Bronx Planning Head Taking Over Brooklyn Office

This is one of those items that goes under most radars, but that is of interest to those concerned with Brooklyn development. The Real Estate reported yesterday that Purnima Kapur, who is director of the Bronx office of the Department of City Planning is taking over as director of the Brooklyn office. In the Bronx, Ms. Kapur handled the contentious and controversial rezonings for Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Terminal Market. She is replacing Regina Myer, who will be heading the Hudson Yards Development Corporation. Ms. Myer, among other things, was an Atlantic Yards supporter who recently described the project as "incredibly transit-oriented," on "primarily state-owned land," and located "in Downtown Brooklyn." While we know little of Ms. Kapur, we do know about the Yankee Stadium and Bronx Terminal Market projects, so we assume that the Planning Office's support for dense, large-scale development in Brooklyn will continue.

The release announcing Ms. Kapur's new job says she is "extremely qualified to lead the Brooklyn team for upcoming challenges such as planning for the Gowanus Canal neighborhoods, revitalization of Coney Island and implementation of the Downtown Brooklyn and Greenpoint-Williamsburg plans." Some of our favorite topics. Which is why we thought it was worth taking note of the New Brooklyn Planning Boss.