Saving Industrial Jobs in North Brooklyn

Ever since the 197-a plan was first formed in the early-1990s, NAG has been an advocate for keeping our blue-collar industrial base in North Brooklyn. Manufacturing jobs, such as wood shops, metal working, and furniture, pay far better than restaurant or retail jobs and are twice as likely to offer health coverage. There are still about 30,000 industrial jobs in Community Board 1.

As part of the 2005 rezoning, the City agreed to protect 20-some blocks around the Bushwick Inlet and keep them zoned for manufacturing. The problem is that the current zoning allows hotels, certain kinds of superstores, and large entertainment uses without any approval beyond a construction permit. All of these uses can pay higher rent, but typically pay lower wages than an industrial operation would.

Now we are seeing these uses encroach into the Industrial Business Zones (nightclubs, multiple bowling alleys, hotels, office condos) and taking space that otherwise would have been used for manufacturing jobs (In fact, the space the newest bowling alley is moving into could have helped solve the expansion problem that Brooklyn Brewery is having).

None of this is meant to hate on those who like to bowl, dance, go to concerts, stay in hotels, or possibly find a home for their non-industrial business. But there are appropriate places to put such uses, and the industrial zones of the neighborhood have been shrinking rapidly. As the neighborhood continues to develop, we'll need places for lower rent uses that have important local economic benefits.

Picture: Aurora Lampworks on North 11th Street

Related Links:
Gowanus Lounge summarizes neatly what the 197-a plan is about
The East Williamsburg Valley Industrial Development Corp. (EWVIDCO) manages the two local Industrial Business Zones
Get your citywide industrial retention on with NYIRN