Maple Street Garden joins BBG in the 'Fight for Sunlight'

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The members of the Maple Street Community Garden have joined the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in their ‘Fight for Sunlight’.

The proposed high-rise luxury apartment complex at 960 Franklin would be a 46-story structure that casts a shadow across a significant section of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; likely killing off 50% of the plant life within ten years in this Public Green Space. With over 1,500 proposed apartments, it would cause significant change to the existing community and, as the developer is requesting 100% City, State and Federal Funding for this project, it would be paid for by the community it is disrupting. 



This development will only be possible by rezoning the area as Commercial/ Manufacturing Space, which would also make hundreds of residential renters vulnerable as landlords would have new incentive to sell and greater liberty to raise rent. This rezoning may be up for a vote on December 14th, and if approved would be certified 30 days later.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.

Here are five ways you can help:

  1. Write emails and/ or make calls to those voting on this issue; these include  Community Board 9, the City Planning Commission, the chairs of the City Council’s Committee on Land Use, the District 35 Council Member (the proposed project is in Council District 35), the Brooklyn Borough President, and the Mayor. *PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER OF MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND.

  2. Shine light on this issue online by posting a photo that captures what the Brooklyn Botanic Garden means to you with the hashtag #ShadyDeal and #KeepYourTowersOffOurFlowers and link to info about what is going on.

  3. Donate. Make a tax-deductible donation to www.mtopp.org/donation.html this money goes to support the legal case against the developers, as well as further environmental impact studies that clarify what these changes will do to the existing community.

  4. Bring Media Attention to This Time-Sensitive Issue: the majority of reporting on this was done in 2019 and things are moving quickly now. This is a big story that is not being discussed in many of the city’s news outlets. Please push for investigative reporting, op eds; and even further discussion on social media.

  5. Tell 10 friends and neighbors and push them to each write one email or take one action and then pass it on!

zhenia nagorny