CORD to Brooklyn Councilman de Blasio: Wish You Were Here

In July, the Narrow Streets Zoning Text Amendment was passed by the City Council, restricting Carroll Gardens building heights on defined "narrow streets" to 55 feet. It was thought that the "out of scale" building proposed for 360 Smith Street ("Oliver House") would have to shrink to a size similar to other buildings in the neighborhood.

After the measure was passed, City Council Member Bill de Blasio said that it was “a critical piece in the larger puzzle of preserving the character of our neighborhood.” (Gowanus Lounge)

But at a meeting on August 24, "De Blasio rolled out some vague statements about how the developer had 'stepped back,' and was 'not building the building he planned,' or 'the building he could' under the zoning rules, all of which sounded like the developer hadn't exactly lost the battle." (Curbed)

Indeed, the fight is not yet over, according to CORD, which is the central group that has been fighting overscale development in Carroll Gardens.

A public hearing at the Board of Standards and Appeals for Oliver House/360 Smith Street will be held on 9/24/2008 at 10 a.m.* But CORD says Councilman de Blasio will be a no-show.

Yesterday, McBrooklyn received a letter from a CORD co-founder, Lucy DeCarlo, to the councilman. It reads, in part:

"Where are you Councilman De Blasio?" we ask, as residents of Carroll Gardens who fought long and hard along with you to pass the zoning text amendment . This amendment which limits building height to 55 ft. will have no value, non, nada, if we allow even one new development to be absolved from its mandate. The claims of loss at the 360 site which is barely started, are incidental, and we need our Councilman to stand by our side at the BSA hearing to show his support .

"Our efforts through the past year will be futile if we let this go. You have been a strong force in our arduous endeavor to save our neighborhood and we appreciate all that you have done. It is vital that all our politicians who were proponents of the amendment show their courage and determination by supporting their constituents at the BSA hearing.

"Where are you Councilman De Blasio? Can we count on you to be there?"

Lucy DeCarlo
Second Street

*(The public is invited speak and present evidence. Contact Toni Matias 212-788-8752.)

- Carroll Gardens' 360 Smith Rising From the Dead?
- Carroll Gardens Wide Street Hearing Wednesday Morning
- Marty Markowitz Approves Carroll Gardens Narrow Streets Zoning
- New, Improved Renderings of Planned 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens
- A List of Questions
- Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting
- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Carroll Gardens' 360 Smith Rising From the Dead?

Remember when the Narrow Streets Zoning Text Amendment was passed last month, restricting Carroll Gardens building heights to 55 feet? Many people were happy because that meant that the "out of scale" building proposed for 360 Smith Street would have to shrink to a size similar to other buildings in the neighborhood.

Not so fast, happy people.

Community Board 6 is holding a Public Hearing on behalf of the builder, Oliver Developments, who is asking for an extension of time to complete the construction.

The hearing will take place Thursday, August 28, 6 p.m. at P.S. 32, 317 Hoyt Street at Union Street.

After the Zoning Text Amendment was passed, construction was halted at 360 Smith because the plans (calling for a building 70 feet high) didn’t conform to the new zoning, and the foundation was only 20 percent complete, not enough for a gimme.

The Gowanus Lounge called it back in July: "The developer presumably will appeal to the Board of Standards and Appeals to try to get 'vested' under the old zoning, which is a possibility."

Public hearing notice here.

- Carroll Gardens Wide Street Hearing Wednesday Morning
- Marty Markowitz Approves Carroll Gardens Narrow Streets Zoning
- New, Improved Renderings of Planned 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens
- A List of Questions
- Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting
- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

New, Improved Renderings of Planned 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens

Someone sent CORD several renderings of the planned 360 Smith Street "Oliver House" over the last couple of days. In the bottom rendering, one can see the views from the Second Place side of the building.

Says CORD's Triada Samaras, "It is very easy to see how the scale dwarfs Second Place and Smith Street ... Unfortunately the scale of this building is IMMENSE and certainly far out of context on our litttle, narrow streets in CG!"

More renderings can be found at the Carroll Gardens Petition blog here. More than a thousand signatures so far.

- A List of Questions
- Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting
- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers

CORD has sent us the word that Councilman Bill De Blasio has announced there will be a town hall meeting to discuss the 360 Smith Street problem* this Thursday night, August 23, at Buddy Scotto's funeral parlor on the corner of Court Street and First Place in Carroll Gardens.

*For those not following the story, a much-derided 70-foot-tall Scarano building has been proposed at the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Place.

For more details as they unfold, visit http://www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/

Past posts on this topic:
The Brooklyn Skinny Dipper, and More Monday Briefs
Size DOES Matter on Second Place
Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

360 Smith Street/ Carroll Gardens Public Hearing Wednesday

CORD sent us an email reminding us that the public hearing at the Board of Standards and Appeals for Oliver House/360 Smith Street will be held on Wednesday, September 24 at 10 a.m.

History: After a Zoning Text Amendment was passed, construction was halted at 360 Smith because the plans (calling for a building 70 feet high) didn’t conform to the new zoning, and the foundation was only 20 percent complete, not enough for a gimme.

Now the developer is appealing to the Board of Standards and Appeals to try to slide in under the old zoning.

The public can speak and present evidence. Generally, three minutes are allotted for each speaker. For specific guidance regarding comments, submissions, etc, contact Toni Matias 212-788-8752.

CORD still frets that Councilman Bill de Blasio will be a no-show.


Want to know more about this topic? Every post on this subject we've ever published is HERE.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Marty Markowitz Approves Carroll Gardens Narrow Streets Zoning

CORD sends us news Friday afternoon that the Borough President has approved the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment.

The amendment would correct the "unintended consequence of the application of the wide street definition" to the narrow residential streets of Carroll Gardens. These streets are presently misclassified as wide because they have large front yards, pretty unusual in this city. Builders can generally build taller buildings on wide streets -- and builders have been lining up to do so.

The text amendment would limit the size of new buildings (and enlargements) to more closely match the area's prevailing character.

The next step is the City Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 4th at 10 a.m., at 22 Reade Street, and then the City Council.

- New, Improved Renderings of Planned 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens
- A List of Questions
- Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting
- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

Photo by MK Metz

Carroll Gardens Wide Street Hearing Wednesday Morning

This is a big week for Carroll Gardens, writes Triada Samaras of CORD. Here's the letter (in part):

"On Wednesday there will be a public hearing at the City Planning Commission for the Zoning Text Amendment ... Both Community Board 6 and the Borough President have approved this amendment. This is a very important moment and your attendance at this hearing will make a difference!"

The amendment would correct the "unintended consequences" of applying the wide street definition to the narrow residential streets of Carroll Gardens. These streets are presently misclassified as wide because they have large front yards. Builders can generally build taller buildings on wide streets -- and they've been lining up to do so.

The text amendment would limit the size of new buildings (and enlargements) to more closely match the area's prevailing character.

Meeting: Wednesday, June 4rth 10 AM @ Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street

Re: Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment N 080345 ZRK
For more info on protocol see here.

- Marty Markowitz Approves Carroll Gardens Narrow Streets Zoning
- New, Improved Renderings of Planned 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens
- A List of Questions
- Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting
- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

Photo by MK Metz

Brooklyn in Brief, Wednesday

- The new Hannah Senesh school building, on Smith near First Place, must be feeling a bit squeezed these days. The house right next door is getting a "vertical and horizontal enlargement," and around the corner of 360 Smith, it's looking at the proposed Stein/Scarano building. Pardon Me For Asking

- If you, too, feel that traditional crafts just "don't utilize enough Barbie parts," you'll be relieved to learn that Brooklyn does have a Diorama Club! New York Magazine

- The development changes coming to the Willoughby-Fulton Street part of the old Downtown Brooklyn will lead to dramatic changes in traffic patterns, rules and regulations. Brooklyn Eagle

- Great wrap-ups of 360 Smith Street meeting. Pardon Me For Asking and Gowanus Lounge

- The Brooklyn Cyclones wiped out their rivals, the reigning champion Staten Island Yankees, in the opening round of the New York–Penn League playoffs. Brooklyn Paper

- Brownstoner tell us about WNYC's Worst Buildings in New York contest!

- Why is there a stop work order issued against the owner of the former Franklin Trust building at 166 Montague Street -- and what about that giant rat? Brooklyn Eagle

- More Brooklynites lose home-owners insurance, even if they're miles away from a flood zone. New York Magazine

Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?

So we spotted a half a dozen pedestrians standing motionless at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place, near the infamous 360 Smith Street. It was hot. The pedestrians didn't move. The minutes ticked by.

Then suddenly, as if they had communicated telepathically, they all hustled off at the same moment and ran down the nearby F train subway steps.

It wasn't till we turned around that we discovered the hidden meaning of this mysterious migration.



We'd heard you could see the F train from a stop on Smith Street but this was the first time we'd seen it in action.

More about Smith Street here.

Photos by MK Metz

'Oliver House' in Carroll Gardens Receives Height Variance

CORD reports that the Board of Standards and Appeals granted developer Stein a variance on Tuesday to build Oliver House seven stories high, as opposed to the mandates of the new Carroll Gardens text amendment which would have allowed only five stories.

In July, the Narrow Streets Zoning Text Amendment was passed by the City Council, restricting Carroll Gardens building heights on defined "narrow streets" to 55 feet. It was thought that the out-of-scale building proposed for 360 Smith Street ("Oliver House") would have to shrink to a size similar to other buildings in the neighborhood.

CORD says the vote was unanimous on both applications: on the completion of the foundation, which was only 20 per cent complete, and on the A application which claimed the developer would suffer substantial economic financial loss.

- 360 Smith Street/ Carroll Gardens Public Hearing Wednesday

- Everything we've ever posted about this topic: here

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today

McBrooklyn received a media advisory from Councilmember Bill de Blasio's office that de Blasio, along with other local officials and community activists will gather at the Department of Buildings at 210 Joralemon Street at 11 a.m. this morning to demand that the DOB stop work on all Robert Scarano projects while he is under investigation for professional misconduct.

Mr. de Blasio's office pointed out that Scarano, “an architect with a long history of violating zoning codes, building codes, and practicing unsafe construction,” is currently under investigation by the State Education Department.

Recently the DOB approved plans for 360 Smith Street, where Scarano is the architect.

Past Posts on this topic:

'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

De Blasio: Scarano 'Bad Actor and a Cheat'

Photo of 360 Smith Street by MK Metz

Carroll Gardens Landmarking Meeting

Out-of-context development is changing the face of Carroll Gardens, says CGNA (Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association).

Join the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association on Monday, November 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at PS 58 (the Carroll School Auditorium, Carroll Street entrance) for an opportunity to learn about the process of landmarking from the experts. A panel of professionals and residents will explain landmarking, how the process works, and more. For more information, please contact Maria Pagano, 718 858 4699, or CGNA@Yahoo.com.

- DeBlasio to Meet with 360 Smith Street Petition Signers
- Size DOES Matter on Second Place
- Brooklyn Wednesday in Brief
- Smith Street: Zombies? Performance Art?
- 'Stop Scarano' Rally at DOB Today
- Brooklyn's Smith Street Today
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

Photo by MK Metz

'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition

Concerned Carroll Gardeners and Gownus residents worried about the development of 360 Smith Street -- where a controversial 70-foot-tall Scarano building is proposed at the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Place -- have posted a petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/crlgrdns/petition.html

The Coalition to Respectfully Develop will also be collecting signatures by hand at this Sunday's Smith Street Fair.

At a June 6 press conference to protest the proposed building, Carroll Gardens Councilman Bill De Blasio called Scarano a "bad actor" and urged New York State to revoke his architect’s license.

The petition reads in part:

"We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the 'as of right' ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes."

The group is demanding an immediate moratorium on all buildings and alterations in the neighborhood where the ultimate height of any structure to be built will exceed a height of fifty feet, pending a decision on rezoning and or landmarking in Carroll Gardens.

De Blasio: Scarano 'Bad Actor' and Cheat

Hills & Gardens: Ask Dismissal of Architect: Brooklyn Eagle

Carroll Gardeners Post Online Petition: The Gowanus Lounge

Brooklyn's Smith Street Today

The low-rise character of Smith Street (near Degraw, looking north) is apparent in this recent photo.

A neighborhood group “CORD” (carroll gardens COalition to Respectfully Develop) has organized a petition against an eight-story building proposed for 360 Smith (south of this view), and is also hoping to set a standard limiting new development projects to no more than 50 feet.

Previous posts:
- 'Protect Our Homes in Carroll Gardens' Petition
- DeBlasio: Scarano 'Bad Actor' and Cheat

Big discussion on Brownstoner about the proposed building here.

Photo by MK Metz

Tributes to Gowanus Lounge's Robert Guskind

Tributes to Robert Guskind, founder of the Gowanus Lounge blog, continue to pour in from bloggers.

Guskind died Tuesday.

The Gowanus Lounge's tagline, as seen when searching for it on Google, was "Gowanus Lounge -- Serving Brooklyn." Guskind served us all since April 2006, covering all of Brooklyn, but especially Gowanus, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Williamsburg and Dumbo.

He warned us about the condition of the Boardwalk at Coney Island, the problems with the Red Hook vendors, and the battle over 360 Smith Street. He analyzed developer tax breaks, discovered a bizarre Wikipedia war going on between a prominent developer and his detractors, and covered community board and other civic meetings. He linked us to hundreds of other interesting blog postings, seemed to never sleep, and was a vital part of the web ecosystem.

The latest version of the blog, online since May 2008, is mysteriously down. His earlier work, however, is preserved on Blogger at http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/.

UPDATE: Gowanus Lounge is back up, thanks to a friend who also helped with the technical side of the blog.

Tributes

- A beautiful tribute at Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
- Miss Heather, Newyorkshitty
- Obituary at the Brooklyn Eagle
- Large list of links at Flatbush Gardener
- More thoughts and comments at Brownstoner
- Speculative account at Brooklyn Paper UPDATE: Some of the sadder speculations have been removed from this article (original reproduced in part here).


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Size DOES Matter on Second Place

Homeowners on 2nd Place in Carroll Gardens/Gowanus are displaying a certain solidarity about restricting neighborhood building heights to 50 feet. Signs hung up and down the block say "Size Does Matter" and asks viewers to sign a petition (www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com) protesting the potential Scarano-designed building at 360 Smith.

(Photos by MK Metz)

The Brooklyn Skinny Dipper, and More Monday Briefs

- Brooklyn skinny-dipper found au natural by Coast Guard after all-night search in Long Beach. Forbes

- Buying a condo for your business instead of renting seems to be an idea that's catching on. Hundreds of deal-makers and businesses attended the grand opening of Greenpoint Lofts. Brooklyn Eagle

- Bikers: Ride from Manhattan to the Coney Island Amusement Park on August 24 at 7 p.m. . Riders should get there just in time for the fireworks. Streetsblog

- The Housing Authority swears it has no plans to convert the Whitman/Ingersoll Houses into private condos. Why, then, have these rumors persisted? Blame the blogs. The Brooklyn Paper

- Amanda H. Burden, Director of the Department of City Planning, wrote to CORD: We are aware that members of the community are concerned about the proposed building at 360 Smith Street... We agree that such a study makes sense, and are committed to pursuing it, but ... we are unable to commit to a precise timeframe. Carroll Gardens Petition

- Visit some of Bay Ridge's finest restaurants on BCAT. "Neighborhood Beat: The View from Bay Ridge," premiers Tuesday, August 14 at 8:30 p.m. bcat.tv

Falling Fences, Vampire Weekend, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Karl Junkersfeld has created another enjoyable pictorial walk down memory lane, this time exploring the history of Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights. Brooklyn Heights Blog

- Did you see this happen? Man injured by falling construction fence at 360 Smith Street.  PMFA 

- Improv Everywhere's No Pants Subway Ride went off without a hitch yesterday, with roughly 3,000 participants.

- A new measure gets tough on curb cuts and front yard parking.  Brooklyn Eagle

-   An explosion occurred aboard the tanker “Sichem Defiance” about a mile off of Ceasers Bay, Brooklyn Sunday morning. The tanker was carrying 41,000 barrels of ethanol. Yeshiva World

- Vampire Weekend's new album Contra comes out Tuesday; the band plays in Williamsburg Jan. 17. NY Post

- A small New York subculture seek good health by returning to the habits of their Paleolithic ancestors.Or, as they describe themselves, they are cavemen. NY Times

- New study: Walmart brings zero jobs to Chicago.  Huffington Post 

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Friday p.m. in Brief

"Over-the-top" preparations for tonight's monster-sized Hatty Potter party at the Community Bookstore in Park Slope. Brooklyn Eagle -- And the neighborhood is virtually sex-offender free! Gawker

Scholastic Corp. is offering hush-money to hundreds of fans who received -- too early -- pre-release copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this week. Crain's New York Business

Gossip Mill: House next to 360 Smith Street SOLD. The Gowanus Lounge

37-45 Bridge Street in Dumbo had been sold to "slumlord" Baruch Singer Brownstoner

The Empire State Development Corporation, which said it it would put Atlantic Yards oversight measures into place, has failed to implement most of the measures promised. The NY Daily News via The Real Deal

Bruce Ratner eyes more Brooklyn sites Courier-Life

Boing Boing Buzz; Brooklyn Bridge Park Bridge; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- The reaction keeps coming in about the wisdom and legality of the discount that Boing Boing, the maternity shop in Park Slope, is offering to lesbian moms. Joe.My.God.

- 360 Smith Street brochure shows HUGE front garden. Just one problem . . . PMFA

- The pedestrian bridge connecting Squibb Park to Brooklyn Bridge Park will be made of American-grown black locust wood and will be veerrry long.  Popular Mechanics 

- Brooklyn-born Columbia professor's retirement big news in Japan.  NY Times

- The Metropolitan Opera will present a free recital at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park in July. BHB

- So how's it going at the Whole Foods site?  Brownstoner

- If you're one of the 77 million people who use the Playstation Network, the security problem is probably worse than you thought.  TechCrunch

- 14 ways to use dryer sheets that have nothing to do with the dryer. Gizmodo

- The water supply in the western U.S. is rapidly depleting. Huff Post via NY Magazine


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