Great News! Second Place Entrance To F Train Station Will Re-Open Soon

Great news for Carroll Gardeners! The F train subway station at the corner of Second Place and Smith Street, which has been closed since September 2009, will re-open at the end of February, according to Andrew Inglesby of the MTA NY City Transit. The news was announced on Tuesday by Gary Reilly at the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting.

The F train subway plaza and the staircase leading to the station at Second Place were blocked off during construction of the new building at 360 Smith Street. Since then, riders have been forced to use the smaller, narrower entrance at the corner of Second Street.

The re-opening of the staircase should make commuting in and out of the neighborhood much easier for many in the neighborhood.

Related Reading:

When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed

2nd Place Subway Station Now History

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With Scaffolding Finally Down, 360 Smith Street Now Fully Revealed

KSQ Architect' design for 360 Smith Street/ 132 Second Street

As seen from Second Place

As seen from Smith Street at First Place

In the last few months, the controversial Carroll Gardens development at 360 Smith Street/132 Second Place, once known as 'Oliver House', has slowly risen to an imposing 70 feet. Now, the scaffolding has finally come down, revealing a rather uninspired building that is not only out of scale, but out of context with the rest of the brownstone neighborhood.

The building was designed by Armand Quadrini of KSQ Architects. Developer Bill Stein hired Quadrini after firing controversial architect Robert Scarano whose proposed asymmetrical, modern design for the lot at the intersection of Smith and Second Place met with loud opposition by the community.

Construction started in 2008, but came to an abrupt halt in July of that year, when developer Bill Stein's "Oliver House" was slapped with a Stop Work Order immediately after the City Council passed the Carroll Gardens Wide Street Zoning Text Amendment, which limits permitted building density in Carroll Gardens.

Developer Stein promptly took his case in front of the Board of Standards and Appeals, that oh-so-contentious board that grants developers exemptions in cases such as this.
In order to be able to continue, Mr. Stein had to prove that a significant portion of the project's foundation had been completed before the Stop Work Order went into effect. Though inspectors from the NYC Department of Buildings determined that only 20% of the foundation had been completed, the BSA gave Stein what he wanted at a hearing in November 2008. The Stop Work Order was lifted. He was now free to proceed. By September 2009, construction resumed.

How unfortunate for historic Carroll Gardens. The one block stretch on Smith Street between First and Second Places, with the bright orange stuccoed Hannah Senesh School building on one corner and 'Oliver House' on the other, is now rather fuggly.

Time to landmark, folks!

360 Smith Street with Hannah Senesh School building in the foreground

Related Reading:

It Ain't Pretty: Checking In On 360 Smith Street

Boom, Boom...Construction Resumes At 360 Smith Street

The New 360 Smith Street: Better, Except For That Glass Tower!

Carroll Gardens Expecting A Visitor!

Mr.Stein's Show -And -Tell In Carroll Gardens

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Carpenters' Union Stages Yet Another Protest In Front Of 360 Smith Street Construction Site

For at least the third time, the NYC United Brotherhood Of Carpenters And Joiners staged a protest in front of Boom, LLC's 360 Smith Street construction site at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place. Holding banners and chanting, the protesters took issue with the fact that the drywall contracting company currently on site, R & B Drywall, does not hire union labor and refuses to pay its workers area standard wages or benefits.

As one of the union members told me: " The non-union laborers are doing a difficult and dangerous job. They should be protected, get a decent salary and get benefits. If anything happens to them and they get hurt, no one will ever know."

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Carpenters Union Members Stage Protest In Front Of 360 Smith Street Development

No sooner had I posted photos of the 360 Smith Street building, than I received the first emails about a demonstration in front of the development.

Apparently, members of Brooklyn Local 926 of the Carpenters Union were joined by other New York City Locals to protest the fact that the development company behind the project, Boom, LLC, and its contractor R & B Drywall, who employs non-union members and apparently pays below average wage.

By the time I had a moment to walk to the corner of Smith and Second Place, the 35 to 40 demonstrators had left, except for two Local 926 members who proudly held up their T-shirt for me.

Since the steel structure is completed now, the inside framing work is about to start. This is normally when the carpenters take over to frame the inside of the building with sheetrock. That's why the Union is demonstrating at this point in time.

"It's not fair that we are paying our union dues to be able to work safely on construction jobs, and they are giving them away to non-union members" one of the two union members told me.

Meanwhile, steel workers were finishing their part of the job.

Did anyone get a picture of this morning's demonstration that they would like to share?

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Construction Incident At 360 Smith Street Yesterday

Reader Joe reported to me that there was a rather scary incident at the 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place construction site yesterday, that could have had rather serious consequences. A huge piece of corrugated steel sub-flooring, like the one shown on the photo above, came crashing down on to Smith Street and crashed lengthwise between two cars that were parked across the street next to Frankie's diner.
Luckily, there were no pedestrians in the way, otherwise, as Joe said, "they would have been sliced in half."

As the construction crew was scrambling to remove the piece as fast as possible, a sergeant and officers of the 76th Precinct showed up. I tried calling the precinct to see if a report was written, but have not yet been successful in getting that information.

The sound of the crash must have been so loud that the principal of neighboring Hannah Senesh Day School came out to investigate.

Scary stuff.

Did you happen to witness the incident?

In early January, a young man was injured by a falling construction fence.

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360 Smith Street Construction Site Gets Steel Beam Delivery

At First Street, looking down towards 360 Smith Street



Steel delivery to 360 Smith Street construction site

A view of the site from 2nd Place



Cars backed up on Smith Street because of lane closure

Telescopic crane as seen from Second Place

The sky couldn't have been bluer on Monday, which made the huge yellow telescoping crane, which hovered over the 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place construction site, look even more offensive. Slowly, ever so slowly, it hoisted huge steel beams over the blue plywood fence. All I could think of was that in the not too distant future, these steel bars would make up a 7 story building which would obscure the same sky which looked so open and wide at that very moment.

The "Oliver House", as it was once called, has been in the works for quite some time now. When Developer Robert Stein first presented his plans to the community, he was met with opposition. Many in Carroll Gardens felt that his building was too high and looked too modern for this brownstone neighborhood and no one seemed to like his architect, Robert Scarano, who as quite an unsavory reputation.

Stein eventually switched architects and had the plans (slightly) changed.


Construction at the 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place started, but came to an abrupt halt in July 2008, when developer Bill Stein's "Oliver House" was slapped with a Stop Work Order immediately after the City Council passed the Carroll Gardens Wide Street Zoning Text Amendment, which limits permitted building height and density in Carroll Gardens.
Developer Stein promptly took his case in front of the Board of Standards and Appeals, that oh-so-contentious board that grants developers exemptions in cases such as this.

In order to be able to continue, Mr. Stein had to prove that a significant portion of the project's foundation had been completed before the Stop Work Order went into effect. Though inspectors from the NYC Department of Buildings determined that only 20% of the foundation had been completed, the BSA gave Stein what he wanted at a hearing in November 2008. The Stop Work Order was lifted. He was now free to proceed.

By September 2009, construction resumed. There have been some rumors that Bill Stein had sold the property to another developer, but he was just spotted with a large group of people, including his architect, in front of the site. So obviously, he is still involved.



Related Reading:

Did You See This Happen? Man Injured By Falling Construction Fence At 360 Smith Street

2nd Place Subway Station Now History

Last Glance At Old Carroll Gardens Subway Plaza on Second Place

Boom, Boom...Construction Resumes At 360 Smith Street

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2nd Place Subway Station Now History

photo credit: Bob Guskind

What used to be: The 2nd Place Subway Entrance In Carroll Gardens

photo credit: Sam Casalino

The 2nd Place F Train station just a few weeks ago,
surrounded by blue construction fencing.

photo credit: Sam Casalino

The entrance in the process of being demolished

photo credit: Sam Casalino

photo credit: Sam Casalino

It would seem silly to be sad to see a subway entrance torn down, but the one at 2nd Place at the corner of Smith Street was rather special. It had a plaza in front of it, where Carroll Gardeners could wait above ground as the Manhattan bound F and G trains slowly came into the station on the elevated tracks just beyond.
The subway entrance has been closed since the middle of September because of the development at 360 Smith Street by Boom, LLC, which will be built right above. The developer has promised to restore the plaza once construction is completed, but residents will have to wait till the end of 2010.

Local residents are more than a little upset at being inconvenienced. Those who take the train at that end of the neighborhood now have to squeeze through a much smaller entrance across the street. During rush hour, that is not easy. And then, there is the nostalgia for what used to be. Reader Mike expressed his feelings at the loss of the plaza by writing that he was "more upset about this then the loss of Shea Stadium...i'll miss reading my paper glancing up every minute to see if the train is coming in . I've been doing it for 18 years."

Behind the blue construction fence, the station was still visible as of two weeks ago. But friend Sam just sent me the photos above. The entrance has now been completely demolished.
Two of the plaza's trees are still standing, but I am sure their days are numbered.




Related Reading:
Last Glance At Old Carroll Gardens Subway Plaza on Second Place

When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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A Reader Op-Ed: Our Neighborhood Needs To Re-Enter Development Debate

The Clarett Site at 340 Court Street

360 Smith Street Stein/Boom, LLC

333 Carroll Street

Toll Brothers' Bond Street Site

I received an email from a PMFA reader yesterday. I am posting it here as an op-ed piece, because I thought that it contained some very interesting and valid points that we, as a community need to address. Let's start the dialogue....

Seeing the Stein building today actually has me upset all over again. It is not what our neighborhood needs. And to think that a few blocks south and a few west, 12 story and 8 story buildings are planned at Public Place and Toll Brothers. A few blocks west and north is Clarett's 8 story building on Court St.

These developments alone could forever change the character of Carroll Gardens. In today’s N.Y. Times, there was an article about thriving local small business, most of which is right here. It said the character of our neighborhood (small/local) makes this type of business very successful and that local small business success is the best thing for our economy. Bigger development/ more density will lead to box stores and national chains, not a good thing.

We just had the election of, for all practical purposes, our new City Councilman, Brad Lander. Brad has made it no secret that he is in favor of buildings in these areas that are out-of-scale 12 or 14 stories, as long as they have an affordable housing component. Is it possible that he would be in favor of the Stein building and the Clarret buildings as well if they were given more height and density to accommodate affordable housing?

I think our whole neighborhood needs to re- enter this debate, about the use of Public Place and the current fashion for affordable housing via private luxury development. Is it really the only/best way, does it have a serious downside for Carroll Gardens? What is the need for affordable housing in Carroll Gardens? Will greater development just drive up housing cost more and force more people out vs. the affordable it will provide? There are several building owners I know who rent to people because of their character or relationship at less than market rates therefore providing affordable housing.

There is a big human side and quality of life side to this issue that needs more attention. More than anything, I am calling on all the Lander supporters to enter the debate on development their candidate embraces. Do you want to see these buildings rising in Carroll Gardens or are you safely in land-marked and zoned Park Slope? John Heyer supporters were clearly against cleaning the Gowanus via Superfund so as not to stop the big building down there. Other supporters of John think the Stein building is great for us, I know you have your heart in the right place about CG but how do you feel about these “outsider” cashing in and the buildings they will leave behind? Any concerns at all? It is becoming a fact these buildings are rising. Gary Reilly and Bob Zuckerman ran on righteous platforms. I hope their concerns have not faded. The race for City Council is over but there is a lot more to do and to understand about the election and the implications for development.

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Boom, Boom...Construction Resumes At 360 Smith Street

Construction at the 360 Smith Street/ 131 2nd Place site came to an abrupt halt in July 2008, when developer Bill Stein's development was slapped with a Stop Work Order immediately after the City Council passed the Carroll Gardens Wide Street Zoning Text Amendment, which limits permitted building height and density in Carroll Gardens.
Developer Stein promptly took his case in front of the Board of Standards and Appeals, that oh-so-contentious board that grants developers exemptions in cases such as this.

In order to be able to continue, Mr. Stein had to prove that a significant portion of the project's foundation had been completed before the Stop Work Order went into effect. Though inspectors from the NYC Department of Buildings determined that only 20% of the foundation had been completed, the BSA gave Stein what he wanted at a hearing in November 2008. The Stop Work Order was lifted. He was now free to proceed.
But of course, that's when the real estate market went sour...

The construction site in November 2008

Nothing was happening at 360 Smith Street site for months. Until now, that is. According to the document below, Stein transferred the property from 360 Smith Street, LLC, to Boom LLC in August 2009. I have not yet been able to determine if Mr. Stein is still involved with Boom, LLC.

( click to enlarge)

Also unclear is if Boom is going ahead with Stein's "Oliver House" design, or if there will be any changes to the luxury condo building.

One thing is for sure: construction has resumed in a big way. Triton Construction crews have been working all week long. Since the construction is taking place right over Carroll Gardens' main F/G subway station, Community Board 6 recently sent a message that : "New York City Transit has announced its plans to close the Carroll Street (F, G) station's entrance/exit staircase at 2nd Place and Smith Street for 10-12 months beginning on September 15, 2009."

Stay tuned. This should be an interesting few months here in Carroll Gardens.





For More info, read:

Revisiting Mr. Stein's 360 Smith Street / 131 Second Place Oliver House Site

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