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Introduction
The Sunset Park 197-a Plan, sponsored by Brooklyn Community Board 7 (CB7), sets forth a comprehensive framework for revitalization of the Sunset Park waterfront as an economically viable and environmentally sustainable resource that is closely related to, and serves the needs of, adjacent upland communities.
Sunset Park, located in Southwest Brooklyn, has played a significant role in the City’s development – both as a maritime and industrial center and as a gateway neighborhood for successive waves of immigrants. While Sunset Park’s industrial waterfront declined considerably in the 1960s and 1970s – largely as a result of global economic trends and development of containerized shipping - its strategic location on Upper New York Bay, extensive industrial infrastructure, access to a large local labor pool, and connection to major transportation networks serving New York City as well as the wider region, maintained its importance as a working waterfront. Economic development policies and programs put into place in the last two decades have generated substantial reinvestment in the area. Current industrial policies, aimed at diversifying New York City’s economy and supporting and strengthening its industrial base, have placed renewed emphasis on revitalization and full utilization of the waterfront. Sunset Park’s upland communities are completely disconnected from their waterfront and have, until recently, largely been excluded from discussions concerning development of this important economic and natural resource. CB7’s 197-a Plan provides both residents and businesses the opportunity to influence revitalization efforts and ensure that future developments on or adjacent to the waterfront benefit the local community as well as the city and region as a whole. (to read more, download a PDF below)
NOTE: Due to the length of the 197-a plan, whenever possible, we have excerpted sections for easy viewing. In the case of larger sections, such as Existing Conditions section, we have only summarized the section with a link to the PDF.
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a intro, click here (section1-328K)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
197-a plans, named after a section of the New York City Charter, provide a framework or “blueprint” for development in a particular geographic area, such as a community district or part of a community district. Under Section 197-a, the Mayor, the City Planning Commission (CPC), the Department of City Planning (DCP), the Borough Presidents, as well as borough boards and community boards may sponsor plans for the “development, growth and improvement of the city and of its boroughs and community districts.” A 197-a plan is primarily concerned with land use although it may also address programmatic and service delivery needs. It may focus on one or two areas of interest such as housing and economic development or it may cover a wide range of issues, including transportation, open space and recreation, environment, community facilities and infrastructure. The Charter requires extensive public participation in the planning process, resulting in shared goals and recommendations. Once a 197-a plan has gone through extensive public review and has been approved and adopted by the City Council, it serves as “policy to guide subsequent actions by city agencies.”
Five 197-a plans have been prepared in Brooklyn in addition to the Sunset Park 197-a Plan. The Red Hook Plan sponsored by Community Board 6 was adopted in 1996; the Greenpoint 197-a Plan and Williamsburg Waterfront 197-a Plan, sponsored by Community Board 1, were adopted in 2002; and the Bedford Stuyvesant 197-a Plan, sponsored by Community Board 3, is currently on hold. The Old Brooklyn Plan, sponsored by Community Board 2, did not proceed beyond informal review of a preliminary draft, completed in June 1999. What is significant about most of these plans is that they focus on Brooklyn’s older industrial waterfronts, addressing a range of issues from residential conversions and industrial retention to waterfront access. (to read more, download a PDF below)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a intro, click here (section1-328K)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
Analysis and Planning Context
The Sunset Park 197-a Plan focuses on the entire Sunset Park waterfront, bounded by the Gowanus Expressway/Third Avenue corridor to the east, the pierhead line to the west, 15th Street to the north, and the 65th Street Rail Yard to the south. (read more in PDF)
Community District 7 Context Area
Community District 7 (CD7), located in Southwest Brooklyn, is comprised of two neighborhoods, Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. Sunset Park is roughly defined by 15th Street, 65th Street, Eighth Avenue and the waterfront. It consists of a strong residential community, active commercial strips along Fifth and Eighth Avenues, and a large industrial area. (read more in PDF)
Waterfront Study Area
Although it contains pockets of residential use, primarily between Second and Third Avenues, the waterfront study area is overwhelmingly industrial. The Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) encompasses much of the Sunset Park waterfront.2 Close to 1,200 firms are located in this area, employing approximately 19,000 workers. (read more in PDF)
Major Development Plans and Initiatives
The Sunset Park waterfront is expected to change considerably in the next ten to twenty years as a result of development that is currently being proposed by the City and the State, including revitalization of the SBMT; improvements to the First Avenue Rail Line; a comprehensive port improvement plan for the Port of New York and New Jersey; improved rail freight connections between Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey; and reconstruction or tunneling of the Gowanus Expressway. The City is also planning the development of public parkland on the waterfront that will finally reconnect Sunset Park’s upland communities to the water’s edge. (read more in PDF)
Including:
- Comprehensive Port Improvement Plan
- South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
- Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project
- Rail Infrastructure Improvements
- Bush Terminal Piers Waterfront Park
- Federal Building #2
- Gowanus Expressway Project
Long-Term Vision
The Sunset Park 197-a Plan is built upon a vision of the Sunset Park waterfront as a sustainable mixed use neighborhood that promotes regional and local economic development, fosters a healthy living and working environment, and reconnects upland residential communities to the water’s edge.
Goals:
- To promote industrial redevelopment and job creation in Sunset Park while retaining existing industrial jobs.
- To maximize waterfront access and open space opportunities in combination with industrial and waterfront redevelopment.
- To preserve existing industrial, commercial and residential uses and fabric in the area east of First Avenue.
- To encourage development that places a minimal environmental burden on adjacent residential communities.
- To preserve and celebrate Sunset Park’s rich maritime and industrial heritage.
Major Recommendations
The recommendations listed below primarily address land use issues and needs. They are drawn from a comprehensive list of recommendations beginning on page 168 - identified by reference and page number - that also cover service delivery, funding and programs.
Topics on the 197-a recommendations include:
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- TRANSPORTATION
- ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
- OPEN SPACE AND WATERFRONT ACCESS
- HOUSING
- COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES / QUALITY OF LIFE
- HISTORIC PRESERVATION
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a Executive Summary, click here (section 2-8.5MB)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
As you have read above, many sections of the 197-a plan have been excerpted or abbreviated for this website. To read the in-depth descriptions of the Existing Conditions and Trends section of this plan, please download the section PDF or the entire 197-a plan PDF.
The Existing Conditions and Trends section includes:
- Historic Development
- Population
- Zoning
- Land Use
- Economic Development
- Transportation
- Environment and Public Health
- Open Space and Waterfront Access
- Housing
- Community Facilities and Services/Quality of life
- Historic Preservation
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a Existing Conditions and Trends, click here (section 3-28.8MB)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
New Connections, New Opportunities A 197-a Plan for the Sunset Park Waterfront
Community Vision
The Sunset Park 197-a Plan is built upon a vision of the Sunset Park waterfront as a sustainable mixed-use neighborhood that promotes regional and local economic development, fosters a healthy living and working environment, and reconnects upland residential communities to the water’s edge.
Goals:
- To promote industrial redevelopment and job creation in Sunset Park while retaining existing industrial jobs.
- To maximize waterfront access and open space opportunities in combination with industrial and waterfront redevelopment.
- To preserve existing industrial, commercial and residential uses and fabric in the area east of First Avenue.
- To encourage development that places a minimal environmental burden on adjacent residential communities.
As you have read above, many sections of the 197-a plan have been excerpted or abbreviated for this website. To read the in-depth descriptions of the Recommendations section of this plan, please download the section PDF or the entire 197-a plan PDF.
The Recommendations section includes: - Economic Development
- Transportation
- Enviroment and Public Health
- Open Space and Waterfront Access
- Housing
- Community Facilities and Services/Quality of Life
- Historic Preservation
- Distric Service Cabinet Recommendations
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a Recommendations, click here (section 4-15.8MB)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
This is a listing of the Appendices for Brooklyn Community Board 7's 197 a plan.
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a Appendices, click here (section 5-468K)
To download a PDF of the Brooklyn CB7 197-a full plan, click here (full-53MB)
The Sunset Park 197-a Plan, sponsored by Community Board 7, has been developed with the participation of residents and businesses in Sunset Park and a wide number of representative organizations and institutions, including: Neighbors Helping Neighbors; the United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park (UPROSE); Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SWBIDC); Young Dancers in Repertory; the Brooklyn Chinese American Association; the Center for Family Life; Lutheran Medical Center; the Chinese American Planning Council; Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow; and the Gowanus Expressway Community Coalition.
The planning process was guided by Community Board 7’s 197-a Committee, under the leadership of Bea DeSapio, Joe Longobardi and John Burns, who served consecutively as Chair. We are grateful to the following elected officials for their support in this endeavor: Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, State Senator Martin Conner, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, former Governor George Pataki, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez, and former Councilman Angel Rodriguez. We would also like to acknowledge Governor Elliot Spitzer, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, State Senator Diane Savino, State Senator Eric Adams, former State Senator Carl Andrews, State Assemblyman Jim Brennan and Councilman Bill DeBlasio.
Community Board 7 has had close contact with New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) throughout this project, especially with regard to the proposed Bush Terminal Piers Waterfront Park, but also with regard to economic revitalization efforts and transportation improvements. The Department of City Planning’s Brooklyn Office and Office of Plan Coordination provided invaluable technical assistance and resources, particularly in the development of the final draft. The Sunset Park 197-a Plan builds upon the groundwork and leadership of Bea DeSapio, former Chair of Community Board 7 and Gene Moore, former District Manager, who initiated the planning process, and the efforts and support of Robert Lane, from the Regional Plan Association and Richard Bearak, from the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. Technical assistance was also provided by the Municipal Art Society Planning Center and the Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development (PICCED).1 Jocelyne Chait, a community planning consultant, coordinated the planning process in its later stages and produced the final draft. Planning, research, and editorial assistance were provided by Katie Taylor from PICCED, Darya Cowan, and Elena Patarini. Mapping Assistance was provided by PICCED, the Municipal Art Society Planning Center and Elena Patarini.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous contributions to the Sunset Park planning process:
Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez Consolidated Edison
Councilman Angel Rodriguez KeySpan Energy
Senator Martin Connor The Sunset Park Business Improvement District
NYC EDC/SBS Harborside Management
The American Planning Association Health Plus
Community Capital Bank The Pepsi-Cola Company
Lutheran Medical Center The Coca-Cola Company
The Independence Community Foundation
