Advocacy: Gowanus Re-zoning

We are a mission driven organization that is advocating hard to keep studios affordable and sustainable for the long term in Gowanus. We are a proud member of the GNCJ (Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice), a racially and socioeconomically diverse coalition who strives to elevate the voices of our community that have not been heard in the City’s planning process, we seek consensus on community priorities and make the case for a community plan based on principles of social, economic, environmental and racial justice.

Arts Gowanus is also a proud member of The Gowanus Oversight Task Force and a steering committee member of The Gowanus Improvement District

HISTORIC AGREEMENT REACHED TO SECURE SUBSIDIZED ARTIST STUDIOS AND COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER AS PART OF GOWANUS REZONING

Arts Gowanus and NYC Councilmember Brad Lander Negotiated Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with Several Developers to Ensure Affordable Future and Sustainability for Local Arts Community

As Member of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice (GNCJ), Arts Gowanus Continues to Advocate for Equitable Rezoning for all of the Gowanus Community

Brooklyn, NY— As the Gowanus rezoning nears approval, Arts Gowanus has been working with Councilmember Brad Lander to secure a community benefits agreement (CBA) for subsidized artist studios and a Community Arts Center with several developers to ensure the Gowanus creative community continues to thrive in the neighborhood. 

This agreement provides about 180 subsidized artist studios at over a dozen development sites, with a negotiated cost dramatically below existing median artist studio prices in the area, starting at $20 per sq. ft. (per year, or $1.66 per month per sq ft). Also included in this agreement are 10 studios that are further subsidized for low-income artists in the community.

This CBA also includes a 2,000 sq. ft Community Arts Center run by Arts Gowanus. It will serve as an art exhibition space and as the organization’s headquarters which will include 3 residency studios.. The CBA will provide the art studios and the art center in perpetuity even if the properties or future buildings are sold, creating long-term affordability for artists.

“We are thrilled that this rezoning will allow artists to continue to thrive in Gowanus. We have been actively fighting artist displacement in the community for years and there is a great need for affordable artist workspaces. The CBA, which goes into effect November 10, 2021, will ensure Gowanus continues to be a vibrant and creative neighborhood for artists of all income levels,” said Arts Gowanus Executive Director Johnny Thornton. “We are extremely thankful for Councilmember Brad Lander’s support and Land Use and Budget Director, Julia Ehrman, for making our creative community a priority in this rezoning.”

”There is a long history in New York City and in other places throughout the world where artists have been pioneers in making neighborhoods cool and desirable -- and then being forced to leave as renewal occurs and prices rise. This landmark agreement will not allow that to happen in the Gowanus neighborhood,” said Arts Gowanus Board Chair, David Kutz. “Beyond the amazing multi-year support from Comptroller elect Lander, we could not have accomplished this extraordinary agreement without the help of Sally Davis with the law firm Ropes & Gray and the support of our neighborhood artist advisory group.”

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UPFRONT FUNDING FOR FULL CAPITAL NEEDS AT WYCKOFF AND GOWANUS The City must dedicate enough upfront funding for full capital needs at Wyckoff Gardens and Gowanus Houses (WG). All funding spent to improve WG must adhere to HUD Section 3 hiring policies to ensure local NYCHA residents and low-income residents are hired to complete the work.

NET ZERO COMBINED SEWAGE OVERFLOW (CSO) Mandate net zero CSO from new construction created as a result of the rezoning, through the following actions: (1) Accurately model how increased density will increase CSO and impact local hydrology, (2) Require and enforce CSO mitigation in new development and (3) Ensure city investment in infrastructure to completely mitigate any negative hydrological impacts of rezoning.

CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SPECIAL DISTRICT WITH POWERFUL AND CLEAR LOCAL OVERSIGHT Formal recognition and dedicated resources for an Environmental Justice Special District with a local oversight board with a diversity of representation from local residents including public housing, and from businesses, industries, nonprofit, faith based and civic associations to oversee implementation of all City commitments and developer requirements, inclusive of commitments to residents of WG.

The GNCJ has several other demands, including this important demand that directly relates to artists:

PRESERVE INDUSTRY AND ART SPACES by implementing an incentive of .3 FAR for specific uses groups in Gowanus Mix that are limited to production, repair, and arts uses exclusively. Require public disclosure and transparency in leasing agreements of Gowanus MIx spaces