How did Arts Gowanus secure subsidized studios?

In November 2021, the New York City Council passed into law the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan – a comprehensive rezoning to create more housing and local jobs in an 84-block area of Brooklyn along the Gowanus Canal.

With support of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice (GNCJ) and Brad Lander, the Council District member at the time, Arts Gowanus entered into a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the 11 property owners who planned to build along the Gowanus Canal waterfront. The CBA is a contractual agreement wherein each owner is obligated to provide, at a subsidized rent, a number of artist studios.