01LU 0275-2025C 230309 ZMKZoning MapLaid over
73-99 Empire Boulevard Rezoning
with 1 related matter · LU 0276-2025
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises · Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The one where Crystal Hudson pushed a Crown Heights developer for deeper affordability — and he answered 'fifty-fifty
Contents & search
items
4
laid over
4
land-use items
4
units
15
affordable
4
CEQR: Other
Try
Three Brooklyn rezonings filled this subcommittee hearing, but the heat was on 73-99 Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights. Developer Michael Burfield pitched ~400 units, ~300 affordable, after retreating from the MIH Option 2 a prior meeting had urged and pivoting to HPD's Mixed Income Market Initiative 'given the long delays.' Councilmember Crystal Hudson pressed him to partner with an experienced nonprofit and reach deeper affordability; he hedged, calling the odds 'fifty-fifty.' Residents April Russell and Teresa Westerdahl opposed it over shadows and the 'urban decay' framing, and longtime bo
From the room
“approaching HPD to see if we can um negotiate some sort of additional lower income, deeper affordable units, which would require HPD to provide some additional”
— Michael Burfield
“a building that has approximately 400 units, 300 of which are affordable and about 70,000 square feet of commercial space anchored by a 45,000 square foot grocery store”
— Michael Burfield
the community board disapproved the application in January, but subsequent to that, the borough president and the city planning commission approved
“I understand the difficulty our city faced with affordable housing. I acknowledge that there' beens significant interest and tension on this proposal”
— Susan Zhuang
01
The decisions
402LU 0277-2025C 230378 ZMKZoning MapLaid over
166 Kings Highway Rezoning
with 1 related matter · LU 0278-2025
03LU 0281-2025C 240294 ZMKZoning MapLaid over
2201-2227 Neptune Avenue Rezoning
with 1 related matter · LU 0282-2025
04LU 0279-2025C 240406 ZMKZoning MapLaid over
19 Maspeth Avenue Rezoning
with 1 related matter · LU 0280-2025
Also in the record
Records not linked to a specific agenda item
The deal
Units
15
Affordable
4
Mandatory inclusionary housing
4 affordable
Opposition & support
Concerns: parking shortages · overburdened sewer systems / flooding · overcrowded schools
Conditions
- Obligated under ZR to plant ~12-13 street trees (one every 25 feet); tree pits offer bioswale opportunity
- Applicant requested to coordinate with community board, council member, and DOT on pedestrian-friendly design
- Deed restriction limiting development to no more than eight stories in height, in addition to downzoning from R7X to R7A
- Deed restriction: 2,503 sq ft of ground-floor space on King's Highway frontage dedicated to a TBD community/council-chosen organization at below-market rent tied to CPI
- 60 parking spaces (agreed to previous night) and no more than 90 dwelling units, memorialized in a restrictive declaration attaching to the property
- On-record agreement to max 8 stories height, ~90 max dwelling units, and at least 60 parking spaces
+6 more conditions
Land-use review
CEQR: Other
CEQR: Other
CEQR: Other
CEQR: Other
CB disapproved (January)
CB Community Board 9 Other
CB Brooklyn Community Board 1
CB Brooklyn Community Board 1 Approve
CB Brooklyn Community Board 11
Questions & answers
City Planning Commission commissioner: how will you deal with flooding (flood-prone site)
Kevin C. Riley: does the site have parking and how many spots
Kevin C. Riley: what happens to the bakery
Kevin C. Riley: is there a confirmed tenant for the commercial space
Crystal Hudson: April 22 meeting deferred; April 23 unchanged
+9 more exchanges
Citations & precedent
Appendix G · John Wolfling
Procedure
- Public hearing closed and item laid over after no members of public testified; called for public testimony on 19 Mass/Fifth Avenue rezone proposal — Kevin C. Riley
- Opened public hearing on pre-considered LUs relating to the 166 Kings Highway rezoning proposal in Councilmember Zhuang's district — Kevin C. Riley
- Applicant panel consists of Eric Polatnik and Frank (last name unclear); counsel administered oath — Kevin C. Riley
- Applicant panel excused after Q&A; chair begins online public testimony — Kevin C. Riley
+4 more procedural steps
Where it standsCB disapproved (January) ✓→Committee→Full Council
02
The people
Public testimony: 3 in favor · 1 opposed
Practitioners & applicants
Janessa Rose Perez · Eric Polatnik · Caroline Harris · April Russell
03
The intelligence
Every parcel, owner, and applicant in this meeting, cross-referenced against Zonable’s NYC ownership, enforcement & legislative graph — the record behind the record.
Sign in for the full graph
Owner portfolios, open OATH/ECB violations, 311 & DOB permits across every parcel discussed, developer track records, and an “ask this meeting” chat. For this meeting: 549 oath/ecb hearings across the 2 sites discussed.
Ask about this meeting
Sign in to ask questions
Chat with AI about this meeting. Free account required.