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Marty Markowitz Looking to Increase His Image as a Friend to Cyclists

By Janet Upadhye | August 15, 2012 4:18pm
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Janet Upadhye/DNAinfo

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz called for a decrease in required parking spaces and a 50 percent increase in bicycle parking in Downtown Brooklyn.

He is looking to increase his image as a friend to bicyclists.

“My recommendations take into account the diverse concerns of stakeholders in Downtown Brooklyn, from developers and residents to cyclists and car owners,” he said. “And despite erroneous claims from critics that my office doesn’t advocate enough for the bicycle community, here is a case where I used my ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) authority to call for more parking for bikes in parts of the Special Downtown Brooklyn District.”

The decrease in parking would also include the elimination of required parking for affordable housing units. Developers no longer forced to pay for parking, would then have more incentive to provide more affordable units.  Further, space once used for parking can now go toward retail spaces.

Parking in the neighborhood is underused, according to the Department of City Planning. Garages are approximately 80 percent full during the day, and significantly less so overnight.

The borough president is also looking to attract more people aged 55 and over to the area. Because of a lack of local living options, he fears that seniors are leaving the area and wants to be proactive in enticing them to stay.

Given that the area’s “transportation, shopping and restaurants perfectly complement such an active lifestyle among those 55 and older,” he is calling for a study to find in incentives for developers to build for this demographic.