Plan to Convert Factory to Artist Housing Raises Hackles

A plan by two area artists  to convert a long abandoned warehouse to artist live/work spaces was rejected last night by Community Board 8 over concerns that the rents will be too high for area residents to afford. 

Nicola Lopez and Erica Svec asked the board to support their request for a zoning variance to renovate 964 Dean Street between Classon and Franklin. 

Their plan would change the four story, crumbling building into 13 units—a mix of studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments.

But community board members said the expected rent—very roughly between $1,850 and $4,500 a month—would make the housing unavailable to most people living in the area.   

Board member Sharon Wedderburn argued that the developer bought the building knowing it would need a variance. She said the building will not be affordable for most people in the community and that perhaps the board should not give variances in the M1-1 district and instead keep the area intact until there's a new mayor, and look into a master plan to bring affordable housing into the entire area.  

Several board members said while the development might be well intentioned, it would end up pushing the current residents out.

Lopez acknowledged the community board members' hesitation, but said they had the wrong idea about their vision. 

"All these concerns are completely understandable and valid," she said. But, she added, "it's not about creating huge luxury spaces."

Some board members argued that the cons were outweighed by the advantage of having the empty building developed. 

"Right now the property is deteriorated, there's no chance of anything coming back into that building," said Meredith Stanton, a member of CB8's executive committee.

The board denied the request by a split vote of 16 in favor, 13 opposed, and 4 abstentions. 

However, the board's decision is advisory. The final decision is made by the city's Board of Standards and Appeals. 

After the vote, Nicola Lopez said they would still apply for the variance from the BSA. She stressed that she's not a real estate developer but a member of the community.

"It's a very personal project. It's not a commercial venture. It's about being able to be in the neighborhood that I've been living in and working in for the last 13 years," she said.