The proposal was approved by nine of the ten New York City Planning Commission members in a vote earlier this week. The plan calls for the rezoning of an 82-block section of Gowanus, along Fourth Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and 15th Street. It would pave the way for the construction of up to 8,000 homes, with 3,000 of them set below market rate. 

It will now make its way to the City Council, however, support may not be as unanimous. Councilmembers Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, who represent the area, reportedly want the city to commit $200 million towards repairs for two public housing complexes in the neighborhood before they can support the effort. Additionally, Brooklyn Borough President and presumptive future mayor Eric Adams, backed the plan given the city pledges $274 million for repairs at New York City Housing Authority complexes over the next five years. 

The proposal has received blowback, with opponents arguing that it will lead to an influx of luxury towers and that the neighborhood’s sewer system will not be able to withstand the volume of new residents, according to The Real Deal. A community group against the initiative called Voice of Gowanus temporarily halted the rezoning plan with a lawsuit, calling for a more rigorous environmental impact study of the proposal. A Brooklyn Supreme Court judge dismissed the lawsuit in April.