Now they have a chance to be heard, and this time it will come in court.
On June 14 in a Manhattan court, Justice Emily Goodman will hear a new round of testimony in the case, which was filed by the Broadway Triangle Community Coalition (BTCC) in order to stop the rezoning.
The coalition claims the city's plan to rezone the 30-acre site for future housing is racially and religiously discriminatory to several groups in the area.
The city filed a motion to dismiss the case, but last month Goodman ruled that it could proceed.
“Going forward I think we have a pretty good shot,” said Juan Ramos, BTCC's chairman.
The group favors a denser redevelopment of the site that would bring nearly 5,000 new apartments to the area. The city's plan calls for 1,850 units, nearly half for middle and low-income families.
Goodman moved the case forward after visiting the Broadway Triangle site, which is bounded roughly by Union and Flushing avenues and Broadway.
“Further development of evidence of anticipated discriminatory impact” is necessary Goodman wrote in her May decision, adding that a “brighter light” should be shone on the city's plan.
Ramos said he thought the site visit helped sway Goodman's thinking. “I think that's why she came back with that decision,” he said.
Ramos said BTCC plans on bringing over 100 people to the June 14th hearing. “This is the first opportunity we've had to present our side of the story,” he said.


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