tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post8555751899284307743..comments2024-03-28T13:46:38.346-04:00Comments on Pardon Me For Asking: From Condo To Rental: The Lightstone Group Presents Its Gowanus Project To Community Board 6Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882047670852126739noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-32857209407801369522012-09-23T17:57:34.984-04:002012-09-23T17:57:34.984-04:00Why is there not more community outrage over this?...Why is there not more community outrage over this? I don't understand it at all. Nothing is ever a "done deal." It ain't over till the fat lady sings. And that hasn't happened yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-63433764248944364872012-09-13T03:37:15.934-04:002012-09-13T03:37:15.934-04:00in recent Forbes - 100 million judgment against L...in recent Forbes - 100 million judgment against Lighthouse Group creator Michael Lichtenstein and his company for pushing his Extended Stay hotel chain into bankruptcy. And now Lighthouse is suing its lawyers. Hmmm...Forbes story link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2012/06/18/david-lichtenstein-blames-his-lawyers-for-his-100-million-bad-boy-penalty/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-64122907294831419242012-09-02T16:23:37.518-04:002012-09-02T16:23:37.518-04:00Lighthouse group is NOT asking - they came to the ...Lighthouse group is NOT asking - they came to the community to let them know what they intend to do. If you live in the area, bought, rented, whatever, then the prospect of having what you love completely destroyed has exactly the same effect as an act of terrorism. 9/11 does not own the word "terrorism." All of us have experienced 9/11 and grieve. How would Carroll Gardeners feel if in its midst you get a 700 unit 12 story complex as your direct neighbors - not down the hill, mind you, but right there in your face. Also to the point is that this is not an appropriate project for this site. I am well aware that there are people in the community who stand to profit greatly financially, who have been pushing for this. And this is a kind of war, isn't it, against those who do not want this, who want to protect the industrial zoning, also.Reluctant activistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-66380862374340343672012-09-02T11:22:20.174-04:002012-09-02T11:22:20.174-04:00TERRORISM?? you are comparing a development to ter...TERRORISM?? you are comparing a development to terrorism? are you sick? are you off your meds?? have you seen a bomb rip through a bus full of children and people going to work? have you watched people jump out of burning buildings and land a few feet from you?? i have and THAT is terrorism. <br /><br />IF the lighthouse group brought guns to the meeting and said "let us build it or else" you MIGHT be right. if they walked into your home and blew up you and your family you WOULD be right. <br /><br />this is a case of a group asking to do something you do not agree with. <br /><br />by all means protest, ask questions and demand answers. don't use absurd hyperbole to try and make your point. its nonsense like that which turns off people such as myself to your arguments. i hear phrases like that thrown around and I immediately say... "these people are nuts.. I hope they build something twice as big."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-5373386836270639832012-09-01T17:28:07.589-04:002012-09-01T17:28:07.589-04:00The argument that this project will create jobs ov...The argument that this project will create jobs overlooks the fact that this spot rezoning from manufacturing to residential actually sets a precedent that will take away manufacturing from Gowanus.agnesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-38792977180547820792012-08-31T19:11:52.828-04:002012-08-31T19:11:52.828-04:00This will set a precedent that will actually take ...This will set a precedent that will actually take away jobs - consider that Gowanus is currently zoned for industry and that his was a SPOT rezoning! Industry in Gowanus is booming - and at the same time, threatened. I have a neighbor, a special effects company for films, broadway, TV, etc, who has had to relocate three times due to gentrification in other areas that were once zoned for industry - and this is their last stand. As for housing - there can be no more inappropriate place for density housing than this geographical area - flood zone, hurricane evacuation zone, as well as the environmental challenges. These are the realities. Not all land is equal. As far as taxes - industry pays a lot in taxes, also. I know of industry that has wanted to expand or locate to Gowanus but cannot because of the speculation going on here for residential, and residential brings in more bucks for property owners. the City must protect industry-this is one of the last places where it still exists in America!Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-48000444328099326482012-08-31T13:36:04.774-04:002012-08-31T13:36:04.774-04:00Ed - do you deny this project would create jobs? ...Ed - do you deny this project would create jobs? Do you concede at adding medium/high density apartments close to the city, near a train station and shops (as opposed to further out) is good public policy? By all means push for a greater component of low income housing but surely you see that it will help at some level for some people? Do you see that this project should help the tax base of NYC by supporting higher population etc? Sure it helps the developers (assuming they finish the job) but the benefits spread much wider.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-78637124203663471682012-08-31T11:19:51.185-04:002012-08-31T11:19:51.185-04:009PM - I can't believe you are comparing the Li...9PM - I can't believe you are comparing the Lightstone project to a project to create a community park. And then have the nerve to say that negative response to the Lighthouse behemoth is "negative defeatist thinking." I live in Gowanus and in no way see the Lighthouse project as a benefit to my neighborhood. It is a benefit to developers. As for the 5th Ave Committee taking over the "low income housing" units - by the way - the number of those kinds of units increased very little whereas the market rate units increased HEAPS - have any figures come out as far as how much "low income units" will go for? Not cheap, I bet!Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-37614004646543202572012-08-30T21:00:33.530-04:002012-08-30T21:00:33.530-04:00More negative defeatist thinking. Instead of comp...More negative defeatist thinking. Instead of complaining so much about change (that if done correctly is good for the city, good for employment, good for the environment, good for low income people, etc) how about just laying out what are the minimum expectations of the project (ie safe habitation, prevention of CSOs, etc) and putting energy into lobbying for these + quality of life improvements (boardwalk, trees, etc). <br /><br />While not directly related, an example of constructive lobbying is pushing for something like http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5086 built over the BQE which would be great for the neighborhood in so many ways. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-57987371703613378192012-08-30T13:17:36.213-04:002012-08-30T13:17:36.213-04:00@9:36 SPOT ON!!!! Joni Mitchell so presciently san...@9:36 SPOT ON!!!! Joni Mitchell so presciently sang: <br />"Don't it always go to show, that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone."Margaretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-18007505075120831172012-08-30T09:36:41.379-04:002012-08-30T09:36:41.379-04:00It's clear that Brad "Blander" Lande...It's clear that Brad "Blander" Lander is not going to bat for anyone other than developers and Buddy Scotto, who is one of his political patrons. This project makes it absolutely clear that too many politicians are on the take and collecting their kids' college tuition and summer house deposits. <br /><br />We really need to reassess where we are going to be getting our strength from because it is NOT from elected officials, especially in Brooklyn these days. Blander never fails to disappoint. He and Craig "Hammerhead" Hammerman only do little things to collect political capital and then cash in that political capital to get the bigger payday with developers - and, like the Gowanus, it STINKS. <br /><br />We need to organize better community groups and community protests, the same way that Jane Jacobs stopped the Robert Moses monster in the 1960's. If we don't get smart, we'll lose the character that still exists here in the Gowanus. And time is short, because these projects are insidious and expedited by the likes of Blander and Hammerhead (CB6 is just a tool for developers and for Markowitz at this point). <br /><br />The main thing we need is more projects like parks and recreational facilities, especially in the sedentary age of laptops and so on. Why is eminent domain never used for parks and things that actually IMPROVE the quality of life for EVERYONE? Time to start a new era, neighbors... Big Funhttp://www.deoxy.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-61440783594962509812012-08-30T08:51:12.762-04:002012-08-30T08:51:12.762-04:00I live just a block from this and I am terrified o...I live just a block from this and I am terrified of this monstrosity being build. Please tell me there is something that can be done! How does one horrible development project get canned for another one twice as horrible? 700-something units? How does that fit in with this community>??? How can these greedy bastards come and do this to a neighborhood? have we learned nothing from the awful atlantic yards project? when will it end?? I am furious and horrified. What can we do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-61261311741625863292012-08-28T11:03:07.229-04:002012-08-28T11:03:07.229-04:00@8:52 "Terrorism" -The use of intimida...@8:52 "Terrorism" -The use of intimidation in the pursuit of political or financial aims. For many of us in Gowanus, sadly, this Lightstone project is exactly that. If this project happens, you can kiss all we love about Gowanus goodbye.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-27603857342404785202012-08-27T20:52:27.454-04:002012-08-27T20:52:27.454-04:00Terrorism indeed. What ugly trivializing hyperbol...Terrorism indeed. What ugly trivializing hyperbole. Where were you in September 2001? <br /><br />I am a fan of the development provided they can make it safe for the residents. That means appropriate cleanup of toxic residues, spending the $$$ to prevent CSOs and general management of drainage to avoid damage from flooding. Not easy but that is what is needed. <br /><br />The area is in a prime location close to so much including good transport to the city, I think it is closed minded and / or selfish not to support the construction of more homes.<br /><br />Re crowding of schools and transport - that can be solved with tax $ if it becomes a problem. Re parking that also could be solved with resident parking permits (though I am not unhappy if car ownership is more difficult)<br /><br />As to the look of the development - I don't mind it at all. It isn't special but the windows are large, it isn't monolithic and there are trees. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-57388705759194020442012-08-27T14:33:01.558-04:002012-08-27T14:33:01.558-04:00The renderings are deceptive in that they make the...The renderings are deceptive in that they make the scale and size seem much smaller than the reality. The renderings have nothing to do with the reality in other ways, also - like the boats on the water - the pristineness of it all. Gowanus is grit.Agnesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-89484440341671623782012-08-27T12:39:17.227-04:002012-08-27T12:39:17.227-04:00I like the design, and they do not seem too large....I like the design, and they do not seem too large. I thing that building a whole community like this is the right way to go, especially if there are good services provided and retail space to support it, like a grocery store, etc.<br /><br />Clearly the major problem is that the city infrastructure cannot support the existing community much less this new development. DEP needs to do a major overhaul of the sewer system first.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-83991244525020465582012-08-27T10:38:26.472-04:002012-08-27T10:38:26.472-04:00People have a lot of legitimate concerns about thi...People have a lot of legitimate concerns about this project and its impact on our neighborhood and we need to hold Brad Lander's feet to the fire when it comes to infrastructure and schools. Give him a call. 718-499-1090. Good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-85720003599785658982012-08-26T10:14:16.207-04:002012-08-26T10:14:16.207-04:00I have heard some community people say that this i...I have heard some community people say that this is a done deal, and there is nothing to do about it - so work with these people so that you can at least have some input on it - that being totally negative about it will get you no concessions. My question is - what is there possibly to be gained from working with these people? They will not make the project smaller in scale - they are after maximum profits. And once this monstrosity is up, it will be hard, if not impossible, to fights against other developments on this scale in Gowanus. The facts are so many that this is a wrong project - the environmental realities, the out of scale, the non-supportive infrastructure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-67750537076539602762012-08-25T13:02:42.982-04:002012-08-25T13:02:42.982-04:00The whole proposal seems like an assault portions ...The whole proposal seems like an assault portions of Carroll Gardens.<br /><br />The development looks more like a new form of community terrorism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-83662649809276168672012-08-25T12:55:42.422-04:002012-08-25T12:55:42.422-04:00This is where "Standard Oil of NY" ran t...This is where "Standard Oil of NY" ran their operations once, so is it a "brownfield"? Wouldn't parts of it need special cleanup?<br /><br />The rezoning's answer to these questions was no-- no special cleanup needed on any of the site. The project can be build on the land, as-is.<br /><br />And what did the EPA test wells discover on the site? Contradictions to the rezoning's conclusions on environmental cleanup.<br /><br />So now they plan on building more units on this site?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-26112600958825704012012-08-25T09:45:49.391-04:002012-08-25T09:45:49.391-04:00This proposed project is NOT about "affordabl...This proposed project is NOT about "affordable" housing no matter how much they try to frame it as such. "Affordable housing," like "needed housing for seniors" is an TROJAN HORSE. Remember Rattner and how the "affordable" housing component of his Atlantic Yards project collapsed? This project is ALL WRONG and there should never have been spot rezoning by the City to allow it. The spot rezoning was pre-Superfund at a time when the City and developers thought the canal was clean enough to build on. It is 1. in a flood zone 2. hurricane zone 3. an out-of-scale, out-of -context assault on the existing Gowanus community. And, yes, there is a the saw sewage issue from the CSO's. Also, isn't this a Brownfield site? Can you put rentals on it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-76407575017796331172012-08-25T09:41:40.967-04:002012-08-25T09:41:40.967-04:00Katia, all I can say is thank you for your resilie...Katia, all I can say is thank you for your resilience and commitment. Resilience because, just getting back from France, you deal with this. Major joy-kill I would think.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-86530685138850928512012-08-25T08:43:21.539-04:002012-08-25T08:43:21.539-04:00look up the word superfund and the words gowanus c...look up the word superfund and the words gowanus canal and you will have your answer. It means the canal is a toxic hazzard. poison toxic.<br />Search this blog for past answers about this project.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-38369919636653459282012-08-25T08:40:06.384-04:002012-08-25T08:40:06.384-04:00WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO HUGE. HOW ABOUT TRANSFOR...WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO HUGE. HOW ABOUT TRANSFORMING THOSE WAREHOUSES AND KEEP THE SCALE. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE GIANT AND HUGE AND LIKE A SPRAWLING DALLAS SUBURBAN CHARACTERLESS HULK???<br />THE PLACE IS TOXIC!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-87261926497780075152012-08-25T07:49:59.999-04:002012-08-25T07:49:59.999-04:00Here we go again.
Please stop this huge and inapp...Here we go again. <br />Please stop this huge and inappropriate rape if a neighborhood. carriage before the horse. What's greedy fiasco, Lightstone. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com