land use

Neighborhood Advocates See Push for Power Blocked

Media posted September 7, 2010

Source: City Limits
Date: August 16, 2010
Link: Neighborhood Advocates See Push for Power Blocked

NYC charter commission steers clear of land use hot spots

Media last updated September 3, 2010

Source: The Real Deal
Date: September 3, 2010
Link: NYC charter commission steers clear of land use hot spots

Charter Revision Commission - Final Hearing

Testimony last updated August 23, 2010

Testimony to the New York City Charter Revision Commission

August 23, 2010

Good evening. I’m Elena Conte of the Pratt Center for Community Development. We want to thank the Charter Revision Commission for its thoughtful recommendations for revisions to the City Charter, and especially for the proposal to include waste transfer stations and transportation facilities in the Atlas of City Facilities. This provision will present a much fuller picture than has existed in the past of the environmental burdens faced by low-income communities across the city, and supports informed decision-making about siting polluting facilities. Ultimately, New York City has a greater opportunity to see a fairer distribution of polluting facilities as a result of this measure.

On Missing a Chance to Shape New York

Media posted July 23, 2010

Source: Capital
Date: July 23, 2010
Link: On Missing a Chance to Shape New York

Planners Tackle Big Issues About How to Shape NYC Development

Media last updated July 22, 2010

Source: Streetsblog
Date: July 23, 2010
Link: Planners Tackle Big Issues About How to Shape NYC Development

City Charter Revision Commission July 19, 2010

Testimony posted July 20, 2010

The Pratt Center for Community Development helps communities across New York City engage in urban planning and promote environmental sustainability. Our partners include community development corporations, civic associations, community boards, affordable housing developers, small businesses and labor unions, all seeking to make sure development meets’ their constituents’ and neighborhoods’ needs. Through 197-a plans and the advisory vote of community boards in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, the City Charter aims to give groups like these a say in land use decisions. In practice, however, the charter’s land use provisions fall short of providing meaningful public input.

We therefore want to express disappointment at the charter commission staff’s recommendation that land use issues be left for future consideration. We agree with the staff that proposals advanced by the Pratt Center and other groups, including Citizens Union, do indeed call for “substantial changes to the balance in the system of land use established in the 1975 Charter.” And we want to stress that those changes are both urgent and necessary. The commission must give them serious consideration.