Benepe: One skirmish won, but battle to save Brooklyn Botanic Garden not over
'I was at the point of tears,' Benepe said
The war to save the Brooklyn Botanic Garden from shadows falling from 400-foot tall luxury condominiums is not over, BBG President Adrian Benepe told the Brooklyn Eagle.
Even though Community Board 9 on Wednesday totally rejected the rezoning proposal, “This was just one skirmish in the long and drawn-out battle. The existential threat remains,” Benepe said. “There’s no declaration of victory here. The next skirmish take place right away.”
Developers are seeking a rezoning for a mixed-use “massing” of buildings with towers at least 34 stories tall at 960 Franklin Ave., about 150 feet from the garden. As part of New York City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), CB9 was required to hold a public hearing and vote on the rezoning proposal.