Hello from CORD!
Monday morning we received this heartfelt email from a passionate Carroll Gardens resident, and we are re-printing it for all to see in anticipation of tomorrow night's (Thrs., Aug. 28th) important Community Board 6 Public Land Use Meeting at PS 32 on Hoyt Street in CG. (Meeting details below). It captures the emotions of so many of us.
"Attn: All.....We need your help.
As you know, the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment passed recently protecting the beautiful 15 blocks of garden streets that truly represent this great neighborhood. It was a tough fight and with the persistent of great people from CORD, CGNA, SoBNA, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Red Hook, Columbia Heights, and other surrounding grassroot associations, we won. This was a small and significant win for the whole community in helping to prevent the out-of-scale developments that can destroy the integrity of this historic community. The zoning text amendment limited height at a 55' maximum level (approx. 5 stories high).
Our next important step is to get a contextual rezoning study in place to protect the rest of this unique neighborhood. To achieve this successfully, we need to continue to demand for respectful developments throughout this community. The developer of 360 Smith Street (above the subway) is petitioning for an exemption with the BSA (Board of Standard and Appeal) claiming that he has laid a substantial amount of his foundation (according to DOB... only 20%) and is requesting to have an extension to continue his development of 7 stories.
We as a whole community need to stand and say "NO". If he is allowed to continue, not only will this be a contradiction to the hard work and fight to preserve this great neighborhood by so many, but it may be a start in damaging our chances of getting contextual rezoning for us all.
I love Carroll Gardens. I love the sunshine, open space, and the sounds of quiet calm when I walk the streets. I love the friends I have met and the kind neighbors and families of many generations. I love the history and the stories being told while sitting on stoops by tree-lined streets. I LOVE CARROLL GARDENS. This is my "HOME". I will continue to protect it as best as I can. Will you help me too? The Community Board 6 LandUse committee is meeting to heard Stein's petition. We need you to come and stand by us to say "NO" to Stein. We need to let the Community Board members and the BSA know that this community is against Stein's petition. If you can make it, the time and location is below. If not, please cut-n-paste the letter also below and email to the community board at
info@brooklyncb6.org
Thank you everyone. Thank you for all your great support and help..."
Maryann and Ringo"
WHEN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28th/CB 6 Land Use Meeting
TIME: 6:00 PM
PLACE: P.S. 32 317 HOYT ST. (bet. Union and President)
ENTRANCE on Union St
Thursday, August 28, 2008
We need your help at Thursday's Land Use Meeting at CB 6
Monday, August 25, 2008
PUBLIC HEARING on 131 2nd Place
Important CB6 MEETING This Thursday August 28th!
THIS THURSDAY AUGUST 28th COME AND STAND AGAINST
OUT OF SCALE DEVELOPMENT
The developer of 360 Smith Street (aka 131 2nd Place) has filed an application with the Board of Standards and Appeals for permission to continue to build to the fully proposed 70 ‘ height and bulk.Many Carroll Gardens residents vigorously pursued our newly passed zoning text amendment to specifically prohibit this very type of oversized development.
NOW IS TIME TO TELL OUR COMMUNITY BOARD, “NO”!
WHEN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28th/CB 6 Land Use Meeting
TIME: 6:00 PMPLACE: P.S. 32 317 HOYT ST. (bet. Union and President)
ENTRANCE on Union St
From http://www.brooklyncb6.org/calendar/#28
Aug 28 Landmarks/Land Use
PUBLIC HEARING on 131 2nd Place/360 Smith Street (BSA Cal. No.
202-08-BZY).
Discussion and formulation of a recommendation on an application submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA Cal. No. 202-08-BZY) for an extension of time to complete construction pursuant to Zoning Resolution section 11-331, property located at 131 Second Place aka 360 Smith Street (Block 459, Lot 24).
Continued review of a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the legalization of various storefront alterations at 164 Court Street, Cobble Hill Historic District.
Presentation and review of a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the construction of a new 2-story retail building to replace an existing 1-story building at 79-81 7th Avenue, Park Slope
Historic District.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Please attend Landmarks/Land Use Meeting 5/28/08
Landmarks/Land Use
P.S 32 Auditorium
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Important info for Carroll Gardens residents - Zoning!
a little late but...
TEXT AMENDMENT FACT SHEET
HOW IS MY PROPERTY VALUE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE ?
The value of your home should increase. It is the law of supply and demand. By limiting the size of new buildings or additions (the "supply"), all of the existing buildings in Carroll Gardens will be worth more with respect to the rest of Brooklyn and the city. Your Front Gardens are not affected.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HOUSE IS ALREADY LARGER THAN THE NEW ZONING LIMITS ?
Nothing. Your house is protected as it is. This happens all of the time, all over New York City, whenever City Planning makes any kind of ZONING change. Your value remains the same and in fact, will grow along with the rest of the neighborhood. This change will not require you to take any action.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HOUSE IS SMALLER THAN THE NEW ZONING LIMITS ?
You have some room to grow. You and all of your neighbors will have the same limits. You may still build an addition, within those limits. And, even if you cannot afford to build an addition, or plan on selling your home with the potential of an addition, you do not have to worry about someone blocking your light with a seven (7) story, 65 foot deep new structure or addition (which can happen now under the current regulations and is happening all over the neighborhood).
SO WHAT IS THE CHANGE ?
Right now, the blocks specified in this amendment are treated, zoning-wise, just like Court Street—where, for example, the developers of the ILA site are allowed according to the rules, a 70 foot, very bulky building. Our little side streets are obviously not the same as Court Street! This change would make these blocks just like the rest of the side streets in our neighborhood.
The measurement number used to govern how big and bulky the building can be is called, Floor Area Ratio, or FAR. Under the Quality Housing Program in the current zoning laws, the FAR for these few side streets is 3.0.; height limit-70 feet. Under the change, these side streets will have a FAR of 2.2., height limit-55 feet-just like all the other side streets in Carroll Gardens.
Very simply put, if your FAR is less than 2.2 now, you may build up to that point. If your FAR is at or more than 2.2 now, you cannot.
To find out your FAR, you can go this web site: www.oasisnyc.net/OASISMap.htm (or just google OASIS MAP NYC) and type in your street address or your block and lot number. Scroll down until you find the area on the page that lists your home's information. Your current FAR is there. Look and see if you are under, at or over, 2.2.
WHO DOESN'T LIKE THIS CHANGE ?
Generally, it is developers and property owners who want to convert their property into condos. They want to build as big as possible to maximize their profit. Some homeowners, who have the means and plan to build REALLY big additions may be against this as well.
WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT THIS ?
Do you like what you see happening to the buildings around you ? Without some protection, greed will forever change the character of our neighborhood.
Statistics show that neighborhoods that remain intact and maintain their size, scale and character are the ones that retain the highest possible value. We have a beautiful brownstone neighborhood here. Its integrity, heritage and visual beauty is being assaulted by these out of scale and out of character structures that are going up.
In the end, these larger buildings will only serve to lower the value of our original beauties.
If you are still unsure; talk to ask a trusted architect for professional advice.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
OFFICE OF THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
Notice is hereby given that the Brooklyn Borough President will hold a public hearing on the following matter in the
Community Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street,
Brooklyn, New York 11201,
commencing at 5:30 P.M. on May 7, 2008.
CARROLL GARDENS ZONING TEXT AMENDEMENT
COMMUNITY DISTRICT 6
080345 ZRK
The Department of City Planning has submitted an application for amendments to the Zoning Resolution. The proposed text amendments would apply the narrow street zoning provisions for height, setback and floor area ratio to streets which are mapped as wide on the City map but share a similar character to other narrow streets in the area. These streets are 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, and Second Street, Carroll Street and President Street between Smith Street and Hoyt Street in Brooklyn Community District 6.
What is the Place block text amendment?
A text amendment is the tool used by City Planning to correct an inappropriate zoning designation. The zoning remains the same; in this application, the text amendment simply restores the Place blocks to their original street width designation at the City Planning office. They will then match the other streets in the neighborhood.
How did this happen?
When the Place blocks were designed by Richard Butts in 1846, there were no zoning laws. He laid out the first "planned" brownstone community in Brooklyn to his own standards. He plotted blocks with lots of 100 feet, and front courtyards of 33 feet. Between the courtyards, he defined a 50-foot wide "street", consisting of 13 foot sidewalks and a 24 foot wide "carriage way" down the center of each block. This was written into the law that created this planned community.
The City of NY organized a zoning plan in 1961 and measured the streets differently. A Street was defined as the distance from property line to property line. This makes the Place block front gardens part of the street. The streets are now classified as "wide" (75 ft. or more), as in arterial streets like Court St or Atlantic Avenue as compared with "narrow" (less than 75 ft) side streets, often residential.
The Place blocks are now treated like Court St; a wide street. The problem: A wide street can be developed deeper, bigger and taller which permits out of character and out of scale designs like the Clarett development for the ILA site on Court Street. This is not appropriate, as the gardens were never intended to be included in the street measurement. Butts wrote his intended courtyard use into law; homeowners can check their deeds to find these regulations attached.
Supported by: The South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance
Baltic-Warren Neighbors, CGNA, CORD, Cobble Hill Association, Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association, Committee for the Historical Integrity of Cobble Hill, South Brooklyn Local Development Corp, Union-Sackett Block Association, Warren Street Block
*Links to Zoning Text Amendment at the NYC Dept. of City Planning website:
* Overview:
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/carroll_gardens/index.shtml
* Existing Context and Zoning:
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/carroll_gardens/carroll_gardens_2.shtml
* Proposed Actions
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/carroll_gardens/carroll_gardens_3.shtml
See Also:
"All You Ever Wanted to Know About The Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment" at Pardon Me for Asking Blog
AND
"Carroll Gardens Group Takes Zoning Amendment to Subway Plaza" at Gowanus Lounge Blog.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Gowanus Residents ( & their neighbors ) Unite!
[this post re-produced from the FOB mailing list]
There are a number of issues important to Carroll Gardens residents that have been brought into public discussion. Acknowledging the interest and concern we have expressed, three separate meetings have been scheduled for next week by city agencies,elected officials and KEYSPAN.
The members of the CGNA Board encourage everyone to attend at least one of the meetings. Bring a family member, a friend, a neighbor! (I don't think pets can be accommodated).
These three meetings are all scheduled for Wednesday, May 7.
In time order:
1. Check your mail. A notice was sent out from KEYSPAN/NATIONAL GRID.
They will hold the first public meetings to "discuss the remedial investigation of a former manufactured gas site located at DeGraw near the Gowanus Canal". This is the beginning KEYSPAN's participation in the public discussion on cleaning up the Gowanus gas sites. There are a total of 17 sites. Meetings on Public Place, the Toll Bros site, etc to follow.
Meeting site: PS 32 (317 Hoyt St at Union)
Times: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM and 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
2. Borough President Marty Markowitz will hold a public meeting
to discuss the pending text amendment proposed by the Department of City Planning. This text amendment will correct the inappropriate "wide street" designation currently applied to the Place blocks; they will be designated as narrow streets, as they were originally defined by law
when they were created, and will match the bulk permitted on the other residential blocks of Carroll Gardens.
Meeting site: Borough Hall, Community Room
Joralemon St entrance
Time: 5:30 PM
3. Plan for the Future Forum: The Gowanus
Sponsored by City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, CB6, Gowanus Dredgers, Gowanus Canal
Development Corporation and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy Representatives of the NYS Departments of Environmental Conservation, Education, City Planning, Buildings, NYPD, FDNY and NYC Parks and Recreation will be on hand to answer questions. For more info and to pre-register questions,
call Tom Gray at 718 854 9791.
Meeting site: 2nd St at the Gowanus Canal (off Bond)
There will be a tent at the site if the weather is bad.
Time: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Once again, we urge everyone to attend at least one of these meetings!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
FOB Documents Archive: Responding to the Draft Scope of Work
I've put together all the documents I could find that were send in response to the 363-365 Bond Draft Scope of Work
Read the The 363-365 Bond Draft Scope of Work (brooklyncb6.org)
CB6 363-365 Bond Street Scoping Testimony, 3/24/2008 (brooklyncb6.org)
Toll Bros Scoping Response
PARK SLOPE NEIGHBORS: RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK - click here
Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus: responding to the Draft Scope of Work- click here
Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus: responding to the Environmental Assessment Statement- click here
** If you have one you'd like to share, please let us know: friendsofbond@gmail.com
