The Vinny Abate Era officially came to a close on Tuesday night in Williamsburg, after a turbulent meeting that had to be one of the wilder ones in the chairman’s nearly 30-year tenure. The night’s agenda included the city’s controversial Broadway Triangle plan, the city’s controversial Kent Ave bike lane plan, and the closely-contested (but not as controversial) election of Abate’s successor.
The meeting began with a raucous protest, thanks to the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition, which drowned out a presentation on the city’s plan for Broadway Triangle with about 50 chanting protesters (and one small bullhorn). The BTCC would like to see 25-story buildings on a 40-acre section of land, in order to maximize the affordable housing available on the property. The city has proposed a roughly 20-acre rezoning with 8-story buildings. More on that whole story here.
After a brief lull, it was time for the Kent Ave bike lane, where the dissidents were less coordinated, but nearly as disruptive. Several vocal opponents loudly jeered the revised DOT plan, which would convert Kent Ave to a one-way street and divert truck traffic along North 11th St. More on that here.
