Richard Bass, an attorney with Ackerman LLP representing the Catholic Medical Mission Board, presented a proposal at the Queensborough land use public hearing to rezone a block‑long site south of Broadway for a 10‑story mixed-use building that would preserve warehouse space for the nonprofit.

Bass said that if approved the action would amend the zoning map from an R5 to an R7A/M1‑4 and map a new MX district, producing a building of roughly 213,000 square feet with about 186,000 square feet of residential floor area. The project would deliver 258 dwelling units, 66 of them designated affordable, roughly 14,000 square feet of warehouse space so the Catholic Medical Mission can continue operations at the site, about 9,000 square feet of local retail and roughly 3,300 square feet of community facility space.

Bass said the project team increased the number of two‑ and three‑bedroom units in response to preliminary discussions with Community Board 1 and the council member. He said 42% of the affordable units would be two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments. Bass added that rental levels for affordable units are set by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and federal programs, not by the applicant.

Asked about minority and women‑owned business enterprise (MWBE) hiring goals, Bass said there are none set yet: the nonprofit expects to partner with a development partner and will discuss hiring and sustainability commitments with the Queensborough office, the community board and the council member during the review and resolution process. He also told the hearing the team intends to pursue sustainability measures, including electrification, in keeping with city policy.

Bass acknowledged that the Community Board vote on this application was split; he said some board members raised concerns about rental levels but that the organization is open to working with stakeholders. Chair Lisa Atkins noted there were no public speakers on this item during the hearing.

Bass described the parcel as an existing one‑story warehouse occupied by the Catholic Medical Mission, which ships medical equipment to developing countries, and said the organization wants to continue that function on site while adding housing and neighborhood uses. He said prior rezonings in adjacent blocks created a continuity of higher density and that the subject site remains a “hole in the donut.”