BAY RIDGE — The proposed rezoning and redevelopment of the former Staples site at 9305 Fifth Ave. continues to spark debate and concern.
Community Board 10 held its monthly general meeting May 18 and one of its topics included the application that seeks to rezone the property to build an approximately 11-story mixed-use building containing 292 residential units, 88 income-restricted units under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, commercial space and accessory parking.
The existing zoning would allow a low-rise structure of about six stories, called a R6B.The developer seeks a zoning map amendment to increase the building to 11-stories, which is R7X.
Zoning and Land Use Committee Chairperson Stephanie Simone-Mahaney recapped a prior meeting where the applicant Daniel Grinshteyn and his team at 9305 Fifth Avenue LLC in Bay Ridge emphasized that the project would create permanently income-restricted housing in a community district identified by city metrics as producing comparatively little newly developed affordable housing.
“What we thought about is using this space as a connectivity point for that whole block,” said Grinshteyn of the project during an earlier meeting. “If you look at the retail across the street and to the left of us, it’s suffering. The pizzeria doesn’t have as much foot traffic as it used to have decades back. The bar across the street is a bit limited in how many people are coming. What we want to do is connect the block. Our side of the block is very quiet with the exception of a couple of stores to the right of us.”
Simone-Mahaney also discussed concerns voiced by locals and the committee.
“The district office received 88 written comments regarding the application, including 85 in opposition and three in favor,” she said. “Written comments reflected strong community engagement on the proposal and addressed issues including neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity, affordability, environmental review, traffic and parking impacts, and long-term planning concerns.”
Many stated the current development proposal raises concerns due to its scale, warning it could set a damaging precedent for the neighborhood.
Former Councilmember and new CB10 board member Vincent Gentile remains opposed to the plan. “The enormity of the project that the developers are proposing now would impact Bay Ridge severely and would set us on that decline of precedent to continue this throughout the neighborhood,” he said.
Community Board 10 voted against the 11-story building, instead recommending a smaller one.
Rendering: Menzak Architect P.C.
Others voiced their issues with the proposal, including plans to add retail to the building.
“There was some talk about there being a supermarket as part of the project,” one speaker said. “As a resident living down the block from a very large supermarket, this is what we experience: Regular extreme morning traffic jams caused by truck deliveries, the loss of parking spots, which we can’t allow more of, and regular noisy garbage haulers starting anytime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.”
They continued, “I’m not against building. I’m against speculation. The developer has applied to build six-stories as of right now. Mr. Grinshteyn should do that. I ask the Community Board 10 and the City Council to say no to the 11-story rezoning. Bay Ridge character, history and safety should not be for sale.”
Victoria Hofmo, president of the Bay Ridge Conservancy, asked about the purpose of such a large building.
“How does a community like Bay Ridge that has stable housing stock and hardly any empty lots comply?” she asked. “I am opposed to this applicant’s request. The applicant bought a property knowing what is permitted on the lot. Our community’s already been altered substantially. Why should they ask for more?”
“My concern is transportation,” said another speaker. “The developer has decided not to do environmental studies nor transportation studies. Keep in mind the 95th Street train station — what happens to it? We’re not talking about a brand-new train station. It’s quite old. What happens after the building’s gone up? Look at the transportation at that site. We have buses on 86th Street coming from Staten Island, quite a few of them. Also, Third and Fifth Avenue, the B8 comes down. I know he said they don’t have to do these studies, but just because you don’t have to doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.”
During a May 7 meeting, the committee adopted a motion recommending against the proposed R7X rezoning and “further recommending that the site instead be considered within the context of a broader neighborhood plan, with R6A introduced as a more moderate zoning framework for consideration,” Simone-Mahaney said. “The motion was seconded and approved without opposition, abstentions or recusals.”
During the general meeting a week later, a motion was discussed and seconded to recommend against the proposed R7X rezoning again, instead advocating for evaluation within a broader neighborhood plan using R6A as the more moderate alternative.
Following a call to question under parliamentary procedure, the motion was put to a vote and passed with 27 in favor and two opposed.