”
The Empire Boulevard rezoning development project is underway in Crown Heights after the City Planning Commission unanimously passed its vote Wednesday on the project. It would turn a mostly abandoned lot wedged between Empire Boulevard and McKeever and Sullivan places into a 13-story building, with 261 residential units and room for commercial space, food, outlets, and retailers. A total of 78 of the residential units will be reserved for affordable and income-controlled apartments. Neighbors in the area say that is not enough. Trish Kenner tells News 12 she has lived in the neighborhood for over 50 years. She says projects like these only contribute to her neighborhood gentrification. She feels it’s been most prominent within the last three years and she doesn’t see it anytime soon. Every resident who News 12 spoke to say they were not in favor of the rezoning. Michael Berfield, the developer, believes this development will bring great opportunity to the community,…..