Brooklyn Center Neighborhood Lines Up Against Proposed Housing Development
As a new housing development moves forward in Brooklyn Center, the nearby neighborhood is voicing its opposition.
That opposition can be seen in the yards on Lee and Major avenues, near 70th and Brooklyn Boulevard. Signs with phrases like “Listen to Your Constituents” and “Neighbors Against Bad Planning” are keeping watch over many front lawns.
Another large sign reading “Not In My Backyard” is draped over a fence.
“I think it’s great that the neighborhood is sticking together and saying ‘we don’t want this,'” said Luba Evarts, who lives near the the proposed project. “It’s kind of crazy and stupid.”
The pushback is aimed at a housing development project that’s been in the works for years.
Developer C Alan Homes bought a vacant property in the 6900 block of Brooklyn Boulevard from the city in 2020.
It’s less than an acre in size and is one of two sites where C Alan Homes planned to build housing. The other is in the 6000 block of Brooklyn Boulevard.
A graphic rendering submitted to the Brooklyn Center City Council in 2020 shows the triplexes planned for construction in the 6900 block of Brooklyn Boulevard.
Six Triplexes Planned for Brooklyn Center
The Brooklyn Center City Council gave the go-ahead to build six triplexes — for a total of 18 housing units — on the property.
But the project stalled when financing fell through.
“Our development was derailed by the lender when they stopped funding our project under the guise of claiming they did not know there was infrastructure on the project,” wrote Terry Robertson, president of C Alan Homes, in a letter to the city council. “What followed was two years of litigation where we spent over $200,000 fighting to keep our development from being taken from us. We fought because we didn’t do anything to be in default. Ultimately, after a prolonged fight they agreed to give the project back to us. We are now in the process of getting it refinanced. We signed a voluntary foreclosure in order to stop the bleeding.”
For the project to move forward, its plat and a development agreement would need to be reapproved by the city council.
Signs in the neighborhood near the 6900 block of Brooklyn Boulevard protest plans to build six triplexes on a vacant lot.
“I’m Not Feeling Very Good About It”
Evarts is feeling uneasy about the prospect of this new development.
“I’m not feeling very good about it,” she said. “I don’t think it goes with the neighborhood.”
She’s concerned about the density of the density of the project.
“I really think it’s stuffing it like sardines in there,” she said. “We’re not saying don’t develop it, because, I mean, that’s progress. But, they’re overdeveloping it and it would be really bad for the neighborhood.”
According to Brooklyn Center Planning Commission Chair Alexander Koenig, the commission did not recommend the project for approval at its June 13 meeting.
Koenig described the meeting as “well-attended, robust, informative and insightful.”
The decision will ultimately lie with the city council. It’s scheduled to vote on the matter at its Monday, June 24 meeting.
Evarts hopes the council rejects the project.
“Hey, listen up, listen to your constituents,” she said. “Plain and simple. We say we don’t want this. Listen to what we have to say. We have to live with it.”
