Firm completes its third successful rezoning of the year with one of the most debated private applications to come before the city
Rosenberg & Estis P.C., currently celebrating its 50th year as one of New York City’s pre-eminent real estate law firms, announced that it has successfully secured approval for the rezoning of 962-972 Franklin Ave., a planned 10-story, 355-unit rental building in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, on behalf of The Continuum Company and Lincoln Equities Group.
Called “one of the most debated private applications to come before the city” by City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick, this historic rezoning will create the city’s first “Union BFO” (union built, financed, and operated) residential development–creating hundreds of new homes and over one thousand union jobs in Crown Heights.
“Despite significant headwinds, our clients had the vision and resolve to see this project through. I am honored to have played a key role in such an important project, especially as the city faces a generational housing shortage and the mass exodus of middle-class jobs,” said R&E Counsel David J. Rosenberg, who represented the developers.
Rosenberg and R&E’s multidisciplinary NYC Development Group leveraged the firm’s extensive experience navigating the city’s labyrinthine land use regulations to guide the project to approval. The team created a pioneering height-control mechanism to preserve sunlight for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, while simultaneously structuring a legal framework that combines Mandatory Inclusionary Housing with 421-a tax benefits to deliver 106+ units of workforce housing as part of the project.
“Complex projects such as 962-972 Franklin require the kind of innovative thinking that is only possible when you can draw on experts in all aspects of real estate,” said Rosenberg. “I am grateful to be part of a team at Rosenberg & Estis that can deliver these kinds of results for our clients.”
“As our third successful rezoning of 2024, this approval cements R&E’s position as a powerhouse in New York City zoning and reflects our strategic investment to incorporate NYC Zoning and Land Use into our full-service real estate firm,” said Michael E. Lefkowitz, Managing Member of Rosenberg & Estis, P.C.. “Our ability to navigate complex approvals and drive innovative solutions across all aspects of real estate for our clients demonstrates why developers increasingly turn to R+E for their most challenging projects.”
R&E’s New York City Development Group seamlessly integrates the firm’s expertise in land use, zoning, affordable housing, tax incentives, and real estate transactions to tackle the city’s most complex projects. This unified approach enables comprehensive solutions that maximize value while skillfully navigating New York’s intricate regulatory landscape.
Founded in 1975, Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. is widely recognized as one of New York City’s pre-eminent full-service real estate law firms. The firm’s NYC Land Use and Zoning attorneys are renowned for obtaining approvals for complex rezonings, special permits, and variances from the Department of City Planning, Board of Standards and Appeals, and Landmarks Preservation Commission. R&E provides comprehensive representation across all aspects of real estate, including acquisitions, financing, joint ventures, construction, design team agreements, tax incentives, land use and zoning matters, offering plans, distressed situations, as well as related litigation. R&E’s deep experience in New York real estate makes it the ideal partner for owners, developers, institutions, investors and lenders in all aspects of real estate.
