Another Downtown Brooklyn tower faces local opposition

Another Downtown Brooklyn tower is gearing up for a neighborhood battle. Slate Property Group’s proposed 40-story tower on Fulton Street is facing opposition from Brooklyn Community Board 2, the Brooklyn Paper reports.

Slate announced the project earlier this month; The developer wants to bring a new residential tower to the triangular lot bound by Fulton Street, Flatbush Avenue, and Rockwell Place. The skyscraper would rise next to the firm’s other development, a 19-story rental at 1 Flatbush Avenue. Plans call for the tower at 570 Fulton Street to have 139 apartments, of which 40 will be affordable apartments. The tower will also have office space aimed at small, local businesses, and retail.

In the wake of the city approving the massive mixed-use project at 80 Flatbush Avenue , the community board expressed grave concerns about another new tall tower rising in their neighborhood. In order to move forward with its current plan, Slate needs the site to be upzoned, and is currently moving through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. The first stop in that process is the community board, and the board’s Land Use Committee voted down the proposal 5-1, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

While the community board might be opposed to the development, some locals have expressed excitement about the project. The president of the nearby Ingersoll Houses Tenants Association told the Brooklyn Paper that the project was a boost for much-needed affordable housing in the neighborhood, and for small businesses. He said the board was out of touch with the community.

The project will now be voted upon by the full community board, followed by the Brooklyn Borough President, the City Planning Commission, the City Council, and the Mayor. As of right, Slate can build a 20-story tower on the site, but with the smaller project, Slate likely won’t feel incentivized to offer the community benefits portion of the development.

• Panel says no to another Downtown tower [Brooklyn Paper]
• In Downtown Brooklyn, new 40-story tower adds to neighborhood residential boom [Curbed]