must contact community affairs to start a block association and attend monthly 83rd Precinct Community Council meetings.
“Something is deadly wrong with this picture,” Whitted said. “I hope there are some things circling in your heads-if you live on any of those blocks-about ways in which we can make a change.”
Later, during public announcements, Antonio Reynoso-chief of staff to City Council Member Diana Reyna-said the move was heavyhanded.
“I think-in times when things are negative or are not happening as we would wish-that we should not take; we should give,” Reynoso said.
He called for block parties with more “police investment” to foster a better relationship between problematic blocks and law enforcement.
Reynoso stated that community liaison Ariel Salazar will personally travel to the 35 problematic blocks to help start block associations.
Residents should avail themselves to changes regarding street closing permits for block parties, as regulations regarding block parties have changed this year.
Individuals must now submit applications to the Street Activity Permit Office 90 days before the requested event.
In addition, the permit cost has risen to $25.75-payments can be made using credit or debit cards only.
Petitions signed by a majority of block residents are still necessary, and the petition can be obtained from the Board 4’s office at 1420 Bushwick Ave. Room 370.
Residents interested in forming a block association can call the 83rd Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718-574-1697.
Mail delivery
Residents experiencing poor mail delivery should be getting some relief.
Whitted said she met with the Brooklyn-Queens postmaster as part of a customer advisory council.
The postmaster’s office is working to right problems address issues at the 11221 post office on Broadway and Gates avenues, as well as other offices that serve the neighborhood, she said.
“I will continue to speak loudly and advocate for our community with respect to postal concerns,” Whitted told attendees. “If you are experiencing any mail delivery problems, please bring them to my attention.”
Additionally, the move to 5-day delivery that was announced earlier this year is not set in stone. If the post office does scale back delivery days, the change will likely take effect in August, Whitted added.
Dangerous brick overpass
Whitted added that she met with officials from the NYPD and MTA on Mar. 13 to discuss a brick overpass on Stewart Street along the L train between the Broadway Junction and BushwickAvenue-Aberdeen Street stops.
She said residents have complained the brick wall supporting the overpass is cracked, bulging and may be a safety hazard.
In addition, residents have sighted homeless individuals beneath the overpass.
Whitted said she and theMTAare looking into whether the area can be sealed to prevent squatting.
“We could eliminate a major problem there,” she said. “Right now the issue is: Who owns that land. That’s still being investigated.”
State liquor applications
There will be more transparency regarding state liquor applications in Community Board 4.
Due to pressure from the media, Whitted stated, the board will now announce its rulings regarding liquor license applications. Until Mar. 20, the board did not make tis decisions public.
Before announcing approvals, Whitted stated the public safety committee is requiring all locations to close at midnight on Sunday.
The renewal for Claribel Restaurant at 128 Wyckoff Ave. was approved.
The board approved new liquor licenses for Marianita’s Restaurant Co. at 1576 Greene Ave. and Happy Fun Hideaway at 1211 Myrtle Ave. The business has an adjacent location with a different address, and the license does not cover this additional address.
Board members also approved a wine and beer license for El Grande Malecon at 234 Knickerbocker Ave.
An application for a liquor license for 3 Country LLC of 211 Knickerbocker Ave. was put on hold.
Those wishing to comment on any of the applicants may do so by calling Board 4 at the number listed at the end of this article.
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The next Community Board 4 meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Apr. 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center 195 Linden Street in Bushwick. For more information, call the board’s office at 1-718-628-8400.
