Brooklyn Center Council Rejects Apartments on Brooklyn Boulevard

The Brooklyn Center City Council rejected a proposal to convert a former credit union building into apartments this week.

A developer proposed converting the former Electrus Credit Union building at 7100 Brooklyn Blvd. into apartments. 

The developer was planning to remodel the existing structure to have 17 apartment units. 

The council voted 4-0 to reject the proposal. Mayor April Graves was absent. 

“I’m reluctant to vote in favor of it,” said Brooklyn Center City Council Member Dan Jerzak. “Parking is a huge concern … it just is not a good fit for me.”

Neighboring commercial property owners sent a petition to the city opposing the development. The petition has 31 signatures.  

“There are existing issues with illegal dumping at our site, together with crime and other issues that we have worked so feverishly to eradicate,” wrote Jeanette Tuzinski, an attorney with Tuzinski & Zick LLC.

The firm has an office at 7050 Brooklyn Blvd.

“The conversion of an office building to a 17-unit multi-family residential building at 7100 will only add to the existing problems we have tried to hard as businesses to ameliorate. The construction of these residential units will undoubtedly adversely affect the value of our units; the safety of our tenants, owners and customers; increase the levels of traffic; and create other negative ramifications,” Tuzinski added.

According to Ginny McIntosh, city zoning and planning administrator, the Brooklyn Center Planning Commission had recommended rejecting the proposal. But, the Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was more open to the prospect, McIntosh said. 

Brooklyn Center City Council Member Marquita Butler shared concerns about parking. With the complex located on Brooklyn Boulevard, there’s no chance for overflow parking on the street, she said. 

Brooklyn Center