.. DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ..

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DUMBO Rezoning

::UPDATE:: On July 29, 2009, the City Council adopted the DUMBO Rezoning. The zoning map and text changes are now in effect.

The Dumbo Improvement District is proud to support the Department of City Planning's DUMBO Rezoning. We believe it will allow for reasonable and measured economic growth. We know that such growth will be thoughtfully balanced with the constraints imposed by our existing historic district. We look forward to the population increase the DUMBO rezoning will promote, and we will continue to work together with our businesses and residents to advance and promote one of Brooklyn's most beautiful and historic waterfront communities, DUMBO.

The Dumbo Improvement District has heard that members of our community are concerned that DUMBO will face job loss in the event that the DUMBO rezoning passes. Specifically, that rezoning 10, 20 and 68 Jay to allow owners to convert to residential could lead to the loss of 1200-1800 jobs. There is no basis for this concern.

10 Jay Street - As of summer 2007, it was estimated that 10 Jay housed roughly 80 businesses and 250 workers. With or without the DUMBO rezoning it is possible that this building will one day convert to residential. That residential growth may occur at this site is no indication of job loss since the businesses could relocate within DUMBO.

20 Jay Street - 20 Jay is home to over 100 of DUMBO's commercial businesses, over 500 workers, with retail at its base. Recently, Two Trees, its owner, invested over $5M in the building's upgrade. Two Tree's principal, Jed Walentas has submitted a letter to the land use committee of CB2 stating that Two Trees has "...no plans to convert 20 Jay Street for residential use nor is the building even convertible. It features 40,000 sq. ft. floorplates and the building is 200 feet deep, which means that it is appropriate solely for commercial uses." This building will continue to flourish as a home to the creative businesses the Dumbo Improvement District is proud to support.

68 Jay Street & 155 Water Street - 68 Jay houses roughly 500 workers in over 300 businesses. By its mere shape and large floorplates, 68 is not a conversion candidate - it is too large and too square to be converted. Pearl Realty, its owner, has confirmed this. Pearl is also on record discussing the success of their most recent commercial project, Green Desk, which according to their testimony at the CB2 public hearing offers "start up business affordable works space in an environmentally friendly venue. The project [located at 155 Water Street] has already filled up its space with more than 100 new businesses and brought more than 200 jobs to DUMBO."

For further information on these projects or to check out other priorities we have for the coming year the please read the
2007 Dumbo Improvement District Strategic Plan.

archived articles:

Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway

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Smart Environmental Efforts in DUMBO (SEED)

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The Archway

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Street Reconstruction

The Dumbo Improvement District remains an advocate for public investment in DUMBO's ailing infrastructure.

In September of FY07, we successfully completed a temporary...

Lighting

Upon first glance at the above map it may appear that we have adequate street lighting in DUMBO. However after closer examination one can clearly see that many blocks of the...