Taking 'Triangle' to Court
September 10th, 2009
The proposed Brooklyn housing project that had emerged as a major issue in the 34th district’s City Council race is now going to court.
The Daily News reports that the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition, a group opposing the current plan to build affordable housing on a plot in Williamsburg, has filed suit alleging that the proposed homes would “disproportionately accommodate the Hasidic community’s large families.” To support their contention, coalition lawyer Martin Needleman said the buildings have to many three- and four bedroom apartments and are only eight stories high to satisfy the needs of Orthodox Jews who cannot take elevators on the Sabbath.
The city awarded no-bid contracts to develop the property to United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburgh along with the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council.
As Gotham Gazette reported today the dispute over the project has played a big role in the current council campaign. Brooklyn Democratic party boss Vito Lopez, who founded the Ridgewood Bushwick senior council, has broken with former chief of staff, City Councilmember Diana Reyna, who opposes the project. Lopez is backing Maritza Davila, who works for the senior citizens council, in the closely fought primary. For more, see Housing Project Splits Bushwick District.
By Gail Robinson on September 10, 2009, 3:05 pmIn category: Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Housing | No Comments »

