Author: ElBarrioUnite

East River Plaza Fact Sheet

El Barrio Unite East River Plaza Expansion Fact Sheet                                    03/09/2015

Who is El Barrio Unite? A newly formed organization of concerned New Yorkers centered in East Harlem.

Mission: To protect the residents of the East Harlem from predatory developers that threaten the decay of the community and living environment through gentrification, displacement, tax increases, exploitation and greed.

As a community based group in East Harlem that is openly opposed to the East River Plaza Residential Development (ERPRD) project (project ID # P2014M0466) proposed by the developers Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG) and Forest City Ratner (FCR).

What is the East River Plaza Expansion? Tiago Holdings, LLC under the development groups, Blumenfeld Development Group and Forest City Ratner, propose the construction of three residential towers on the existing East River Plaza shopping complex. The proposal would include approximately 1,000-1,200 residential towersIIunits of which 20-25% would be affordable housing units, according to their application. The towers would have approximately 32-47 stories and would rise between 320-470 feet above the platform, connected through a series of skyways equipped with residential amenity space and features. The towers require a number of rezoning and mapping changes that require permits.

Who are the Developers? Blumenfeld Development Group:  Edward Blumenfeld who runs the development group has been developing retail, commercial, industrial, and residential projects in New York, New Jersey, and Florida for over three decades.

His personal and professional relationship with crook, Bernie Madoff is highly questionable. According the Bloomberg News, Blumenfeld invested about $140 million with Madoff across 38 accounts, even an $11 million transfer from Madoff a few days before his arrest.

Forest City Ratner has a pattern of making promises to local communities that they will generate jobs, housing, economic development, and tax revenues but do not follow through on those promises. In 2004, FCE promised to deliver 10,000 permanent jobs and 2,250 affordable housing units in the 22 acre Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn in return for $270 million direct subsidies to construct the Barclays Center. Purchasing the land for the project at less than half-price and other land through eminent domain, FCE has completed the Barclays Center but has not completed the affordable housing units and has only created 1,900 part time jobs.

What are the community’s concerns? Gentrification, Displacement, Public safety, Environment, Asthma, Public Health, Rent increases, Tax increases, Decreased sun light for community garden, Education/schools, Disruption of commerce and labor at East River Plaza, Reduced services, Land use zoning, Flood zone, Tax breaks and subsidies to the developer, Quality of life, Tax abatements and government subsidies without benefits to the community

What Can I do to help? Tell your friends and neighbors and invite them to an El Barrio Unite meeting. Like and Follow El Barrio Unite on Facebook and visit www.elbarriounite.org for more information.

Important Upcoming Community Events

El Barrio Unite Important Upcoming Meetings

03/03/2015 Community Board 11 Housing Committee Meeting

  • 6:00pm Bonifacio Senior Housing, 7 East 116th Street

03/10/2015 Public Hearing NYC Board of Standards and Appeal

  • 1:00pm Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street, Manhattan
  • Public Hearing on Special Permit request by Planet Fitness to operate their fitness center at East River Plaza Shopping Center

03/11/2015 Community Board 11 Land Use, Landmarks & Planning Committee Meeting

  • 6:00pm Bonifacio Senior Housing, 7 East 116th Street

Agenda

  1. “421-a” Property Tax exemption presentation
  2. Review of Land Use Application # C 150211 ZMM The NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development seeks approval for the:
  •  designation of an Urban Development Action Area and approval of an Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP);
  • disposition of City-owned property located at East 120th Street and First Avenue, Block 1808, p/o Lot 8; and 
  • a zoning map amendment to rezone a portion of the Development Site and approximately 5,198 additional square feet in the same tax lot from R7A to R7X/C1-5

 

Construction of a 12-story mixed-use development project at the northeast corner of 120th Street and First Avenue adjacent to the existing East Harlem Multi-Service Center, 413 East 120th Street.

Please note: This ULURP application will be the subject of a public hearing at CB11’s Full Board meeting on March 17, 2015

 

03/14/2015 Town Hall Hosted by Assembly Member Robert J. Rodriguez

  • State of the District
  • 2015 Budget Review

Location: Hunter College School of Social Work 2180 Third Avenue (119th Street)

 

03/17/2015  Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting

  • 6:30pm-8:30pm Children’s Aid Society, 130 East 101st Street

El Barrio Unite will be addressing the Board at this meeting!! Make sure to join us to show your opposition to the East River Plaza Expansion

03/28/2015 El Barrio Unite Community Meeting

  • 2:30-3:30pm 2249 East Second Avenue @ Casa Boricua del Barrio

 

 

Join Us March 9th, 2015 at Casa Boricua del Barrio

El Barrio Unite invites you to join us for a community meeting to discuss the East River Plaza Residential Plan and Expansion. We will be discussing the tower proposal and how it will threaten our community. We hope that you will be able to join us! Should you have any questions or concerns please call N.E.R.V.E. Inc. at (212)427-0555 or email info@elbarriounite.org.

Date: Monday March 9th, 2015

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: Casa Boricua del Barrio, 2249 2nd Ave New York, NY