Photo from Curbed
Wherever Architect Robert Scarano, Jr. is building in Brooklyn, controversy is sure to follow. Known for pushing the envelope when it comes to zoning laws, Scarano buildings mostly end up taller and uglier than most buildings in the neighborhoods in which he builds. His creative interpretation of New York City's system of zoning which regulate such things such as height, floor area, setbacks, and number of dwelling unit has led to many lawsuits and fines. In February 2006, the Department of Buildings charged Scarano with "violating zoning or building codes on 25 projects in Brooklyn, including several cases in which it alleged that new buildings he designed were larger than they should have been.
Now this same Scarano has set his sights on the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Place right here in my nabe of Carroll Gardens. The site happens to also be the gateway to Carroll Gardens because the main subway entrance happens to be there. And we are not even talking about his other residential building on Carroll Street between Hoyt and Bond which was slapped with a work- stop order and has been in limbo ever since.
Needless to say, the neighborhood is up in arms. A group is forming which is planning a demonstration at the site very soon. You can bet I will be there, because not only is the building a veritable horror, the mere idea tha Scarano has not lost his architecture licence after all his unlawful constructions is more than surprising. He must know what hand to grease.
You can be sure that I will be at the protest. If our elected officials are already dragging their feet about downzoning our neighborhood, we as residents need to take matter into our own hands by letting developers know that they can not build any piece of sh-t here.
I will post further info about protests and meetings regarding this building site.
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2 comments:
What is wrong with people? I was not blessed with that callous greedy gene that so many of the developers have! It is amzaing how they really don't care how they destroy neighborhoods!
I've been away, i went to Mississippi & Tennesee, I was at a fabulous apt. that rivaled a Brooklyn Brownstone except it had a huge front porch. The rent? $325 a month. I was at a party with real artists and musicians, the type off people who were the norm in NYC about 20 yrs ago.....NY just ain't happening anymore. It's a shame that these developers don't take into ac count just WHY certain neighborhoods had a certain flavor. That flavor certainly is not going to live in a Serrano building!
Hi Lisanne,
I think it is important for us to force the issue and to demand better designs from the developers. As far as I am concerned, the boxes being built look no better than the housing projects of the 1960's, except of course that the apartments cost millions. There will be lots of resistance to this Scarano horror building.
As far as buildings in other cities, I know what you mean. I was in Wasington D.C. two weeks ago and was amazed by how beautiful some of the new
contruction is. The outside details make the buildings fit in incredibly well with the rest so that they at least look as though they have always been there.
As for the cost of a New York City apartment, I still suspect that we will soon reach a glut and prices will go down, down down.....
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