After controversially rezoning East New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday that he would bring more than $16M of improvements to the Brooklyn neighborhood’s industrial areas. De Blasio stated the plan would double the manufacturing zone’s 2.7M SF, creating potential space for 250 new companies and 4,000 new jobs.
$8.2M of the proposed $16M will be spent on infrastructure improvements like new sidewalks, repaved streets, new lighting and safety improvements to the Sutter Avenue L-train stop, Crain's reports. Also included in the plan are $6M in improvements to the East New York Industrial Building, creating space for six companies, and $2.5M bringing affordable broadband to the neighborhood.
The de Blasio administration believes the plan could boost East New York’s economy, as the Brooklyn 'hood is one of NYC’s poorest neighborhoods and has double-digit unemployment rates.
The announcement was made to address rumors that the rezoning would replace industrial businesses for residential properties. De Blasio has promised to create or keep 200,000 affordable housing units around the city over the next decade, but some feared this initiative could come at the cost of other sectors. Some gentrification-fearing locals even protested to local Councilman Rafael Espinal Jr., who supported the rezoning. [Crain’s]
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