The 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place Site
After watching first hand the deliberations and favoritism at the Board Of Standards And Appeals, this city might as well save money by replacing them with a big rubber stamp.
The Board Of Standards and Appeals voted today to grant Bill Stein, developer of Oliver House at 360 Smith/ 131 2nd Place, an exemption to the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment.
Mr. Stein's construction site was served with a Stop Work Order immediately following the passing of the Zoning Text Amendment by the City Council back in July. In order to be allowed to continue with construction, Stein had to convince the B.S.A. that his foundation was substantially completed before the Stop Work Order went into effect.
Inspectors of the Department of Buildings determined that only 20%
of the foundation had been completed.
Both members of C.O.R.D. and the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association had testified against the project in front to the B.S.A.
Proving that for the B.S.A., 'substantial completion' is a subjective term, they voted unanimously to allow Stein to continue with his "Oliver House."
It remains to be seen if the developer will go ahead with the construction. After all, there is a glut of housing right now and not enough cash to go around.
.JPG)
11 comments:
God, that's heart breaking.
Truly, truly unreal...
Are there any options left? How sad that so many people could fight the good fight--and win--only to be overturned by a few obviously corrupted officials...
Its funny how people who know nothing about a system automatically cry corruption when something happens that they don't understand. Ignorance is bliss, but falsely calling a system that we all rely on corrupt benefits no one.
Geez. Since when did the community get a say about someone else's property rights?
Also, can we all stop saying that the DOB testified that work was only 20% complete? No one testified, and one inspector, WITHOUT PLANS IN FRONT OF HIM looked at the site, saw that ~20% of the lot was covered, and called it 20% complete.
Oh, and did I mention that the only reason that the inspector was out there was that the people who protested this from day one bombarded the DOB with calls the MINUTE the amendment passed?
This makes me long for the days of Kid Blast and College Point Bakery.
The exemption Stein got is a exception to the new zoning laws in the area. The exception is being made for 1 developer only, who without the exemption would be breaking the law. All others in the community have to be within the new height limit. This is not the community trying to tell an owner what he can do with his own property we are all subject to the new zoning height. Stein will not be.
Corruption? Who knows, but let's say the influence of having lots of money to actually have a law changed one time for your own benefit and being important enough politically that your plans out weight the desire of many who are subject to that law.
This is bitter news. It is not and has not ever been an attractive building and now even more ugly and out of place because of the height. The whole process has been heartbreaking I agree.
Vince
In reviewing applications to vest projects under previous zoning, the Board of Standards and Appeals is guided by case law - and like it or not, much of that case law is lenient towards the rights of property owners.
Why does everyone keep stating there's a height limit in Carroll Gardens? The Limited Height district ends in Cobble Hill.
On any 40-60 foot wide lot in the neighborhood, a developer can easily build a 14 story building at 2.44 FAR. That is, if they can get financing ...
On any lot within 100 feet of the wide streets (Court, Smith, etc.) developers can build 7 stories and to the same 3.0 FAR density as before.
The zoning text change was a DiBlascio attempt to fool everyone into think he's working! He could have just changed zoning to R6B but that would annoy his developer friends.
Ohh please all you guys do is complain!!!
If im not correct didn't this specific developer try to work with the community and redesign this building?
If he had started with his original design, wouldn't of he had his full foundations in?
so he goes out of his way to do something NICE, which he wasnt required to & now you say the system is corrupt!
On comment asked :
"If he [ the developer ] had started with his original design, wouldn't of he had his full foundations in?"
He did start with the original design (check the work permits on the lot fence) and was late for his own reasons.
The BSA ruled against his own rules. Call this what you want, but this is questionable.
The BSA is full of shit.
Billy boy has deep pockets whenit comes to bribes.
I wonder how he will feel, after he moves in(as he says he will) when he see all the riff-raff , slime an dope dealing hanging about the entrance o his beloved Oliver House
"noblahblah said...
On comment asked :
"If he [ the developer ] had started with his original design, wouldn't of he had his full foundations in?"
He did start with the original design (check the work permits on the lot fence) and was late for his own reasons.
The BSA ruled against his own rules. Call this what you want, but this is questionable."
You obviously don't know much about this project....before you say stuff that makes no sense why don't you go do a little research!
Post a Comment