Gowanus

City to Consider Rezoning Gowanus for More Residential Development

The administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio is now looking into proposing the rezoning of the Brooklyn neighborhood Gowanus, Politico reported. Beginning this fall, the Department of City Planning will conduct a study of the neighborhood. Following the completion of the study, the city will decide whether or not to officially propose a rezoning and begin the review and approval process. Between 2013 and 2015, local politicians met with community leaders and residents to discuss future changes to the neighborhood. The analysis, called Bridging Gowanus, determined more residential development would be acceptable only if affordable units are mixed into the new construction and existing manufacturing and office spaces are retained. If an official rezoning proposal is eventually launched, it should take roughly seven months for it to be passed.

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36-01 Broadway

Single-Story Retail Buildings Being Renovated, Combined at 36-01 Broadway, Astoria

Morris Dweck, doing business as Brooklyn-based DII Enterprises, is planning to renovate and restore parts of the façade on the single-story, 10,000-square-foot commercial-retail building at 36-01 Broadway, located on the corner of 36th Street in Astoria. The project also includes combining the corner property with the single-story retail building at 36-11 Broadway. The corner building is very likely a former Childs Restaurant location, DNAinfo reported, which prompted local historical preservation organizations to urge the property owner to retain the building’s exterior details. The effort was successful and Midtown South-based Marin Architects is designing a renovation that respects existing design elements. The façade will be made mostly of brick and limestone. Completion is expected later this year.

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