MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES EAST NEW YORK ACTION PLAN
Plan Includes Quality Of Life Improvements, Increased Housing And Economic Development, Additional Anti-Crime Efforts
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the East New York Action Plan, a coordinated multi-agency effort by the City to improve the quality of life in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
Today's press conference, attended by Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, City Council Members Priscilla Wooten and Martin Malave-Dilan, Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Jeannette Gadson, Senior Vice President of Operations for National Amusements William Towey, and local community and business leaders, was held at the construction site of a new 3,200 seat, 14-screen multiplex movie theater being developed by National Amusements in East New York.
"East New York is a neighborhood that New Yorkers should be proud to call home", said Mayor Giuliani. "In the past, East New York was neglected by the City, but over the past four years, we've changed that. Crime is down almost 40 percent, 2,000 units of housing have been or will be built, and the parks and streets are cleaner and safer than they've ever been in decades. Through the coordinated efforts of various City agencies our Administration has demonstrated its commitment to improving the quality of life and economic opportunities in East New York. Vacant lots will be cleaned, roads will be repaved, parks will be improved, and businesses will be encouraged to invest here."
The East New York Action Plan will build on accomplishments already achieved by the Giuliani Administration to improve the quality of life and strengthen the economy in East New York. Since 1996 crime has dropped 39.5% in the 75th precinct. As a result, the quality of life has improved and developers are once again investing in the community. National Amusements, for example, plans to build a 3,200 seat 14-screen theater that will provide 135 permanent jobs and provide family entertainment to East New York families.
"This is another important step in the revitalization of East New York," said Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden. "We should move forward to develop our next housing, economic development, education and health care initiatives to continue this effort."
Since 1994 over $64 million has been designated for public investment for 2,000 units of built, rehabilitated or proposed housing units in East New York. In addition, major sewer and street reconstruction projects on Liberty Avenue and Jewel Street will be initiated in the area.
"This Action Plan is a breath of fresh air for the entire East New York community," said Councilwoman Priscilla A. Wooten. "We are all excited about the Action Plan and know that it means better things for East New York. After all of the hard work, it's great to see this plan come together to ensure that all East New Yorkers benefit in the end."
In addition to other community improvements, the City has identified a site for a new Primary School 7 (P.S. 7) which will address long-standing community education concerns. As a result of this site selection, the City is helping Blue Ridge Farms, one of East New York's largest employers, to be able to continue to operate in East New York.
"East New York is a great place to call home," said Councilman Martin Malave-Dilan. "This Action Plan will assist our current efforts in creating a safer, brighter and friendlier place to live. With the recent reductions in crime and increased economic development, East New York becomes a better place to call home."
- The City has advanced the selection and development process for an urgently needed new school building for P.S. 7. The new school, to be located at Jamaica Avenue, and will greatly alleviate the overcrowded conditions at local area schools.
- On Sutter Avenue, a vacant lot is being turned into a new ballfield. This major investment by the City will be a significant asset to the community, providing a safe, clean place for children to play. In addition the City will renovate an existing site located in the East New York Family Academy on Linden Boulevard to provide additional youth center recreation space.
- National Amusements is building a new $30 million theater that will feature 14-screens, 3,200 seats and will provide up to 135 permanent jobs to local residents. The City is providing, through its "as of right" Industrial Commercial Incentive Program, a 100% tax exemption to National Amusements on the value of their multi-plex theater.
- Adriatic Woods Products will purchase 40,000 square feet of City land to build a woodworking facility with the help of over $1.5 million in financing and tax reductions provided by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
- EDC is also assisting Display Creations, a manufacturer of point-of-purchase displays in purchasing nearby City-owned property to build a 13,500 square foot warehouse and manufacturing facility.
- EDC plans to sell to the Clarendon Bus Company, a 83,000 square foot parcel of City-owned land at East New York Avenue and Purcell Street. The new site will be used to expand Clarendon's existing parking and repair facility. Clarendon currently employs 300 people and through this expansion they plan to create an additional 200 jobs.
- The Industrial Development Agency's Industrial Incentive Program, The Howard Berger Company, a hardware manufacturer, received benefits for the purchase and renovation of a 100,000 square foot building on Cozine Avenue.
- The Police Department will build upon their dramatic four-year decline in crime and will strengthen their already successful efforts in targeting drug activity and prostitution and crime conditions at NYCHA developments. Due in part to the Police Department's success in reducing crime, the community experienced a significant increase in commercial leasing in the Industrial Park.
- The Sheriff's Auto Theft Unit will work with the Police Department to identify stolen, altered or defaced component parts that are usually associated with chop shops in the area. The Sheriff's office will also coordinate with the Police Department to target illegal social clubs and NYCHA housing development problems.
- Since 1994, the City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development has developed, rehabilitated or has slated for development 2,000 units of housing in East New York. The total public development costs for these projects is more than $64 million, including $42 million of City dollars.
- The Department of Parks and Recreation has done a remarkable job improving East New York's parks. The overall condition for parks in Community District 5 has gone from only 17% acceptable in 1993 to 79% acceptable today.
Only 4 out of 68 other districts have improved more than East New York since 1993. Parks has renovated the Ethan Allan (P.S. 306) playgrounds with funds supplied by Council Member Priscilla Wooten, the Sperendeo Brothers Playground funds provided by Borough President Howard Golden and the Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Park with funds provided by Council Member Martin Malave-Dilan. Parks will be renovating 4 additional parks in the next two years. - The Department of Design and Construction will expedite the design and construction of the $8-10 million Jewel Street sewage and road reconstruction project. Over $34 million will be spent on infrastructure improvements in the area.
- The Department of Sanitation (DOS) has achieved dramatic success in its scorecard rating. The Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 average of 80% acceptably clean streets was 20.8 points higher than its FY 1994 rating. The area has improved from a "marginal" to a "clean" district . DOS has begun an intensive lot inspection program in East New York and hundreds of lots identified through this process will be prioritized for cleaning.
- As part of the Mayor's Rat Control Initiative, the Department of Health (DOH) will be conducting a Comprehensive Rodent Control Program within Community Board #5. Three areas of fifteen contiguous blocks will be targeted. DOH will inspect, exterminate and clear each of the blocks in the target areas later this year.
- The Department of Transportation has recently milled and resurfaced 66 different streets and will resurface an additional 12 streets by the end of September. DOT will implement less restrictive parking regulations on 70 blockfaces by the end of October.
- The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has spent $51 million over the past three years on renovations in the area. Over $13 million of work is being done and over $53 million will be spent within the next 5 years on modernization of existing structures, increased security measures, ground renovations, elevators and heating system replacements.
- The Department of Business Services (DBS) will conduct an intensive outreach program to local businesses to inform them of available business assistance programs.
- The Department of Buildings, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Sanitation and the Fire Department will conduct sweeps relating to illegal conversions, fire safety and illegal dumping to ensure compliance with local laws.
- The Department for the Aging's total funding for senior citizen programs in the area was more than two million dollars in FY 1997.
- The Department of Employment has provided over 1,800 summer jobs to youths in the area.
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