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Local residents oppose new development at 110 Amity
Josh Guttman | January 2, 2008
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Neighbors are rallying together against the latest proposed development project threatening the sanctity of the area. As you may recall, there has also been recent opposition to the Clarrett Group’s redevelopment of the Longshoreman’s Club on Court. This time, it’s a proposed development at the corner of Amity and Henry, in and around the former LAMM Institute. Below are a few plans for the proposed development, which doesn’t look overwhelmingly egregious at first glance. From the organizers, “The local community is vehemently opposed to this development that changes the block structure around to create a gated community shoe-horned into the block only to maximize profit. They call it a ‘mews’.”
I’m told that the plans will be submitted and discussed at the following meetings, which all neighborhood residents are encouraged to attend:
- Cobble Hill Association: January 2 @ 7:30pm – Long Island College Hospital, Conf Room B (entrance on Hicks)
- Community Board 6: January 3 @ 6pm – 250 Baltic Street, Cobble Hill Community Room
- Landmarks Preservation Commission: January 8 – One Centre Street, 9th Fl Conf Room, Manhattan (for time call 212-669-7923 after Jan 4)
June and Steven Negrycz are spearheading the effort with their neighbors on the block. They can be reached at CHCommittee [at] gmail [dot] com.
20/23 Units sold at 52 Dean St Development
Josh Guttman | December 11, 2007
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I stopped in the sales office at 52 Dean Street over the weekend. Apparently, 20 of 23 units in the complex have already been sold…just another data point that real estate in Cobble Hill remains on a bit of an island and hasn’t been seriously affected by market softening elsewhere. Still available in the hastily constructed, boxy apartment complex are two 2-bedroom units in the $900,000-ish range as well as the “Townhouse” of the complex, a 3-story, 3-bedroom unit with private entrance and outdoor terraces on two levels. I toured this unit and while it’s definitely a very nice home, I’m not sure it’s worth anywhere near the $2.7 million asking price. For that price, you could buy yourself a choice brownstone on a charming block and have a real backyard instead of a newly constructed asphalt terrace. It’s a sweet unit with plush spaciousness, but at that price, it’s a bit too cookie-cutter for us. I’m curious to see who buys it though and at what price.
More info on the Union-Clinton Block Meeting + Change of Time
Josh Guttman | December 7, 2007
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Reminder — Please join your neighbors for our 1st Union-Clinton Block Meeting, and hopefully the start of an official Block Association.
When: Sat. 12/8 @11:30AM-1:00PM (perhaps not the full 90 minutes)
Where: Clinton Street branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, downstairs meeting room
PLEASE PASS ALONG THE WORD TO OTHER NEIGHBORS NOT ON MY LIST….and please RSVP if you plan to attend so we can get a sense of who will be there.
Discussion topics so far include:
1. Sharing knowledge/facts of development plans for the Court-Union-Sackett corners
2. Discussing prospective role for a block association in influencing the scale, aesthetics and safety monitoring of the development site
3. Defining objectives and structure for a block association (anyone know how to do this officially???)
This being our first meeting, nothing is set in stone – so please email any suggested agenda topics to add to the list. All ideas are welcome!
Looking forward to getting all of us together for a lively discussion and constructive planning.
Donna Schneiderman
donna.schneiderman [at] verizon [dot] net
Hear ye Hear ye – Announcing the formation of Union St Block Association
Josh Guttman | December 7, 2007
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"I’m writing to let you know that we are forming a Union Street Block Association. We have reserved a room at The Public Library on Union Street on Saturday, December 8th from 11:00am to 12:30pm. We are also trying to get a representative of our Community Board to attend. I hope you can make it." Please save the date and spread the word!
From what I hear on the inside, hot topics for discussion are rumored to include:
- ILA building development (International Longshoreman’s Association)
- New lamp posts
- Block parties
- Parking policies and ticketing
Carroll Gardens Landmark Forum Meeting TONIGHT!!
Josh Guttman | November 19, 2007
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The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a panel-based forum to provide information about landmark designation in Carroll Gardens. Residents and building owners are encouraged to attend and inform themselves about the costs and benefits associated with landmarking.
The meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30pm in the PS58 Auditorium at 330 Smith Street @ Carroll Street.
Brooklyn jailhouse sits empty, awaiting possible expansion?
Josh Guttman | November 16, 2007
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It occured to me recently that our local jailhouse at Atlantic and Smith has probably become one of the most valuable pieces of real estate to house a jailhouse in the country. Surely, there is a better location where a Brooklyn jailhouse could be relocated. Worst of all, a little research shows that the jailhouse has been closed since 2003 so it’s not even operational right now. Dennis Holt reported in the Brooklyn Eagle back in May that the city’s Correction Department wants to reopen the Brooklyn Detention Complex and double its current capacity to house 1,400 inmates. One politician has proposed a controversial plan that would involve leasing the bottom levels for retail and housing, while leaving the upper levels open as a functioning jail. This is ludicrous. The city could make far more money by selling or leasing the land to a developer and relocating the jail to a less desirable neighborhood. I don’t think the inmates will mind. Holt suggests a parcel of land on the Gowanus. How about somewhere along Fulton Street Mall or down Atlantic Ave?
Rare neighborhood find – cottage on Warren Place for sale
Josh Guttman | November 12, 2007
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Last week, I noticed a new listing in the neighborhood that didn’t seem to be picked up by local news outlets. 21 Warren Place (Warren Place, not to be confused with Warren Street, is the gated mews off Warren between Henry and Hicks) is a two bedroom, 1 bathroom cottage on the most charming street in the most charming NYC neighborhood. For those of you who haven’t snooped over to open the gate and walk down Warren Place, add it to your to-do list for next weekend. It’s a real treat. 21 Warren Place is one of the original Workingmen’s Cottages built by Alfred Tredway White in 1878. You’ll pass carefully tended gardens and a lovely fountain to get to your front door. There is also a patio in back of the house. The rare find is listed at $949,000 which certainly isn’t cheap for a 2 bedroom/1 bath home, but you can’t find this type of charm anywhere else.
Elizabeth Rueckerl-Betteil is the listing agent on the property. Her number is (718) 935-6124.
Prophetical neighborhood intersection
Josh Guttman | October 24, 2007
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Has anyone noticed that we have an intersection in the neighborhood that may foretell our next U.S. president (and our previous president, as the case may be)? Kudos to Gian Trotta for pointing this out to me a few weeks ago.
Pothole and debris left on Clinton Street
Josh Guttman | October 10, 2007
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Since Clinton Street seems to be a hot topic, has anyone else noticed the half-ass job the contractors did on the street in front of Cafe on Clinton two weeks ago. After working on the location for a week (I’m not really sure what they were doing), they filled in the hole they dug with dirt, which has since sunk several inches, leaving a nice-size pothole for cars to drive through. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise and cars will avoid the street as a result, but I doubt it. In addition, they left a mess of pebbles and debris scattered 50 feet in every direction with a clear trail all the way to Congress Street, which street sweepers seem to have a difficult time gathering. Who knows the scoop on this? I called 311 and reported it to NYC Dept of Transportation as well as Sanitation today.
The neighborhood controversy of 360 Smith
Rachel Markowitz | September 20, 2007
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360 Smith Street: to some it is just a street address, to others it is the biggest controversy plaguing the neighborhood. Billy Stein, the man who owns the address, plans to use the property to build a high-rise condo above the Carroll Street subway station. While this could seemingly be the beginning of Carroll Gardens turning into something like Manhattan’s financial district, the development plan isn’t as bad as originally thought.
When Stein first unveiled his proposed building design to the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, it was a clunky metallic structure Gowanus Lounge dubbed “The Heavy Metal Building.” Brownstoner has also covered the development progress extensively. The design proposed to do away with the F-train plaza, and would have added a chintzy, meretricious feel to the neighborhood. However, thanks to protests from members of the community, Stein’s new design is less imposing. Instead of metal, Stein now plans to use terracotta and possibly brick to build his high-rise.
While Stein says that his high-rise will be 70 feet tall, as that’s the height that the zoning dictates, CGNA Land Use Committee Co-chair John Hatheway pointed out that the height was a limit, not a mandate. Just because the city will only allow Stein to build up to 70 feet doesn’t mean he has to, and it’s dishonest to say that the height is something the city “dictates.” Stein countered that the price he paid for the property factored in using every square inch possible, and failure to do so would be a monetary loss. Needless to say, this explanation didn’t get much sympathy from community members. Neighbors have been protesting the building since mid-summer, including organizing this online petition, depicted in the photo.
While building was scheduled to begin this fall, Stein says that given the recent design changes, this probably is not still possible. Stein claims he has done his best to try and compromise with the community, even though doing so has been to his detriment. What will actually be built at 360 Smith Street? Only time will tell.
