Council Member Restler discusses Park Avenue rezoning and school seats
Restler says he is not usually on the committee, describes the Park Avenue rezoning as a long effort with about 10 property owners, criticizes DCP and DOT processes, and highlights hundreds of housing units and 2,500 school seats for Bed-Stuy and South Williamsburg.
Thank you so much, Chair Riley.
I don't generally have the privilege of joining you in this committee, and it's good to be here.
We're voting on two projects in my district today, or two rezonings in my district today.
One is the Park Avenue rezoning.
Community members came to me about this rezoning before I had even taken office as a council member in 2021, and we were able to work together with approximately 10 property owners to rezone their properties.
DCP insisted that this be one joint zoning action, which caused a whole lot of different challenges.
And I will tell you, the city agencies involved, especially the Department of Transportation, were entirely unqualified.
operative and the environmental review process and made me want to pull my hair out.
Parks Department was better, but not that much better.
But we were able to eventually get this project to move forward.
And it will generate many hundreds of units of housing, but even more importantly, it will generate 2,500 school seats.
And we hear from families every single day in our communities who are struggling to get by, who are struggling to afford to live in New York City.
And access to affordable housing and access to affordable, high-quality schools, child care all the way through are the things that our communities need.
And so I am thrilled that we are making this long-term investment in the future of Beds, Dye, and South Williamsburg with this rezoning that will really create
educational opportunity for thousands upon thousands of families for generations to come.