Dumbo: Rezoning Issue Gets Instantly Hot

We have to say that the issue of rezoning a small part of Dumbo to allow for higher density residential development almost seemed to come out of nowhere. On Tuesday, the Architects Newspaper reported that the Department of City Planning is considering rezoning an area bounded by Bridge Street on the north, John Street on the west, the Manhattan Bridge on the south and Front Street on the east. Yesterday morning, the Dumbo Neighborhood Association had a meeting to announce its own very detailed proposal ahead of City Planning. Our friends at Brownstoner attended that meeting and offered a full report by lunchtime yesterday. The city's idea will be revealed at a closed meeting today. So, in the span of 48 hours, there is not only a proposal that would could result in taller 10-12 story buildings in some places, but a counter proposal from the neighborhood itself. Per a quote in Brownstoner, the neighborhood proposal aims to create "contextual zoning both for historic preservation and new development." The plan was developed in response to a Two Trees proposal to build an 18-story building on the St. Ann's Warehouse site. There is, of course, more detail at the Architect's Newspaper.