Brooklyn Botanic Garden to hold community rally ahead of City Planning Commission’s hearing on 960 Franklin Avenue rezoning

Supporters of BBG’s Fight for Sunlight to show their opposition to the harmful rezoning a day before the crucial hearing

July 27, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Rendering from the developer’s proposal.

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WHEN AND WHERE
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Press Arrival: 10:45 a.m. | Program Begins: 11 a.m.
Press Check-In: 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

WHAT
Brooklyn Botanic Garden holds a community rally ahead of the New York City Planning Commission’s hearing on the 960 Franklin Avenue Rezoning proposal. Supporters are expected to attend and rally at BBG outside the conservatory and growing facilities that are under threat of devastating shadows from the proposed development.

The community rally comes one day before the City Planning Commission’s hearing for the project. Earlier this month, the development was heard by the office of the Brooklyn borough president, Eric Adams. In June, Community Board 9 offered an unequivocal rebuke of the project with its resolution, including three declarations:

The existing zoning (mapped in 1991) considered height protections for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which should be sustained.
Any proposed modifications after certification should not be considered as part of this ULURP review as the community board has not been provided sufficient documentation to substantiate or refute any claims made in revised presentations.
The magnitude of the proposed project is grossly inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood and the applicant has not acted in good faith to address community concerns.

Nearly 60,000 residents have signed Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s petition rejecting the developer’s application.

PROGRAM
Speakers to include BBG president Adrian Benepe, Municipal Art Society president Elizabeth Goldstein, Garden staff, and local gardeners. Others who rely on the Garden for respite, education, and community will be in attendance to show their support against this harmful rezoning.

ABOUT THE FIGHT FOR SUNLIGHT
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s plant collections are under serious threat from a proposed massive development complex of four buildings, including two 34-story towers at 960 Franklin Avenue just 150 feet from the Garden. Towers of this size would block hours of sunlight to the Garden’s 23 conservatories, greenhouses, and nurseries, which grow plants for the entire 52-acre Garden site and its community programs.

Current zoning protects the Garden’s access to sunlight by capping building height at this location. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, along with many in the community, are advocating that these laws must remain in place to prevent irreparable damage to the Garden. Learn more at bbg.org/sunlight.