by Emma Davey Community members gathered at the Polish & Slavic Center (176 Java St.) on Tuesday night to consider a massive new housing development on the Bushwick Inlet, dubbed Monitor Point.
The project consists of two new residential towers, a new home for the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, and additional open space on the inlet. The 600-foot-tall complex would contain 1,150 apartments, 40% of which will be permanently affordable (an increase from the previously suggested amount, thanks…
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Transplant “hipsters”make me sick!
Affordable housing is in the eyes of the beholder. Some of the stats I see re this are still out of the reach of many people.
I want to go on record in strong opposition to the proposed upzoning of state-owned land along the Greenpoint waterfront.
In 2005, under the Bloomberg administration, Greenpoint was comprehensively rezoned. That rezoning dramatically altered our neighborhood, increasing density, height, and development along the waterfront with the promise of public benefits, including open space and infrastructure. Nearly twenty years later, that rezoning has still not been fully realized. Large portions of the waterfront remain unbuilt, and many of the impacts—on housing, transit, schools, and quality of life—have not yet been fully felt or evaluated.
Given that reality, it is premature and irresponsible to ask this community to accept additional upzoning. Until the 2005 rezoning has been fully executed and its consequences clearly understood, this neighborhood does not want to negotiate further increases in height or density.
This concern is especially urgent because the land in question is owned by New York State. Public land should serve the public good. It should not be leveraged through a 99-year lease to benefit a private developer proposing three very tall luxury towers just 50 feet from a public park—a park this community has fought for, organized around, and waited for over 30 years to secure.
State-owned property represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prioritize broad public benefit: meaningful open space, community facilities, environmental resilience, and uses that serve the people who already live here—not just future luxury developers.
Greenpoint has already given a great deal. We are asking, reasonably and responsibly, for the city and the state to pause, to honor past commitments, and to recognize that public land should remain a public asset. Until the existing rezoning is complete, and its impacts fully understood, further upzoning—especially on state-owned land—should not move forward.
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”.
Once the buildings are built, there’s unfortunately no turning the land back into a park. While 460 affordable apartments would be a win, the development would also be building 690 luxury rentals in a neighborhood that already has more than enough luxury apartments. Monitor Point’s website even points out that only 5% of GP’s land is dedicated to open space, we should be maximizing it to the fullest extent instead of adding more light-blocking high rises.
I will keep this respectful but “460 affordable apartments” isn’t worth “690 luxury rentals” is not a serious position.
We are in a housing crisis, and comments like these are disheartening. Rich people will outbid everyone, either for the 690 “luxury” (ie largely 1/2 BR) rentals, or for existing housing. That so many also wish to take away 460 affordable units reflects quite poorly on the community in my opinion.
Joan – You’ve said it all. Respect!
Joan – Respect!
Ditto Joan!!
Joan, very well said..I for one totally agree..
I think all of these people who are afraid of apartment buildings should go move out to the suburbs so they don’t have to worry about living near density.
I also notice they’re all older, well-off and white. So they would fit in the suburbs very well.
This project will bring 460 affordable housing units AT AFFORDABLE LEVELS and all the people in favor are working-class minorities while all the people opposed are older, white homeowners. Really makes you think.
LOL. Then let’s build a condo in the middle of Forte Green Park! Think of all the affordable housing we could gain Let’s put a luxury high rise in Prospect Park. Amiright? And if you don’t like the density, then you must be racist so go move to the surburbs?
It’s not the density. It’s our lack of greenspace. Greenpoint has no large park. This was supposed to be our big park. We’ve hosted ten new high rises with more are on the way. As a twenty-year resident of Greenpoint, I love them. But as a parent I can also say that there’s no place for my kids to go outside and touch grass. Literally, it’s almost impossible to find open playspace.
So please stop with the whataboutism. It’s not about a new development. It’s about honoring on a promise made in 2005 that was the basis for the massive growth we have already hosted.
Look at this image from your developers, Jorge. It’s a joke! I’m supposed to see a giant building in the middle of a green field and celebrate the “environmental benefits”. LOL. Fuhgeddaboudit.
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Jorge, are you paid y the developers? Is your real name Chad? I attended the meeting and what you say is not true. People f all ages oppose it, and you have no idea how much money any of those people have. Northside Williamsburg and Greenpoint are majority white neighborhoods, so it’s not surprising that the majority of attendees were white.
This development is an abomination and as a 20 year union man I can say that, in advocating for the project, the Construction Union is acting like scabs. And if you don’t agree, then tell me – why not build a luxury condo in Forte Green Park? Why not build affordable housing on Sheep’s meadow too? All their arguments apply. Selling off public parkland is NOT the solution to our problems, and this would be a huge black eye to Mamdani. The union is defecting away from the public good while claiming to stand for the community. And the union name for such defectors are scabs.
The Greenline Publication hand delivered the propaganda to my door. SavetheInlet.org is barely a footnote in their development ad. As an public HS Earth Science Teacher who has worked with St Nicks in Williamsburg, I’ll be reaching out to Frank Lang politely, to explain why I think this is not a good look for him to be quoted in a one sided piece.
This propaganda image speaks for itself. Look at all the great environment benefits of paving over green space! LOL.
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