Bushwick Renaissance Mixed-use Initiative
Project Site Assessment
Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc.
Brooklyn, New York
Objectives
UTAP was contracted by Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC) and the Bushwick Renaissance Mixed-use Initiative to provide the sponsor with a comprehensive database of the project area and to assess the physical and demographic conditions of the neighborhood. This information will assist them to advance the objectives of the Bushwick Renaissance Plan.
RBSCC, in co-partnership with the Bushwick Local Development Corporation (Bushwick LDC), have put forth a planning proposal entitled The Bushwick Renaissance Plan: A Development Strategy for West Bushwick. The proposal seeks to revitalize this underutilized and abandoned industrial area by introducing new uses on large tracts of vacant City-Owned-Property. The sponsors of the Plan are proposing to develop this land with commercial and residential uses and anticipate that over 200 affordable homes, a retail complex with a supermarket, a nursing home and a daycare center will be built in the study area. This new development is expected to generate employment opportunities for local residents and build upon recent City investment in the area.
This baseline planning information pertaining to the Project Site is part of RBSCC participation in the development and implementation of the Bushwick Renaissance Plan.
Context
The Project Site is located in West Bushwick, a neighborhood of north central Brooklyn in Community District 4. The eastern section of the site is primarily residential, contains many small vacant parcels of land scattered over several blocks and encompasses a few urban renewal sites. The western end is mostly industrial. This area, the Rheingold Industrial Area, is zoned for manufacturing and houses the Mademoiselle Knitwear and Mandler Paper facilities, and several large, vacant city-owned properties.
Results
This summary of diverse baseline information will facilitate the retrieval of pertinent facts regarding West Bushwick and assist RBSCC to address issues of labor and employment, business development, marketing, housing construction, land use and community renewal. Our project assessment identifies related planning concerns that also need to be addressed to revitalize the project area and maximize the benefits of redevelopment . Together they serve to frame the planning issues under consideration and to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed Renaissance Plan in meeting the stated objectives. By directly connecting the socio-economic profile and land use survey of the study area with the issues identified in the strategic plan, a more responsive redevelopment strategy can be advanced.