APRIL 16, 2013

SPECIAL LANDMARKING AND REZONING MEETING

President Even Hill opens meeting with introduction of board members

Summary and wrap up of Town Hall meeting in March

LANDMARKS

New York Landmarks Conservancy (NYLC) – Blair

Historic Districts Council – Frampton

Crown Heights North Association – Debora

Introduction to NY Landmarks Conservancy

Introduction to Historic Districts Council

CHCA presentation on historically significant buildings in the neighborhood and an overview of the CHCA landmarking process to date.

- First landmarking informational meeting held in 2008.

- Landmarking discussions continued at monthly CHCA meetings.

- Second informational meeting held in 2009.

- In 2012 formal landmarking proposal made

Presentation on buildings of note in the community.

Questions from the community:

Would landmarking encourage people to sell their properties, allowing the new owners to change the building?

- Once a building is landmarked, it’s landmarked in perpetuity. Even if the building is sold, it remains landmarks.

Does landmarking increase the costs of making changes to buildings?

- It can, depending on the changes you’re making. But there are groups that provide incentives, grants, and loans for renovations on landmarked buildings.

What’s the process for doing exterior changes on a landmarked buildings?

- Process of exterior changes – submit a one-page request for a permit. Most permits are submitted within a week’s time.

Could the cost of landmarking be passed down to renters?

- There are tax incentives for landmarking programs (J-51), which can prevent the any costs from trickling down to renters.

Does landmarking prevent buildings from being taken by the city as eminent domain?

- Landmarking makes it much more difficult for buildings to be taken by eminent domain.

Does landmarking only concern the front of the building?

- Landmarks regulates the full exterior: front, back, side, roof. The rear of the building is regulated much more loosely.

What if you have already made modern changes to a building, would you have to change them back once it was landmarked?

- When a building is landmarked, everything already done to the building is grandfathered in.

REZONING

Zoning is a set of regulations governing the size and shape of new construction as well as the use of a property.

Goals of the rezoning study:

- Maintain the existing scale and character of the neighborhood

- Create incentives for development of affordable housing

- March commercial zoning to retail character

Rezoning Proposal:

- Establishes height limits for the entire rezoning area that would facilitate context sensitive development.

- Identifies areas that can accommodate modest growth for application of Inclusionary Housing Program.

- Updates existing commercial zoning to match underlying land use and lot configuration.

Eve introduces Crow Hill and the board members.

The new building being built at Franklin Ave. and Eastern Parkway is supposed to be a residential building with affordable units. But plans could change as it’s being built.

The third annual Franklin Ave. Halloween parade was very successful, with more than 50 kids in attendance.

Crow Hill organized a collection for Sandy Relief.

Jesse Hamilton with State Senator Eric Adams
- Working to prosecute landlords offering people money to move out or making conditions terrible for people who won’t move out.
- Rapid Realty
- Housing count judge can come out and speak to residents about what their rights are.
- Occupy Wall St. organized a rally in front of MySpace Realty
- HPD for renters rights

Walter T. Mosely, district
- Spoke at Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce about needing chamber to be more responsive to corridors like Franklin Ave. and coordinating with groups like Crow Hill.
- Will keep Crow Hill updated on efforts to reform the housing court.

Hakeem Jeffries representative brought Macy’s parade tickets.

Committee breakout at future meeting.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on April 17, 2012, 7:30 PM. The located was moved from The Gospel Tabernacle Church to the back room at 739 Franklin.

Kelly from the Greene Hill Food Coop came to talk to the community.

• Has over 1000 members
• You can work your Park Slop Coop hours at the Greene Hill Coop
• Dedicated to providing healthy, sustainable, local produce to anyone who wants access to it. Accepts WIC, EBT, and other food assistance programs.
• Open Wed 6- 10 , Sat 10a – 6pm
• Work commitment: 2 hours/month
• Located at Putnam & Fulton, close to Franklin Ave stop on the C train.
• More info at greenehillfood.coop

Community Garden

• The CHCA community garden on Franklin Ave. has to close because the lot is being sold.
• CHCA is looking into partnering with the Dean St garden  (between Franklin & Bedford) for future projects.

Go Green/Go Clean committee

• The Franklin Ave merchants will be entering the Greenest Block contest.

Art Not Arrests

• The Dean St garden (between Franklin & Bedford) has taken on the Art Not Arrests installation and summer programs planned for kids in the community.
• Still looking for teachers for new classes.
• If you teach painting, drawing, crafts, or other projects kids might be interested in, please contact Arts Not Arrests.
• If you have contacts in the community that can help us reach out to schools and kids, please let us know so that we can raise awareness about the summer programs that are being planned.

Mike Fagan on behalf of SOS Crown Heights

• Youth program is searching for internships for kids 14-17 years old.
• If you have a business or work in an office setting, talk to Mike.

Community Youth Mentoring Program

• A community member is working on starting a youth mentorship program, if you’re interested in volunteering, mentoring, or getting updates, visit crownroots.org

CHCA board elections

• Nominations and elections for the board will happen during the June meeting.
• If you’re a dues paying member, you can be nominated for and/or vote for the board.

Take Back Our Community

• A program started by Senator Adams has been started to organize community members block-by-block.
• If you’re interested in organizing with people on your block, contact CHCA for support.

Summer Farmers Market

• June 20 – August 30 at the Dean St garden.
• More information to come.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on April 17, 2012, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

• President Eve Porter opens the meeting with a welcome to first-time attenders and board introductions.
• Officers from the 77th Precinct were present to meet with the community. The precinct is located at Bergen & Utica, with another location at Dean & Flatbush.
• Sergeant Carmacho and Officer Joseph from the precinct introduced themselves to the community and warned that apartment burglaries are on the rise.
• Laptops and game systems are the main priority for theft.
• It’s recommended that residents change the locks when they move into a new apartment, because many installed locks for apartments are flimsy.
• Another recommendation was to reinforce locks on windows.
• Residents were also advised to be more aware when they exit the subway, instead of immediately opening their phones.
• You can call the 77th precinct and ask the crime prevention officer to survey your apartment for security issues. 718-735-0634
• A building owner can sign up for the FTap program, which allows officers to go in the building and ask people if they are residents.
• Residents can have drinks on the roof of a building if the owner of the building has given permission.
• The Brooklyn Bike Patrol is a volunteer program is available to escort people home in Brooklyn. Sunday-Thursday 8PM-12AM, Friday & Saturday 8PM-3AM. Call 718-744-7592, brooklynbikepatrol@gmail.com, facebook.com/brooklynbikepatrol,
• Shalawn Langhorne, vice chair with CB8, talked about the Take Back Our Community (TBOC) initiative. If community members are interested in forming a block association, contact CHCA: chca@crowhillcommunity.org.
• Board member Sue gave an update on three big real estate projects happening in the neighborhood:
• The lot at Eastern Parkway & Franklin sold and there is a new rendering of the plans for that space.
• At Dean & Bergen between Franklin & Classon: 1) The Nassau Brewery complex is getting ready to start phase one of the revocation of the older buildings, resulting in 20 commercial units. 2) A 150 Sq ft warehouse will now be developed into commercial spaces with a beer garden and performance space on the ground floor.
• If you know somebody who is licensed for construction, electrical work, etc, put them in touch with CHCA and we can make sure the developers of these spaces consider hiring locally.
• Residents should be proactive about bringing commercial spaces that you want to see in the neighborhood.
• The Go Green/Go Clean CHCA committee will be doing a cleanup and planting day on Saturday, May 5th. Meet at 10AM – 12 PM, meet at the community garden.
• SOS is seeking summer internships for their youth program in Crown Heights. If you work in a setting, especially an office setting, please contact SOS.
• The Lower East Side Ecology Center recycles electronics. In the fall, they will be coming to Crown Heights. More details to come.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on February 21, 2012, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

• President Eve Porter opens the meeting with a welcome to first-time attenders and board introductions. This month’s meeting will be an open forum for the community.
• Safe In This Place
  Julia Taylor from Safe In This Place, a Franklin Ave. theater & dialogue project, announced that the final sharing of the group will be available on March 8 from 7:30 – 9:30 at St Theresa’s Church at 563 Sterling Pl. More info.
• Art Not Arrest
  Lana and Kristen from Ground Up Designs announced that they raised the funds needed to complete the project. They brought a sample of what the structure will look like in the CHCA community garden. They are looking for merchants to host a box of the zip-ties so that people can donate money for art classes. If you want to host an art class, get in touch with Lana and Kristen: artnotarrests@gmail.com or 347.722.1659. They are looking for kids who need community service for school credit to intern for the project. One community member suggested connecting with the police reform organizing project.
• Bike Racks on Franklin Ave.
  Judy, a volunteer with Transportation Alternatives, talked about their effort to get more bike parking in the neighborhood, particularly on Nostrand Ave. and areas east of Franklin. They will be doing a community survey to see where bike racks are needed and are feasible. New bike lanes are coming on Washington Ave. They are having a volunteer day on Saturday, March 3, 2 – 5 PM to take measurements and gather the support of businesses with a good spot in front for bike parking. RSVP to Judy (bartlettjudy@gmail.com) to let them know what time you’re available. Sign the online petition.
• Subway Elevator
  A community member asked what could be done to get an elevator or escalator for the subway entrance at the Franklin Ave subway stop. Another community member said that it was scheduled to put an elevator in, but the MTA is so far behind on the project. Eve Porter said we could also talk to Community Board 2 about advocating for more frequent bus service.
• Community Message Board
  CHCA volunteers are posting updates on the message boards on the community garden and at the subway entrance on Franklin. Information about hoisting, health services, job training, etc. are posted there on a regular basis.
• Pawn Shop on Park Pl
  CHCA forwarded the community complaints to Tish James’ office. For those that don’t want the pawn shop in the neighborhood, call 311 to make a complaint that there is a pawn shop in an area not zoned for such a business. Make sure you give them the address: 711A Park Pl.
• District Leader Olanike Alabi
  The presidential primary will be on April 24, and the congressional primary will be June 26 (moved from September). There is not yet a final date set for the state primary, there’s a bill in the assembly to also have it on June 26. Redistricting is taking place this year based on the census. The task force responsible for redrawing the lines issued their first draft, which Gov. Cuomo has not signed off on. The committee will issue another set by March 1. You can see the current status online.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on January 17, 2012, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

• Introduction of board members.
• Recognition of community members attending for the first time.
• MLK Day service:
  CHCA had a cleanup on Franklin Ave. to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. About 12 people attended to clean up garbage on the avenue and add mulch in the CHCA planter boxes. The Candy Rush donated hot beverages for everybody after the cleanup.
• Bike parking:
  Transportation Alternatives has started a petition to get more bike racks and corals in the community board 8 region. A representative, Judy, took suggestions from the community to promote the petition, and asked that CHCA endorse efforts for more bike parking.
• Safe In This Place:
  CHCA is partnering with Safe In This Place to promote dialog in the neighborhood about public safety. The first session was last week and will continue for nine more weeks on Thursdays. On the week of March 8th the group will have a public sharing on what they did during the workshops. For more information, contact Julia at safeinthisplace@gmail.com or 708-408-2004.
• Garden project:
  Ground Up Designers presented their garden installation project initiated after the shootings in the neighborhood over Labor Day. It’s an awareness raising effort for gun violence issues that will also be a fundraising platform. An art installation will go up in the community garden in the spring, and grow throughout the summer. The installation will be made of color versions of the plastic zip-ties used by the police force as handcuffs. Ground Up took general questions and feedback from the community and asked for recommendations of organizations that the money raised could be donated to. You can see a video on the project here.
• Armory update:
  • CHCA board member Nina explained the history of the Armory at Bedford & Atlantic and talked about Coalition for Bedford Atlantic Armory Reform (CBAAR) and it’s mission.
  • Two CHCA board members attended a meeting that was held last week about creating a community center in the Armory on Union and Bedford. Marty Markowitz said that plans are still on the table for the Bedford/Atlantic armory, but that there are existing services there that make it a harder situation. Tish James said that $14 million dollars had been allocated to the Bedford/Atlantic armory. That plan is on hold for now, and efforts with the Bedford/Union project will move for first. You can sign up for updates on the armory here, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Board member Nina asked the community if there was anybody interested in being a representative for CHCA on the Bedford/Union armory project.
• Community organizations:
  Board Member Sue gave an update on the clothing & toiletry drive CHCA did in December. The items were delivered to Kianga House and the Bedford Armory Assessment Center. CHCA wants to keep supporting these organizations throughout the year, and also collect toys & books for the Haitian Day Care Center on Bedford Ave. A resource list of non-profits and social services in the community has been posted to the CHCA website here.
• Community outreach:
  Board member Julie asked for a volunteer to post updates from the CHCA blog about things like housing, health services, education, etc. to the bulletin board located at Franklin Ave and Eastern Parkway.
• Elected officials:
  • District Leader Walter Mosley talked about the central Brooklyn voter registration drive, concentrating on ex-offenders, young people voting for the first time, displaced individuals who have moved from one community to another, and new residents. He offered voter registration forms at the meeting and let the community know that the New York State primary will probably happen on June 26th this year. He also talked about his initiative to cut down on theft of electronics by requiring that resellers ask for proof of ownership before reselling electronics.
  • Lee Church from State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries‘ office gave an announcement on the state of the district address happening at Pratt on Thursday, January 26, at 6:30 PM. RSVP at 718-596-0100 or jeffriesh@assembly.state.ny.us.
  • A representative from the Crown Heights Mediation Center and Save Our Streets announced an arts festival happening in the spring. Artists 19 and younger can submit projects for cash prizes, the submission deadline is April 5th, 2012. For more information, contact Anthony at 718-773-6886 or mohena@crownheights.org.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on November 15, 2011, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

1. Introduction and mention of membership dues
2. Bike Lane Proposal sent to CB8 Traffic & Transportation Committee:  We collected over 335 signatures from the community (300+ on paper petitions and 36 gathered via email) in support of this proposal.  We also submitted two renderings showing before & after views of the proposal from both a street level and a birds-eye perspective. Thank you to Manuel Avila & Danny Garwood for creating the renderings
3. Susan: Halloween Parade update
4. Julie: Offline community announcements
5. Safe in This Place Project: Jessie, Jessica & Julia
6. Susan: Local Community Resource Guide
7. Collection for Kianga House
8. Ask for signatures to be included in the residential parking permit

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on October 18, 2011, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

Opening Remarks: Eve Porter, President

Save Our Streets (S.O.S.) Crown Heights
Alan James from S.O.S. Crown Heights speaks on how they are addressing violence in our community.

• They are a community-based effort to end gun violence in our neighborhood. S.O.S. works closely with local organizations, neighborhood churches and pastors, community residents and the individuals most likely to commit a shooting.
• S.O.S. Crown Heights provides immediate intervention whenever a shooting occurs in the neighborhood, reaching out to the victim, friends, and family to ensure that a retaliatory shooting does not take place.
• S.O.S. Crown Heights works closely with neighborhood leaders and businesses to promote a visible and public message against gun violence. The goal is to end the spread of violence by encouraging local voices to articulate that shooting is an unacceptable behavior.
• They are having a march on Thursday, October 20, as part of their Week of Peace. CHCA will participate, meeting at the Community Garden at 5:15, and walking over as  a group to participate together.
• On Friday, October 21st, at 6 PM, P.S. 289 (900 St. Marks Ave at Kingston) will host S.O.S. Crown Heights guests for a screening of The Interrupters, the critically acclaimed documentary about the Chicago CeaseFire project on which S.O.S. is based. More information.

77th Precinct
Eve Porter encouraged the community to attend the 77th Precinct meeting, held every second Monday of the month at 7:30 PM. The next meeting will be at PS 9, at St. Marks and Underhill Ave.

The meeting of the Crow Hill Community Association was held on September 20, 2011, 7:30 PM at The Gospel Tabernacle Church, 725 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

Labor Day Shootings

President Eve Porter opened the meeting with a moment of silence to honor the victims of the shootings that occurred on Park Place on Labor Day. She also gave an update on the funds raised for Denise Gay’s family. Denise Gay was the innocent bystander who was killed in the shootings.

Summer Activities

There was an update of the events that happened over the summer:

1. Kids Day: Garnett Philips gave a history of the Kids Day event, gave a description of this year’s Kids Day, and talked about the hopes for expanding it to multiple blocks for 2012. She said that they are planning to start fundraising earlier this year to raise the money needed to expand the event.
2. Community Garden: Kyle Levenick gave an update of garden activities, which included a BBQ, potluck, and new compost bins.
3. Planters: Over the summer 20 planters were constructed, planted, and distributed to Franklin Avenue Merchant members.

Impact Zone

Over 400 signatures and letters have been collected to support the Impact Zone on Franklin Ave. We have not been given a definitive “yes” on keeping the Impact Zone, but the 77th precint has received an additional 20 officers to help with the east end of the precinct.

Community member Nick Juravich expressed interesting in creating and distributing a flier to residents that would outline what the Impact Zone is.

There have been burglary problems in the neighborhood, so residents should make sure they keep their windows and doors locked.

Bike Lane on Franklin Avenue

We are continuing to collect signatures for the petition to extend the bike lane down Franklin Avenue. The bike lane would slow down the cars on the avenue and improve the safety of our streets. There would be no reduced parking due to the addition of the bike lane.

The petition is available to sign at The Candy Rush and other stores on the avenue.

No Solicitation Signs

The “No Solicitation” signs are available for CHCA members for $1. If you have a card that got waterlogged, you can trade it in for a new one for free. We will be reprinting the cards in a way that will make them more durable. We also want to make cards for “pooper scooping” to encourage residents to clean up after their dogs on the street.

Fall Projects

Community members were encouraged to sign up to help with the following projects for the fall:

1. Halloween: We are planning another kids Halloween parade that will end at the garden with some special events.
2. Fall Planting: We will be filling our planters with evergreens and daffodil bults on Sunday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct 16.
3. Water For the Garden: We need to find a solution for getting a water supply to the community garden.

District Attorney’s Office

A representative from the District Attorney’s office spoke, encouraging the community to get in touch and learn more about the programs her office provides, including an alternative sentencing program which would be helping CHCA with the fall planting activities.

Kings County District Attorney’s Office
Jerry Schmetterer Director of Public Information
350 Jay St.
Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201
718.250.2000

Assembly District

Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries spoke briefly to the community about how his office is working to improve public safety and to work with the precinct to challenge their “stop and first” tactics.

Open Forum

Several members of the community expressed an interesting in working to improve public safety in response to the Labor Day shootings. Various ideas were expressed, and the community members were encouraged to come up with project plans to present to the board to consider.