Additional revisions have been made to the proposed rezoning of 962–972 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to ensure the forthcoming development will protect some of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s most vulnerable plant collections from shadows that would cause them permanent damage.
On Tuesday, November 12 at 11 a.m., the New York City Council Land Use Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will vote on the revised proposal. The following statement is attributable to Adrian Benepe, President & CEO of Brooklyn Botanic Garden:
“After more than six years of discussion, debate, and vigorous public advocacy, the threat of permanent loss of sunlight for our living museum of plants is over.
We are grateful to our elected officials for their steadfast support and diligent work to craft a plan that ensures the sunlight that plants need to survive, protects the Garden from permanent damage, and enables affordable workforce housing.
We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams and his administration, notably the Departments of City Planning and Parks & Recreation and the Department of Cultural Affairs; the City Planning Commission and Chair Daniel Garodnick; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Council Member Crystal Hudson, who led crucial negotiations on the matter; Community Board 9; leadership of DC-37, the City’s largest public municipal workers union; and tens of thousands of BBG trustees, staff, members, and supporters in the community who stood firm in a ‘Fight for Sunlight’ to defend this 114-year-old public asset and all it does for Brooklyn and beyond.”
The revised proposal features a 10-degree slope (down from 15 degrees approved by City Planning), allowing for necessary sunlight to reach the Garden’s plant nursery and other crucial areas. The building is now proposed to include 355 units of housing, 30% of which are affordable. The modification by City Council at the lower 10-degree slope will better preserve sunlight access to BBG.
About Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment. Learn more at bbg.org. Follow on social @brooklynbotanic and join the conversation using #BrooklynBotanicGarden.
