Thursday, December 13, 2007

ATTENTION MARTY MARKOWITZ!!

PLEASE Send this E-Mail ASAP! The Chair of the Department of City Planning has asked our Borough President for "guidance" in pointing out areas in critical need of rezoning. In light of the events that have recently been widely published in regard to the DOB and its arrangement with a prominent and prolific architect, one who has controversial projects in our neighborhood, including a proposed project right on top of our Carroll street (F line) train station, you may want to consider taking the time to send this letter to our Borough President, Marty Markowitz.
E-Mail ASAP! to B.P. Markowitz: askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
And please cc Councilman Bill DeBlasio (deblasio2009@gmail.com),
Assemblywoman Joan Millman (millmaj@assembly.state.ny.us
)
State senator Martin Connor go to: http://www.nyssenate25.com/contact_info.asp
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke go to: http://clarke.house.gov/contactform_zipcheck.shtml

Dear Borough President Markowitz,

I am a Carroll Gardens resident. I am very concerned about the out of context development in my community.

I understand that Amanda Burden, Chairperson of the Department of City Planning, has indicated that your guidance in setting priorities that appropriately address the critical need for zoning adjustments within the borough would be welcomed.

In addition to the development that is being experienced all over our borough, in the heart of Carroll Gardens, exists a unique condition, whereby our tiny, residential, gardened streets, are somehow classified as "wide". This classification allows developers to build or alter existing buildings into even larger, denser structures. They have been taking complete advantage of this with no regard for its impact on our community.

We, as a community, are loathe to push too hard to change that one condition, for fear of delaying a larger rezoning that would benefit many more of our streets.

I appeal to you, Mr Markowitz, as our Borough President, and as a fellow Brooklynite, to request that Carroll Gardens be positioned for immediate study. I further request, that once the study has begun, all projects which would be inappropriate under the new zoning, be halted as not to mar our community any further.

My neighborhood is, for all intents and purposes, under siege. What could be more critical than that?

Sincerely,

XXX

Please cut, paste, add your name (address is optional, but more effective) and send it to the link(s) provided above.
Thank you.
CORD

In other news:
Q. What's the problem with architect Robert Scarano anyhow?
Answer: PLENTY! You will want to read these well written and frighteningly informative words by Phil DePaolo, OnNYTurf contributor and New York Community Council President.
At Pardon Me for Asking where we found this post, DePaolo begins, "Many projects that Scarano's firm is the architect on record (and perhaps also the building consultant,) are full of 311 complaints, many of which have DOB and ECB violations. While he is not doing the demo, pouring, and nailing personally, he is aligned with sub-par contractors endangering workers and adjoining properties. Architect Robert Scarano signed a Buildings Department statement of responsibility for work at the 733 Ocean Parkway site where Anthony Duncan was killed by falling concrete blocks......
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CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:
(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns