Carroll Gardens Testifies In Front Of City Planning: "A Neighborhood Worth Fighting For"

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"The Soul Of The Neighborhood Is Speaking Before You"

Oscar Jonas of State Senator Marty Connor's Office
Testifying in front of the City Planning Commission

Wearing matching yellow "Preserve Carroll Gardens. Downzone Now!" buttons to show unity, residents of Carroll Gardens gave passionate testimony in front of the City Planning Commission in regard to the Wide Street Text Amendment. The hearing room was filled to capacity. For two and a half hours, Commissioner Amanda Burden and the other members of the commission listened attentively as one speaker after the next spoke about how important it is to preserve Carroll Gardens. In advance of a full rezoning, the neighborhood is asking the Department of Planning to correct an error in classifying the unique Place Blocks as “wide streets” which provides a loophole for developers. Under the present zoning definition, the front gardens are counted as part of the street, though the actual street is narrow. This distinction provides a development bonus in the form of a higher F.A.R.. The proposed Zoning Resolution Amendment addresses this error.
Residents argued that the Place Blocks, first planned in 1846 by surveyor Richard Butts, are the "jewel of the neighborhood" and are still basically intact. However, developers have increasingly used the loophole to build out-of-context buildings which destroy the historical context of these garden blocks.
Insisting that they chose to make their houses their homes and that they feel under siege by developers, residents made the point that the wide street loophole is exploited by a few at the expense of many.

Of course there were those who argued against the Zoning Text Amendment. Citing that the Amendment will do more harm than good and will fail to protect the neighborhood, opponents urged the Commission not to rush into a decision. They also asked that City Planning settle once and for all the question of who owns the front yards of the place blocks in question: the city or the home owner.
The complaint that the neighborhood had not been sufficiently notified of the Wide Street Text Amendment was merely a distraction. Both Councilman Bill De Blasio's office as well as local organizations such as the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association and C.O.R.D. had extensively distributed literature. Besides, the community board and the Borough President's office have held lengthy hearings before approving it. Overwhelmingly, the community urged City Planning to pass the amendment as soon as possible. Lets hope their voices will be heard.

Speaking For The Zoning Text Amendment

*Kevin Parris for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

*Maryann Young, resident

*Lucy DeCarlo, resident

*Liam Veuve for Triada Samaras, resident

*Vincent Joseph, Resident,
Union-Sackett Block Association Member

*June Negrycz
Cobble Hill Association Member

*Jim Devor, resident

*Vince Favorito, resident
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member


*Glenn Kelly, resident,
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member

*Mike Salvatore, resident

*Linda Eskenas
Four Boroughs Neighborhood Preservation Memberg

*Daniel Squadron,resident
Union-Sackett Block Association Member
New York State Senate Candidate

*Ken Baer
City Council Candidate
Candidate

*Eunice Auer, resident

*Gary Reilly, resident,
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member
City Council Candidate

*Rita Miller, resident
C.O.R.D. Member

*Mary Mattner, resident
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association

*Linda Blyer, Cobble Hill resident
For Diane Buxbaum, resident

*Colleen Giunta, resident

*Oscar Jonas for State Senator Marty Connor

*Tom Gray for Councilman Bill DeBlasio

*Barbara Brookhart, resident
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member

*Anthony Marchese, resident
American Institute Of Architects Member

*Craig Hammerman
District Manager, Community Board Six
City Council Candidate

*John Hatheway, resident, architect
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member

*Maria Pagano, resident
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association President


For, With A Plea For Developer Bill Stein

*Buddy Scotto,resident
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association Member
Carroll Gardens Association Member
Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation Member

Speaking Against The Zoning Text Amendment

* Lawyer For Bill Stein
Developer of Oliver House, 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place

*Deborah Scotto, resident
Developer
Community Board 6 Member

*Judith Thompson, resident
Community Board 6 Member (as of June 2008)

* Peter Pober, resident

Undecided
*Michael DeMeglio

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