The neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg are located at the northern tip of Brooklyn, directly south of Long Island City in Queens.  The East River and Newtown Creek form their western, northern, and eastern boundaries.  Williamsburg is served by the G, L, and J-M-Z subway lines, connecting to lower Manhattan and points in Brooklyn and Queens.  Greenpoint is served by the G subway line, connecting to Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, and points in Queens.

Neighborhood Character
The blocks within the rezoning area were originally developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries as residential neighborhoods to house workers attached to the vibrant industry located along the East River and Newtown Creek.  These industries included ship building, metal and glass production, and oil and sugar refining.    

Industry in this area declined steadily throughout the 20th century.  However, the area has seen considerable growth during the last decade as a residential neighborhood.  In response to these changes, industrial and mixed use areas on and near the waterfront were rezoned to permit residential development under the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg Land Use and Waterfront Plan.  The areas rezoned in 2005 lie to the west of the residential blocks that are the subject of this action.  

Today, most blocks in the area subject to this rezoning consist of 2-4 story wood-frame attached houses and apartment buildings, while some buildings rise to five or six stories.  Neat rows of brick and masonry row houses can also be seen in Greenpoint east of Monsignor McGolrick Park.  The Greenpoint Historic District, designated in 1982, features distinctive 19th century brick row houses commissioned by business owners, foremen, and professionals who had worked on the nearby waterfront. 
 

These buildings often include ground floor commercial uses when located along the commercial corridors of Manhattan, Driggs, Nassau, Graham and Metropolitan avenues, and Grand and Franklin streets.  Community facilities such as schools and churches are common.  Scattered industrial uses occur in Northern Greenpoint, and on Metropolitan Avenue west of Bushwick Avenue.

RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREETS Humboldt Street between Skillman Ave and Jackson St in an existing R6 District COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS Manhattan Avenue between Norman and Meserole Aves in an existing C4-3 District WIDE STREETS McGuinness Boulevard between Norman and Nassau Aves in an existing R6 District

UNIQUE CONDITIONS Elevated Roadway of the BQE at Graham Ave in an existing R6 District Automotive uses at Humboldt St and Metropolitan Ave in an existing C8-2 District

OUT OF CONTEXT DEVELOPMENT   Eckford Street between Greenpoint Ave and Calyer St in an existing R6 District   Richardson and Humboldt Streets in Williamsburg in an existing R6 District