A Conversation With Gloria Steinem At Hannah Senesh Community Day School

Hannah Senesh Community Day School at 342 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens is launching its new Steinhardt Speaker Series on Monday, March 27th at 7pm.  Gloria Steinem, the writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer, will be its inaugural speaker. the conversation will be moderated by Virginia Heffernan, Brooklyn journalist and Senesh parent.

Tickets will go on sale today at noon on the school's website: http://hannahsenesh.org/conversations-senesh.
The ticket price is $36.

From Hannah Senesh:
"With the support of Mr. Steinhardt, the eminent philanthropist, Senesh is launching the series to highlight the strong connection between timeless Jewish values and modern achievement that continue to improve the world. Gloria Steinem’s lifetime of campaigning for gender equality and human rights epitomizes that connection and echoes the School’s mission to foster a modern, meaningful and joyful approach to Jewish thinking and learning

“Gloria Steinem’s work as a feminist, activist and writer closely aligns with our School’s core values of Responsibility and Perseverance,” says Nicole Nash, Hannah Senesh Head of School. “It is especially meaningful to connect Ms. Steinem’s accomplishments to her underlying Jewish values and the work we do at Senesh.”

The evening will be moderated by journalist Virginia Heffernan, parent of two Senesh students and author of the highly acclaimed Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art, about the cultural potential and societal impact of the Internet."

This is bound to be a very interesting evening, so don't wait to get your ticket.

****UPDATE****
Well, that was fast! Tickets have sold out for this event, but Hannah Senesh will be offering a Facebook livestream on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/143896189459446/.

So mark your calendars.

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Hannah Senesh Day School On Smith Street Hosting A Hannukkah Community Art Festival

Hannah Senesh Community Day School, located at 342 Smith Street, is holding its annual Hanukkah Community Art Festival on Sunday, December 13th from 1:00-4:00pm.  The event will feature art workshops for the whole family. So mark your calendars and be sure to check it out.

From Hannah Senesh Community Day School:

The Hannah Senesh Community Day School is hosting its annual Hanukkah Community Art Festival on Sunday, December 13th. This holiday event is Brooklyn's most popular Hanukkah event featuring a variety of crafts and art workshops run by local artists and community organizations.

· Venue address: Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Carroll St. Stop on the F/G trains
· Event dates and times: Sunday, December 13th 1-4pm
· Event prices: $5 per person
· Age range: 2-10 yrs



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Breaking News! Hannah Senesh Day School Backs Off On Its Plans To Expand Onto Carroll Gardens Courtyard

160 Year-Old Protection
For Carroll Gardens' Courtyards Stands:

I applaud the school for understanding the community’s concerns and deciding not to proceed with their proposed expansion. Their plan would have set a dangerous precedent. The courtyards are an integral part of Carroll Garden’s charm and character and must be protected. I remain committed to identifying a potential solution which will meet the needs of both the community and the school.

State Assemblywoman Joan Millman

In a just released letter to its parents, the Hannah Senesh Day School states that it will not pursue a highly controversial plan to expand into the courtyard next to its building at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.

In December 2009, the school had revealed its intention to construct a two-story addition onto the courtyard "to give the school more flexibility." The only problem was that the signature courtyards in Carroll Gardens are owned by the city and are protected by a 160-year-old law. The law states that the courtyards can not be used for parking, nor can they be built on.

The school's Board of Directors hired lawyer Ken Fisher to lobby city officials on the school's behalf for the "acquisition of a lot currently owned by the city of New York"

Out-going Councilman Bill De Blasio was more than willing to help out. Without community input, he intended to introduce a bill which would have altered the old law to exempt the courtyard on First Place at Smith Street, thereby paving the way for Hannah Senesh to then buy the city-owned land.

When this became known, Carroll Gardens activists organized, collected signatures and encouraged the community to send letters to elected officials. The prevalent feeling in Carroll Gardens was that no exceptions should be made and that the courtyards are such an integral part and unique feature of this neighborhood that everyone of them needs to be protected.

It is wonderful to hear that State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Councilman Brad Lander felt the same way. Daniel Squadron was the first to issue a statement against the courtyard extention.


It is not clear yet how the school intends to proceed. What is clear is that Hannah Senesh willingly agreed to buy a building that had VERY LIMITED POSSIBILITY TO EXPAND and signed an agreement that places a meriad number of restrictions on the building. (click here to see Acris site page 6 onward.)

The Hannah Senesh School shares the same building lot as developer Bill Stein's 360 Smith Street project . When Stein sold the property to Hannah Senesh Day School, he kept the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for himself and transferred it to his 360 Smith Street development to get extra height. He also used the school's Community Facility Bonus and used that to bulk up his building as well.

Also attached to the sales agreement between Bill Stein and Hannah Senesh Day School is a clause that would give Bill Stein half of any F.A.R. gained by an up-zoning of the lot.

What is also of concern is that Hannah Senesh has been unable so far to secure a permanent Certificate Of Occupancy for the building.

Moving forward, it may be more advantageous to the school to ditch lobbyist Ken Fisher, sit down with the community and be more forthcoming about its needs.


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Carroll Gardens Organizes To Fight Assault On The Historical Integrity Of The Neighborhood

Community Meeting On Hannah Senesh's Proposed Expansion Onto Public Land
Satrday December 12th at Carroll Gardens Library

Despite short notice, approximately 30 people gathered at the Carroll Gardens Library on Saturday morning, December 12th to discuss the plans recently unveiled by the Hannah Senesh school. The school has apparently painted itself into a corner by moving into a building which is not large enough or good enough for their needs after spending several years planning the move and spending millions of dollars to renovate and expand the old PS58 extension/District 15 building at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.
Since the school's board failed to anticipate growth requirements, they now intend to ask the city of New York to hand over one of (the first one !) the
signature courtyards (front gardens) of Carroll Gardens so that they can enlarge the school. The fact that the school (and the District 15 office before them) uses the courtyard as a parking lot in contravention to the community's requests and the requirement that the courtyards be maintained as open space does not diminish the fact that this proposal would, if enacted, forever change the streetscape. This would set a very dangerous precedent and make it more difficult to defend the nearly 160 year old city law which established the courtyards and resulted in the unique character of Carroll Gardens.
The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association And C.O.R.D. have long fought to protect these courtyards against development and parking incursions and cannot support this action despite their wishes for the long term success of the school. Other neighbors and organizations have also stepped forward to fight against this assault on the historical integrity of our neighborhood. They intend to take this message to our elected officials, local residents, and the press in order to make sure that this does not come to pass.



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Come To This Important Meeting Regarding Carroll Gardens Courtyard Land Grab

All Carroll Gardeners are invited to attend this very important neighborhood meeting regarding the threat to our neighborhood's signature courtyards.

The proposed Hannah Senesh expansion onto a publicly owned front garden that is a unique aspect of our neighborhood here in Carroll Gardens, threatens a change to our 150 year old law that protects these gardens from exactly such a construction.
Toward that end we are organizing a meeting for all interested parties at the Carroll Gardens library (Union and Clinton) on Saturday 12/12 at 10 AM. Tell your friends and neighbors.

Where: Carroll Gardens Public Library
When: 10 AM
What: Carroll Gardens Front Gardens

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Hannah Senesh Day School Willingly Bought School Building Knowing There Was No Expansion Possibility

From The Acris Site

In our new state of the art facility we now have the physical space to grow in ways that were not previously possible. Dedicated spaces for technology, science, art, music, physical activity, and prayer, have made our already-strong programs even stronger.

Nicole Nash, Hannah Senesh principal

In June 2007, we moved to a beautiful, new home on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens. This spacious facility offers 22,000 square feet of space, which provides us with many opportunities to grow creatively and programmatically. A full-size gym, library with computer stations, science lab, beit midrash, rooftop playground, and art room are just some of the wonderful new spaces you’ll find at Hannah Senesh.

From Hannah Senesh Day School's web site

For those of you who have been following the controversy over the selling of publicly-owned land to a private school here in Carroll Gardens, I would like to add a few points to the discussion.

In 2005, Hannah Senesh Day School bought the former School Board 15 District office at 342 Smith Street from developer Bill Stein. The structure shares the same building lot as Bill Stein's 360 Smith Street development. When Stein sold the property to Hannah Senesh Day School, he kept the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for himself and transferred it to his 360 Smith Street development to get extra height. He also used the school's Community Facility Bonus and used that to bulk up his building as well. So in fact, Hannah Senesh willingly agreed to buy a building that had VERY LIMITED POSSIBILITY TO EXPAND and signed an agreement that places a meriad number of restrictions on the building.
(click here to see Acris site page 6 onward)

Also attached to the agreement between Bill Stein and Hannah Senesh Day School is a clause that would give Bill Stein half of any F.A.R. gained by an up-zoning of the lot.

Now, Hannah Senesh wants to expand "to give the school some flexibility." Since the building has no F.A.R. left, the school community is hoping to buy the courtyard next to it on First Place in order to construct a two story addition. The only problem is that the signature courtyards in Carroll Gardens are publicly-owned and are protected by a 150-year-old law. The law states that the courtyards can not be used for parking, nor can they be built on.

What to do?

Hannah Senesh claims that the school is just "exploring the possibility of expansion." However, the board hired lobbyist Ken Fisher as early as 2008, a mere 6 months after moving into their new facility. Fisher was paid $7,500 to lobby city officials on the school's behalf for the "acquisition of a lot currently owned by the city of New York" Now, surely, you do not need to hire a lobbyist if you merely want to explore the possibility. You hire a lobbyist to SELL an expansion.

Out-going Councilman Bill De Blasio was more than willing to help out. Without community input, he intended to introduce a bill which would have altered the old law to exempt the courtyard on First Place at Smith Street, thereby paving the way for Hannah Senesh to then buy the city-owned land.

When Carroll Gardeners found out, they were outraged and felt betrayed. How could our councilman abuse his power in such a way in order to facilitate this shameful land grab?

At a meeting with the community on Monday, December 7th, Amy Glosser, Vice-Chair of the school's Board Of Directors, stated that the school had no plans to increase their enrollment. "This is about making the school better, not about making it bigger."

The plans for the two story addition include a full size gym, a theatre as well as some additional classrooms.

For whatever reason, Hannah Senesh's Board of Directors bought the building knowing fully well that it did not provide any room for future expansion. That is not the problem of the Carroll Gardens community and the school should not expect us to compromise a zoning resolution that protects our front yards.



Related Reading:

Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

Carroll Gardens Protests "Bill": An Open Letter To De Blasio

Dear Bill De Blasio: A Reader Strongly Protests

In 2008, Hannah Senesh Paid Ken Fisher To Lobby For Acquisition Of Lot Currently Owned By City

Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens



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"A Sleight Of Hand ": Another Reader Writes To PMFA Regarding Hannah Senesh Expansion

"Pardon me for asking, but I can't help wondering why the Board of Directors of Hannah Senesh would spend several years planning and millions of dollars buying and constructing a facility which did not meet their needs and which they outgrew in less than a year."
From the post Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

Dear Katia,

As soon as I heard what Carroll Gardens was facing I was very upset.

The layout of the front gardens of Carroll Gardens is one of the architectural jewels of the Old City of Brooklyn. The Old City of Brooklyn, what we have come to call "Brownstone Brooklyn", is the finest and largest collection of intact residential architecture of the 19th century, and in my opinion should be a UNESCO world heritage site.

That aside, the situation you refer to smacks of politics and money. It doesn't take a tremendous amount of foresight to realize the financial potential of the location. It is very close to transportation, and in a lovely neighborhood. If the school were to declare itself not in need of the property in the future, a large residential building could be erected.

A little bit more of political slight of hand, like politically connected Ken Fisher helping this group acquire a publicly owned property and politician Bill deBlasio taking more publicly owned land, could undo height restrictions.

After achieving these maneuvers, how hard would it be to move again to construct a huge tower on the enlarged footprint, with views of the harbor and an improved Gowanus Canal?

Actually, we should consider the move to steal the garden to be a gift. It alerts us to the long term plan that this group seems to be hatching.

Now is the time to stop them in their tracks and push for legislation that would prevent the site from being used for anything other than a school or other legitimate, non-profit use in the future.

That would be fun...seeing the disproportionate howls of protest from the group that is using it as a school (for the time being)........

Mitch

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Comment Of The Day: A Token Sum

Anonymous left the following comment on the post "Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed":

Carroll Gardens will be watching how Brad "I'm the only candidate with kids in public school" Lander handles this since he will play an instrumental role in the ULURP.
Is my understanding correct in that Hannah Senesh School wants the additional space for a theatre and computer room (which the school already has)? As a public school parent this angers me especially with yet another round of budget cuts looming.
Hannah Senesh should look for another space if they want to accommodate more students and sell the building back to the City for a "token sum" to use as a public middle school which our district could certainly use.

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Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

Last night, at the Hannah Senesh Day School

Lobbyist and Legal Council for Hannah Senesh: Ken Fisher

Tom Gray, representing Councilman Bill de Blasio

Amy Glosser, Vice -Chair, Hannah Senesh Board Of Directors

Hannah Senesh's Architect Larry Horowitz

Hannah Senesh building with new addition as seen from First Place

Of course, Councilman Bill De Blasio was absent from last night's meeting at Hannah Senesh Day School to discuss the expansion of the private school into a city owned courtyard in Carroll Gardens. De Blasio had intended to introduce a bill on December 9th that would compromised a 150-year-old law protecting our Carroll Gardens courtyards, by exempting the school's courtyard at the corner of Smith Street and First Place. 

However, last night the community was told that De Blasio will not be introducing his bill at this City Council session. (I suppose the community's vocal opposition may have helped to change his mind.) Instead, Councilman-elect Brad Lander made an announcement that early next year, we can expect Hannah Senesh School to apply for a zoning variance and an amendment to the Administrative Code which will allow a transfer of city property to the school. Should their application meet with approval and proceed through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (U.L.U.R.P.,) Carroll Gardens will have to fight to keep its historical integrity and unique character intact. 

Pardon me for asking, but I can't help wondering why the Board of Directors of Hannah Senesh would spend several years planning and millions of dollars buying and constructing a facility which did not meet their needs and which they outgrew in less than a year.

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Comment Of The Day: "Special Interest Advocate"

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Dear Bill De Blasio: A Reader Strongly Protests":

Katia,

Here is the text of my email to Bill DeBlasio. My text is a bit more colorful than the one you proposed.

To Councilman De Blasio

I have voted for you. I have supported you. You are supposed to represent the best interests of your constituents.

After what we have been through over the past several years...Oliver House, Scarano Designs, blighting our quaint neighborhood.

We thought you were on our side. Now this??!!

It is inexcusable to change 150 year old laws and ruin the character of one of the prettiest blocks in Carroll Gardens. And to do it in the waning days of your tenure....when the implications of your actions on your chances for reelection for city council are irrelevant?

What are YOU getting out of this????

Clearly, this blight is not in the best interests of the community. You are putting the desires (NOT NEEDS) of a a small private school over those of an entire neighborhood.

We have welcomed the school, despite the fact the the circumstances around the HOW exactly the school acquired the former District 15 offices was not exactly transparent.

Was the extension onto 1st Place part of a master plan....not to be revealed until your final days in office?

Should you introduce this law into the city council...we will fight the construction of this atrocity. We will not go quietly along.

We will not forget. We will make sure that for every office you seek, the city is reminded how you screwed your constituents on the last days in office as our City Councilman.

Lets see who wants to vote for a "Public Advocate" with that reputation. Maybe you should run for the newly created office of "Special Interest Advocate".

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Dear Bill De Blasio: A Reader Strongly Protests

Over the week-end, I received a few letters from readers regarding Councilman Bill De Blasio's introduction of a bill that will alter a 150-year-old-law which protects our neighborhood's front gardens. Below is just one of these letters.

Dear Council Member Bill De Blasio:

I am a resident of Carroll Gardens and strongly protest your secretly orchestrated attempt to modify land use restrictions at the corner of Smith Street and First Place for the Hannah Senesh Day School expansion in violation of NYC Administrative code §19-132.

It is obvious that this has been planned for some time. Your draft amendment is dated November 11, 2009, and yet our community was not notified until last Wednesday, December 2. Your staff member Tom Gray has been quoted that Council Member Elect Brad Lander has been kept "in the loop".

All Place Street courtyards are public land. As the incoming Public Advocate, you are supposed to represent the public interest instead of supporting back-room deals. You and Brad Lander have an obligation to meet in person with your constituents at tomorrow's 6:00 pm meeting at the Hannah Senesh Day School.

Sincerely,
A Carroll Gardens Resident

Related Reading:
"Worn Out By Horrendous Development Greed": A Reader Writes To PMFA Regarding Hannah Senesh Expansion


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"Worn Out By Horrendous Development Greed": A Reader Writes To PMFA Regarding Hannah Senesh Expansion

From Pardon Me For Asking's mail box:

Dear Katia,

So many of the critical Atlantic Yards actions through the long years of our opposition have come at times when people are otherwise engaged, that I have to assume that De Blasio read the playbook and assumed holiday distractions would keep people from paying attention.

This is NOT to be trusted...please suggest what we can do. If this proposal is allowed to happen, other such travesties will follow and the entire nature of our historic low-rise communities will evaporate.

For eight classrooms, they will alter the streetscape FOREVER...or is this just another ruse by developers...as they pulled off on 16th Street...connecting a development to a religious purpose and then after they got all sorts of waivers and privileges, changed the entire situation at the last moment, actually believing that no one would notice?

So worn out by such horrendous development greed,
Phyllis Wrynn

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In 2008, Hannah Senesh Paid Ken Fisher To Lobby For Acquisition Of Lot Currently Owned By City

To enlarge, click here

Thank you to the blog McBrooklyn for the great piece about the Hannah Senesh Day School expansion controversy and for revealing the fact that in 2008, the private school paid Attorney Kenneth Fisher** to lobby the Brooklyn Office Of City Planning, Office Of The Brooklyn Borough President, the New York City Council, the Office Of The Mayor and the Department of Transportation for the "Acquisition Of a Lot Currently Owned By The City Of New York."

**Fisher, you may remember, represented the developers of the Dock Street/Brooklyn Bridge/school development project.


Related Reading

Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens

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Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

It's Not A Parking Lot, It's A Publicly Owned Court Yard

Fliers were distributed along First Place by the Hannah Senesh Day School on Thursday, inviting residents to a 'brief' meeting to discuss the school's expansion plan into "the parking area"on the corner of First Place and Smith Street.

The "parking area" is actually city owned and protected by a 150-year-old law, which states that the unique wide gardens of the neighborhood's Place blocks can not be built on or used for parking.

That doesn't seem to be a problem if you have out-going Councilman De Blasio on your side.

Without first discussing it with the community, De Blasio will introducing a change in the Administrative Code at the City Council on December 9th. The change would amend the old law by excluding the corner of Smith Street and First Place.
Hannah Senesh will then negotiate with the city to buy the publicly owned land for a token sum ( $1 has been suggested) and build a two story extension.

That, dear Carroll Gardeners, would be a precedent that will have huge repercussions. Where there is one exemption to the law, there easily could be two, or three.

I certainly expect Bill de Blasio to attend the Monday meeting at Hannah Senesh. He owes this community a clear explanation for this blatant abuse of power.

And I hope that Councilman-elect Brad Landers can attend as well. According to
Tom Gray of De Blasio's office, Brad has been "in the loop" . After all, the land purchase from the city will happen during his term.

This backroom deal has understandably angered many in Carroll Gardens.
It remains to be seen if a 'brief' meeting will suffice.

For those who are interested, below is the text of the old Brooklyn law restricting the use of the Carroll Gardens courtyards from the blog Carroll Gardens Brooklyn History

The NYC Administrative Codes that protect the courtyards are:
Code §19-132 Restrictions on First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Fourth Place in the borough of Brooklyn. The buildings to be erected upon the lots fronting upon First place, Second place, Third place and Fourth place in the borough of Brooklyn, shall be built on a line thirty-three feet five inches and a quarter of an inch back from the sides or lines of such places as they are now established by the map of the city, and the intervening space of land shall be used for courtyards only.

Code§19-136(b) Obstructions: It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, to use any portion of a sidewalk or courtyard, established by law, between the building line and the curb line for the parking, storage, display or sale of motor vehicles.

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Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

Carroll Gardeners are fuming.

Just weeks before leaving the City Council to become NYC Advocate, Councilman Bill De Blasio gave the neighborhood the finger by announcing that on December 9th, he will introduce a change in the Administrative Code that would amend the 150-year old law protecting Carroll Gardens' unique court yards.

The change would chip away at the law by exempting the corner of Smith Street and First Place, where Hannah Senesh, a private school, wants to use the court yard to build onto their existing building. 

Hannah Senesh just moved to the location 2 years ago, but is claiming that it has already outgrown its current space.

The school has hired former Council Member and Attorney Ken Fisher to represent them. (Fisher, you may remember, represented the developers of the Dock Street/Brooklyn Bridge/school development project.)

The Carroll Gardens Community has fought for years to protect the neighborhood's wide front gardens. Just in 2008, the Wide Street Text Amendment was passed by the City Council, establishing once and for all that building and parking on the courtyards was forbidden.

Bill De Blasio's underhanded move would undermine all the efforts of the community which has worked so hard to protect the neighborhood. It is also completely contrary to the recently passed Text Amendment and re-zoning of the neighborhood.

Below is a statement on the issue from Maria Pagano, President of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association: 

Hi All, 

Yesterday afternoon Tom Gray and the Hannah Senesh Board invited community members to a presentation of their plans to expand the school into the side yard (aka, front garden) at the Hannah Senesh Community Day School. The plan will extend the existing first and second floors of the building to the lot line at the fence along First Place and Smith Streets. Ken Fisher, legal counsel for Hannah Senesh, explained that the school has made all the necessary applications to move forward with their plan, which will add approximately 8 classrooms to the existing building. The project will add a solid two story extension for the length of the building and width of the front garden. It will be faced to match the main building.

Mr. Fisher stated that this plan and the necessary changes required in the new zoning will not apply to any other site in Carroll Gardens. It was announced that City Councilman Bill DeBlasio will present this project to the City Council next week for the first phase of the necessary approvals. 

We at the CGNA are concerned that this extension will not only challenge but eliminate the sight lines and streetscape standards established by the new zoning and the text amendment so recently passed. FYI- more to follow. 

Best, Maria

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Best Comment of The Day: Councilman De Blasio Gives "The Bird" To Entire Community

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens:

No matter who wants to use a courtyard like this in CG, a school or anyone else in Carroll Gardens, this is just plain wrong, wrong wrong.

No else is allowed to do this and Hannah Senesh should admit their admit their idea is a terrible one for Carroll Gardens.

The Courtyards are PUBLIC property and the City saying they will give away one of them for one dollar should put that courtyard on the auction block becaue I want it for 2 dollars!

As for Mr. DeBlasio he has just given the "bird" to an entire community of devoted and tireless citizens he supposedly "worked" with for years.

This more than anything that comes out of his mouth or is printed on his hypocritical webpage should tell the rest of New Yorkers to hang on to their public propeties because unforuntaley here comes a thief and a liar if there ever was one.

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Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens

SHAME ON COUNCILMAN BILL DE BLASIO

PMFA has just learned that out-going Councilman Bill De Blasio will amend and erode the old law protecting Carroll Gardens' unique front yards on December 9th, requesting a change in front of the City Council to allow an exception for Hannah Senesh, the private school at the corner of Smith Street and First Place, to build on city owned property.
Just last year, the City Council passed the Wide Street Text Amendment, establishing once and for all that building and parking on the front gardens in this historical neighborhood is forbidden. Many local residents have given countless hours of their time and have fought so hard for this amendment.
Hannah Senesh Day School claims that two years after moving into its new facility at 342 Smith Street, it is already running out of space and wants to expand their building. They have asked to be allowed to build onto their (paved over) front garden along First Place.

Though I am sympathetic to the school's space issue, I believe that allowing an exception to the rule on that corner of Carroll Gardens will open the possibility to more. Imagine if more owners of corner properties should claim the right to build on their corner garden?

How typical of Bill deBlasio! Just as his term as city councilman is about to come to its end, he zings the neighborhood one last time. It wasn't bad enough that he was a mostly absent representative.

Below is a statement on this matter by members of the Carroll Gardens Coalition For Respectful Development (CORD)

BILL DE BLASIO'S STINGING PLANNED EXIT FROM CARROLL GARDENS

A 150 year old plus law, protecting the "gardens" in Carroll Gardens, is about to be thrown away by Bill De Blasio. Bill DeBlasio

The man who was quoted on the Front Page of one of our local newspapers as recently as Nov 20 saying the character of CG was so "very important to him" appears to be back peddling in a major way.

"Today we are seeing the voice of the community in action. Stopping the 333 CArroll Street development from becoming another out-of-scale development is an important step in protecting the historical character of Carroll Gardens." (Front page words of Bill De Blasio in "Hell to Pay on Carroll Street/ CG Courier/ 11/20/2009)

Despite these seemingly hearfelt words, Bill De Blasio has an exit strategy on his way to the city wide Public Advocate's office, that STINGS Carroll Gardens badly, especially in the wake of the hard won zoning regulations approved by the City Council over the last year and a half.

Carroll Gardens is unique. We were blessed with beautiful deep front gardens.These "courtyards" are specifically protected under old Brooklyn Law from having any structures built upon them.

That law is about to be changed. It is being tampered with by our exiting Councilman, Bill

de Blasio.

We learned today that DeBlasio, who has publicly supported and taken credit for maintaining neighborhood character, (link to campaign platform below) will be introducing a bill to amend the old brooklyn law on December 9th. He will be requesting a change that will allow a two story structure to be built on a courtyard on a Place block.

Once this dangerous precedent is set, there is no way of knowing what else could follow.

This is unacceptable and completely bewildering to the many many people who have worked so diligently over the years to insure that Carroll

Gardens did not lose its identity in the face of overwhelming overdevelopment.

"Fighting Overdevelopment: Bill fought to close a longstanding loop hole in the zoning text that left many streets in Carroll Gardens vulnerable to overdevelopment. The narrow residential streets were labeled “wide street” in the Zoning Resolution allowing for developers to build larger buildings. The change, advanced by Bill, appropriately characterized the narrow streets helping to preserve Carroll Gardens' character by disallowing out-of-context structures to rise on several residential blocks."

A page full of irony from Bill De Blasio's Public Advocate Website entitled: Neighborhood Preservation http://www.billdeblasio.com/node/275

How do you feel about this imminent change?

Should one Council member have the power to overturn something that affects so many?

We would like to know. Please email us at cgcord@gmail.com

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Good News! Crossing Guard Coming To Busy Intersection Of Smith And 2nd Street

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, Brooklyn Office Director for State Senator Daniel Squadron, just sent out the email below regarding a crossing guard for the busy intersection of Smith and 2nd Streets.
It seems that many complaints have been called in to the State Senator's office since the closing of the 2nd Place subway station has forced local schoolchildren to cross Smith Street to the subway entrance on 2nd Street.
Ellen informs us that a crossing guard will soon be stationed there.
Read on:

Great news! On behalf of Senator Squadron, I am happy to announce that kids crossing Smith Street at 2nd street will again have a crossing guard!

Since the closing of the 2nd place Carroll Street F train station, all subway riders (including hundreds of schoolchildren) have been forced to enter and exit the station across Smith Street, at the 2nd Street entrance. Our office has received many complaints since the start of the school-year and has been working with the City Department of Transportation and the 76th precinct to implement safety measures at this intersection.

I am happy to inform you that our office has just received word that the 76^th Precinct is in the process of hiring and assigning a crossing guard to the 2^nd Street and Smith Street location. This guard will be on hand during regular crossing guard hours to help safely guide children across the street as they travel to and from PS 58, the Hannah Senesh Day school and the Brooklyn New School every day. Many thanks to Detective Paul Grudzinski, Traffic Officer Hample and the entire 76th precinct for their work on this matter.

Additionally, Senator Squadron is working with the CIty DOT to examine and implement traffic calming measures which will increase the safety of this intersection. I will report to you as soon as we have more details on this front. If you have any questions regarding either of these developments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best,

Ellen

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A "DoubleStacker' School Bus At Hannah Senesh School

Did you happen to see it over the week-end, dear Reader?
Right there, at the corner of First Place and Smith Street, a curious double-stacked was parked next to the Hannah Senesh School.
The gleeful chatter of happy kids drifted out onto the sidewalk. Obviously, something fun was happening inside. A quick look at the inscription on the curious bus gave a clue:
www.Tevacenter.org.
A quick search on the internet revealed that the Teva Learning Center is a Jewish Environmental Education Institute.
No info on the organization's cool bus, though.

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Voter Lines Not So Long At Hannah Senesh On Smith

As opposed to the long lines reported everywhere in Brooklyn, the wait to vote in the 2008 Presidential elections did not seem too long at the Hannah Senesh School on Smith Street at the corner of First Place.


Related Post:

Carroll Gardens Kids Want You To Vote: "Repubulicans Or Domcrats"

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