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Beleagured Domino Sugar Factory Project Hits De Blasio Road Block
By
Lauren Evans
Published Feb 28, 2014
Modified Feb 28, 2014
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Jen Chung/Gothamist
By
Lauren Evans
Published Feb 28, 2014
Modified Feb 28, 2014
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Just when it started to look like the Domino Sugar Factory would ever be anything other than an abandoned warehouse festooned with asbestos warnings, it turns out that the long-stalled development has hit yet another obstacle: Mayor de Blasio, who wants to see more affordable housing included in the 2,300 apartment plan before he intends to let it go forward in its proposed form, the Times reports.
Two Trees Management, which took on the project two years ago after the previous developer defaulted on its loans, has long planned to offer a comparatively generous supply of affordable housing—660 units of the $1.5 billion project would be dedicated to low and moderate income residents.
But de Blasio, intent on keeping his promise to reset the city's expectations with developers, this week insisted that Two Trees dedicate an additional 50,000-square-feet—around 60 apartments—to affordable housing, in exchange for an alteration to zoning regulations that will allow Two Trees to build its four towers taller than those initially planned, ranging around 40 or 50 stories.
Two Trees owner Jed Walentas, who revamped the original plans to include a park, office space and generally more agreeable building design, is not pleased with the mayor's proposal. The company released the following statement, arguing that the increased demands run the risk of stalling the project altogether—again:
Our proposal for the Domino Sugar site was overwhelmingly supported by the Community Board because it is far better than what we can build as of right, delivering more affordable housing, open space, local retail and office space. We share Mayor de Blasio’s affordable housing vision and are hopeful we can reach an agreement, but we are very concerned that the demands being imposed by the City will make us unable to finance the project and move forward with it at all - costing working families in Williamsburg badly needed affordable housing, open space and jobs.
Community members, while supportive of de Blasio's pushback against developers, are also not thrilled at the idea of being saddled with a sad, empty warehouse for another unknown number of years.
“It’s a delicate balance between pushing as hard as you can and a break,” Community Board 1 member Rob Solano told the Times. “If we get to the point where nothing is built, or there are more delays, that’s another day without affordable housing.”
At a press conference today, de Blasio denied that negotiations could lead to a total project shutdown. "This proposal on the table offers a lot of opportunity for the developer," he said. "We think it's important that it also offer a lot back for the people."
The New York Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the project on Wednesday.
Tagged
bill de blasio
domino sugar factory
jed walentas
two trees management
Lauren Evans
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