Rendering of Oliver House
May 5th 2008
On April 18 2008
First, dear reader, did you know that developer Bill Stein's controversial development at 360 Smith Street is, well, not exactly on Smith Street any more? Oliver House's official address is 131 2nd Place
Of course that makes sense, since the entrance to the building is actually on 2nd Place. Typing 360 Smith into New York City Buildings Department's search engine will now redirect you automatically to 131 2nd. The switcheroo is probably very convenient for Mr. Stein. Google 360 Smith and a whole lot of blog postings pop up. Most of them aren't too flattering to his building. So from now on, I'll be using the new address to refer to the condominium project that became the rallying cry for down-zoning Carroll Gardens. Just in case someone googles that address. We wouldn't want anyone to miss out on all the info that's floating around, would we?
Well hidden behind a newly erected blue construction fence, the construction site has been almost impossible to see what is going on. I say almost, because someone has been taking some pretty awesome photos of the construction site from a near-by roof. The latest one was taken yesterday. Comparing it to the one taken on April 18th, it seems that a whole lot of digging has been going on.
On the official web site of Oliver House, there is this (picture-less) update on the progress.
What you will see - Steel pipe piles will be installed in the ground along the west side of the site. These piles will be drilled into place using two drilling rigs, thus avoiding the noise and vibration normally associated with pile driving operations. Some truck loads of building materials will arrive at the site from time to time; and some debris will be removed in dumpsters from time to time.
Mr. Stein is most probably in a race against time to have the foundation of Oliver House completed in case the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment gets approved by City Planning.
And speaking of the Wide Street Amendment, I hope that many of you will take the time to attend the hearing at Borough President Marty Markowitz's office.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment
OFFICE OF THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
Community Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street,
Brooklyn, New York 11201,
commencing at 5:30 P.M. on May 7, 2008.
[where: 360 Smith Street, 131 2nd Place]
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3 comments:
The problem with the public hearing is that it's too early...5:30 pm. I'm still at work. If the meeting were held at 6:30 or 7:00, then I'd be there.
I agree completely. It all seems so overwhelming...There are so many important meetings that one should go to and not enough time between working and raising a family.
can i put my penny in?
i am intentionally uninvolved in this matter.
the building site has been nothing more than parking lot since i can remember. obviously, the technology is now available to build there.
all i can say is from what's posted, it appears to be a enchancement to the neighborhood. i don't get it. someone post a flyer, all of a sudden the builder is out for himself, the building is too high, the apartments are too expensive and there should be more peanut butter in reese's butter cups.
the guy is a builder. he sees an opportunity, he takes advantage of it and, for sure, does a great job. the architextural plans were not drawn up in a back room somewhere.
now, everyone has a banner to wave:
preserve the neighborhood
only brownstones in brownstone brooklyn, please
he don't live here, he can't build here
well, pardon me for asking
but
i do not see anyone getting off their high horse around here
my grandmother sat on the front stoop with her family for entertainment when there was no tv
my mom married the guy upstairs
the guy was a decorated wwII hero
who came back to raise a family
ok, he had opinions and ideas and dreams
but the furtherest thing from his mind was "if it affects my property value, you can't do it"
he worked nights, mom worked all day and night, as in housewife, 24/7, 4 kids
they didn't have time to attend rallies and meetings and "let's do brunch"
ok, 2008, no problem
the property has been bought, a man has a vision
if you disagree, there are appropiate channels to reach him, i'm sure
they call it capitalism, they call this AMERICA
everyday, pictures of the site, a flyer here, a fler there, oh, another meeting to get him to do what we want (coffee and donuts, too)
when i was a kid, the church had a fundraiser, the scaffolding went up, we went to school and St. mary's had stars on the ceiling of the church the next time mom took us
my parents weren't calling osha, demanding to see Brother angelus' credentials to fix the church, oh, we want a rainbow in the left hand corner, forget the stars
no, they put a buck in the basket for the renovation
i can tell you story after story
but
gilbert, the train station guy
has anyone demanded that the contractor find him a decent home in one of his buildings?
no, why
because we are too busy pasting a badge on our lapel for our pet rally, cause, demonstration, initiative
who cares of gilbert
i want to be with the "you can't build here because i say so" gang
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