Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso throws shade on high-rise proposal near Botanic Garden
Borough President Antonio Reynoso has thrown serious shade on a developer’s controversial plan to build a high-rise apartment complex alongside the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Reysono on Friday formally recommended Continuum Company’s plan to build a 14-story, 475-unit tower on the site of a former spice factory at 962-972 Franklin Ave. in Crown Heights be rejected.
He joined a growing chorus of critics concerned over the large shadows the building would cast over greenhouses.
“@BrooklynBotanic is sacred, and this one-of-a-kind community resource deserves one-of-a-kind consideration,” Reynoso said on X. “I will not support any development here that will create additional shadow impacts. This proposal fails to meet that standard.”
Continuum’s application to build well above the seven stories allowed at the site under existing zoning rules is currently undergoing the city’s land-use review process.
Besides Reynoso, Community Board 6 has also issued an advisory opinion rejecting the project.
Both recommendations are expected to hold serious weight when the City Planning Commission holds a hearing on the application Aug. 7.
The commission and, potentially the City Council, will have final say on the matter.
In 2021, the Planning Commission rejected a Continuum plan to build two 34-story towers with nearly 1,600 units at the same location, citing the large shadows and other potential environmental risks it could bring to the horticultural hotspot.
Continuum’s application includes building 119 units of affordable apartments for people of low- and moderate-income.
Continuum did not return messages.
