Sunset Park residents move toward agreement with Industry City
With the clock ticking on the public review process of Industry City’s rezoning, a group of residents and community organizations in Sunset Park are exploring the viability of a contract with the developers. The agreement seeks to ensure that Industry City — or any future landlord of the industrial complex — improves living conditions in the neighborhood for years to come.
A legally binding community benefits agreement was one of several conditions that Councilmember Carlos Menchaca said had to be in place in order for him to support the massive expansion.
The local politician said he will not take part in negotiating terms of the CBA, but his influence in the land use process provides significant leverage in getting a deal done. He wields outsize power in the rezoning battle because the City Council has the final say on whether to approve or kill land use applications. Councilmembers normally vote in line with the representative whose district is affected.
The contract would need to be completed by June 2020 when the City Council votes.