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Competing protesters took to the steps of City Hall Monday to say Domi-NO and Domi-YES.

"It is fair. It is just and it is what the community deserves," said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

At the center of the fight is a plan to turn the former Domino sugar refinery on the East River into a housing development with a waterfront esplanade. City Councilman Steve Levin and Assemblyman Vito Lopez are spearheading the opposition.

As proposed, the $1.4 billion project would create 2,200 apartments -- 660 of which would be set aside as affordable housing. The developer says the project would create more than 1,000 permanent jobs and 350 construction jobs every year for a decade. It would also open up the waterfront to the public.

Those in favor of what's been dubbed the "New Domino" rallied Monday before a City Council hearing on the plan. Supporters are working to ensure the developer wins approval.

"We are here as a community in solidarity for a project," said City Councilwoman Diana Reyna.

Opponents including Assemblyman Lopez and City Councilman Steve Levin say the project is too big and the towers too tall. They want more affordable housing -- 800 apartments in all -- and they are calling for a plan to deal with the influx of new residents who would be flocking to the already crowded L Train stop at Bedford Avenue.

"We want to do as much as we can and compromise where we can, but at the end of the day we've got to have the economics to build it," said Community Preservation Commission Developer Michael Lappin.

Before the Domino project comes before the full City Council, residents can expect some last-minute wrangling with the developer as opponents try to extract as many concessions as they can before the vote.