Press Releases

For Immediate Release
February 10, 2023

Contacts:
Melissa Grace, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

NEW YORK — Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick and Council Member Crystal Hudson today announced the first series of three public and topic-specific working group meetings for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan. The plan aims to bring homes, jobs, and improved infrastructure to this important Brooklyn corridor and neighboring blocks in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Prospect Heights – while also knitting together these vibrant communities currently divided by Atlantic Avenue.

“These public working meetings seek to bring New Yorkers together to re-imagine the future of this section of Atlantic Avenue as one that connects rather than divides diverse and thriving communities. Join us as we get connected!” said Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning Director and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

“The start of the Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan (AAMUP) working group meetings mark the beginning of an exciting and dynamic process that will yield tangible, community-developed plans that will help us create a more vibrant and inclusive Atlantic Avenue corridor,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “I’m eager to see the vision our community puts forth, and I encourage all of my neighbors living in Community Boards 2, 3, and 8 to join these meetings and make their voices heard!”

Led by facilitator WXY, the in-person meetings will take place at PS 9, The Sarah Smith Garnet School, located at 80 Underhill Ave. The events start at 6:30 p.m. and will go until 9 p.m. next Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please register at the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan webpage.

Building upon a decade of planning work led by Brooklyn’s Community Board 8, the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan is a community-led proposal that would bring significant public and private investments to Atlantic Avenue, between Vanderbilt and Nostrand avenues, as well as surrounding blocks. Current zoning rules in this 16-block area, which are mostly unchanged since 1961, do not allow new housing and limit job growth – despite the area’s proximity to mass transit, retail, schools, parks, arts and cultural institutions, and the entire city!

Following up on the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan kickoff meeting in January, which drew more than 200 attendees, these three initial working group meetings – with more to come – will focus on specific topics, each of which are local priorities.

• On Feb. 13, community members will focus on creating housing and income-restricted housing.
• On Feb. 15, the meeting will focus on job creation and support services.
• On Feb. 16, community stakeholders are invited to talk about the public realm and infrastructure needs, including open space and improvements to Atlantic Avenue itself and surrounding streets.

More working group meetings will be scheduled for later this spring.

The plan aims to transform this area into a neighborhood that supports a shared vision of growth. The mixed-use zoning being evaluated would allow multiple, different uses side-by-side or in the same building, such as ground-floor shops or other job-generating uses, with apartments above. This planning work seeks to bring income-restricted housing through the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program and other city programs.

The Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan is expected to begin New York City’s formal land use public review process next year.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.