The
Red Hook StarªRevue
JUNE 2016
SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FREE
Menchaca takes on heavy hitting developer and wins by George Fiala
C
ouncilman
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the toxic Gowanus Canal; many of their tenants opposed the plan.
los Menchaca led
Other attendees of the December CB 6 land use meeting opposed the zoning change, including a number of local community leaders, residents, and business interests. John McGettrick is a long-time Red Hook activist and president of the Civic Association. He made his mark fighting against the city placing numerous waste-transfer stations in Red Hook in the 1990s. Jim Tampakis has operated a marine supply business on Richards Street for many years. Victoria Hagman operates a local real estate agency and is a member of CB 6. Robin Goeman is a Van Brunt Street resident and an elder-care attorney. All spoke out against the proposal.
a successful effort
to defeat a proposed zoning change in May after hearing the community’s concerns about the relocation of a nursing home to Red Hook. The nursing home’s supporters included some of the largest development lobbyists in the city.
The Oxford Nursing Home is a forprofit healthcare facility located in Fort Greene. In 2003, they purchased almost a full block of land near the waterfront after the New York State Health Department told them that the Fort Greene location was no longer viable due to the age of the building. The land purchase and their promise to eventually relocate granted them waivers to continue operating in Fort Greene. Last June, Oxford came to a Red
"Reyna
asked
why
Oxford
bought all that land when it wasn’t zoned for a nursing home – a question that the law firm could not quite answer." Hook Civic Association meeting with lawyers, lobbyists and an architect to present their plan to the neighborhood. Many at the meeting were shocked and surprised by the location of a medical facility in a floodplain, as well as its size. The proposed complex would have consisted of three 7-9 story buildings. Most nearby buildings are only four or five stories tall. Menchaca met with the developers in June 2015. “I expressed to them my concerns about maintaining manufacturing uses, locating vulnerable nursing home residents within a flood zone, the scale and
Red Hook Star-Revue
Carlos Menchaca at the City Council Zoning Subcommittee meeting chaired by Donovan Richards. (photo by George Fiala)
context of the project, resilience, and impact on the community,” he told the Star-Revue. “Residents and business owners in Red Hook deserve responsible, sustainable growth in line with my long-standing commitment to preserving manufacturing zones, developing local employment, and preserving essential aspects of Red Hook’s neighborhood character.” Menchaca also directed the developers to engage with the community. After community input, Oxford made a slight alteration to their initial plan, and filed a Universal Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) with the City Planning Commission. The plan was granted initial approval on November 24, 2015, which began an accelerated process starting at Community Board 6 (CB 6) and ending at the City Council. CB 6 held a land use committee meeting in early December. Oxford, represented by Howard Weiss and Nora Martins of the firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, brought in the Tenant Association Presidents of Red Hook East and West, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and members of union 1199 SEIU to testify in favor of the nursing home.
Davidoff Crutcher & Citron is an elite firm that specializes in government relations. Founder Sid Davidoff was a member of former NYC mayor John Lindsey’s administration, and is today close with Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to the NY Post. In January, they wrote, “Sid Davidoff and other politically connected lobbyists have seen their city-related business over the past two years skyrocket while scoring sweetheart deals and other positive results for clients after private sit-downs with the mayor, records show.” The Chamber is a pro-business group organized to support business development. Union 1199 SEIU represents healthcare workers at Oxford, and has always been very politically connected. Tenant Association presidents are often called upon for support of new projects coming into the neighborhood. However, their support does not necessarily represent the majority of their tenant’s voices. Presidents Lillie Marshall of Red Hook West, and Frances Brown of Red Hook East, both supported GBX’s failed plan to build out property using dredged materials from
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Opponents of the nursing home said the large building was out of scale for the neighborhood. Despite Oxford’s guarantees, many doubted that the nursing home would supply care for local residents. In addition, manufacturing in the vicinity would be displaced, and the spot-zoning was illegal. Opponents also echoed Menchaca’s position that a flood zone is an illogical location for an elderly and vulnerable population. While CB 6’s Land Use Committee voted against Oxford’s proposal, the
The proposed nursing home would have towered over the surrounding buildings
full board later overturned that decision a week later. At this general board meeting, Oxford addressed residents’ complaints in a letter distributed to members. The letter was prepared by the nursing home’s lawyers and signing by Oxford’s owner, Barry Braunstein. Jerry Armer, longtime CB 6 member, told the assembly that the letter had changed his position. He subsequently voted in Oxford’s favor. The majority of the board followed suit. Less than two weeks later, Borough President Eric Adams held a pub(continued on page 3)
June 2016, Page 1