Thursday, September 27, 2007

The new construction news is not good....

FYI:
Please see today's Gowanus Lounge story: Greenpoint's 143 Huron Wins Many Friends
Between this posting and others this week, we truly hope this is not a premontion of what's to come very soon in Carroll Gardens. Link

Will the DOB helps us here we wonder? Will the POLS? WHO?? will help us? WHO?? represents the residents and the community as all the over-sized development slated for Carroll Gardens begins? Is there anybody really out there who cares?

The corner of Smith Street and Second Street has already become this month really really congested in the mornings ....with two schools (one brand new one and one old one) receiving families, school buses, cars, baby carriages, various drop offs, etc., while so many local residents commute to work by bus, by car, by subway all at the same moment!

What on earth will happen when and if the 360 Smith Street construction begins and the subway passengers are re-routed? Isn't it high time to convince the powers that be that this building project must be scaled immediately? A street traffic and pedestrian traffic study would seem to be the very tiniest thing a responsible community would care to ask for.

Friday, September 21, 2007

HOMEWORK:

*****Homework!*****

FIRST CORD MEET WITH COUNCILMAN’S OFFICE

On August 30, 2007, some CORD members met with Tom Gray, Councilman DeBlasio’s District Director, for the first time since the 8/23 Town Hall Meeting. The Councilman himself, was not present, and there were others invited from several organizations. But, we did begin discussing the possibilities, the legalities and difficulties of putting an interim building moratorium into effect. A Council Resolution was suggested by Mr.Gray.

Late Friday, Sept 7th, we received an email from District Director Tom Gray which read:
“The legislative request for the resolution is being processed but we cannot do any actual legislation because the city charter will not permit it without the proper land use procedure.” A Resolution, more or less, an unenforceable agreement, is not exactly what we had hoped for, but it is a small first step….maybe one we can build upon. We knew that this would not be easy. We knew one town hall meeting would not be enough. So, we need your help again. We have written a short letter for you to copy and paste and send to our Councilman, Bill DeBlasio. We also would ask you to send the same letter, addressed as is, to ALL of the email addresses/links below. We want them to see our request to our Councilman.
Each of these individuals, in different ways, possesses the ability to speed up or to delay the “proper land use procedure” process, if they choose to do so. LET’S MAKE THEM HEAR US.
We know that this is work for you, but, please…don’t give up yet!

**Homework: Copy,Paste,and Send to ALL of the addresses/links below-same letter to all**

Dear Councilman DeBlasio:

We appreciate your efforts to take steps to enact an interim building moratorium, here in
Carroll Gardens. Thank you for hearing us. A Resolution is good.
But, an interim moratorium is
NECESSARY. We are terribly concerned about our safety; our sanitation needs, our transportation needs, our education needs, our weakened infrastructure and our quality of life .We are not physically prepared for this over development. INTERIM MORATORIUM NOW!

We have followed with great interest the ULURP procedure regarding the Summit St location where the Gowanus Nursery now stands. We would like the interim moratorium enacted with the same sense of urgency and alacrity afforded to the person who requested the zoning change on that piece of property. Tell us what we can do to accomplish this task. We now number in the thousands and all of us you.

Please go to work for us. We now number in the thousands and all of us are counting on you.

Signed, xxx

The addresses/links are as follows:

Councilman Bill DeBlasio: deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us

District Director Tom Gray tagray1@gmail.com

Mayor Bloomberg http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Amanda Burden, DCP Chair http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcp/html

Purnima Kapur,Comm.,Bklyn DCP http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcp/html

Melinda Katz katz@council.nyc.ny.us

Borough President Mary Markowitz askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Councilman Tony Avella Avella@council.nyc.ny.us

Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker quinn@council.nyc.ny.us

Craig Hammerman, CB6 info@brooklyncb6.org

Betsey Gotbaum, Public Advocate bgotbaum@pubadvocate.nyc.gov

Saturday, September 15, 2007

A Growth Spurt of Unprecedented Magnitude

IT IS TIME TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD! (and DO! something)**(see our Sept.9, 2007 post below)

This was at the end of an article by Ariella Cohen in the Brooklyn Papers recently. It would seem like a very good idea to have ALL OF THIS in our minds SIMULTANEOUSLY! as we plan any move forward. CORD

Booming fall for Gardens, Hill
By Ariella Cohen
The Brooklyn Paper

"Low-scale Carroll Gardens is about to experience a growth spurt of unprecedented magnitude. Here is a rundown of 13 developments to watch.
Where What Status
Bayside Fuel Depot, West bank of the Gowanus Canal between Sackett and Union streets. Canal-front complex of 10- to 12-story towers with 300–400 units Toxic remnants still being removed.
340–352 Bond St., at Third Street Four-story, eight-unit loft-style apartment building Construction currently frozen because of a code violation.
211 Columbia St., at Sackett Street 11-story building with 13 units Construction underway.
340 Court St., at Union Street Townhouse development Developer Clarett Group is still in contract for the site. No architect yet.
333 Carroll St., between Hoyt and Bond streets Six-story, 31-unit condo Halted by the Buildings Department in mid-construction.
671 Henry St., on the corner of Luquer Street Four-story building, five units The blue construction fences are up. Permits are approved. Construction could start within the month.
Gowanus Village, both sides of the canal, between Union and Third streets Canal-front complex of several 3- to 12-story buildings, with 400 units Construction hasn’t begun.
Toll Brothers, Bond Street between Carroll and Second streets Canal-front complex of low-rise townhouse-style condos Toll Brothers is waiting for Gowanus area to be rezoned for apartments. Could be years.
100 Luquer St., between Clinton and Henry streets 11-story building, 20 units Construction to begin this fall.
360 Smith St., corner of Second Place Six-story apartment building with 46 units Construction underway.
111 Third St., at Bond Street Four- or five-story townhouse-style condo development, with 45 units Completion date 2008.
Columbia Street area projects: 5 Columbia St., 86–98 Congress St., 79 Warren St., 104–116 Warren St., 101–115 Baltic St. Three 4- to 7-story buildings, with 153 units Has yet to begin the eight-month public review process.
Public Place site, Smith Street at Fifth Street Several 3- to 14-story buildings, with 400 units City still looking for a developer."

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper

Sunday, September 9, 2007

HOMEWORK! and...FIRST CORD MEET WITH COUNCILMAN’S OFFICE


**Homework!

FIRST CORD MEET WITH COUNCILMAN’S OFFICE

On August 30, 2007, some CORD members met with Tom Gray, Councilman DeBlasio’s District Director, for the first time since the 8/23 Town Hall Meeting. The Councilman himself, was not present, and there were others invited from several organizations. But, we did begin discussing the possibilities, the legalities and difficulties of putting an interim building moratorium into effect. A Council Resolution was suggested by Mr.Gray.

Late Friday, Sept 7th, we received an email from District Director Tom Gray which read:
“The legislative request for the resolution is being processed but we cannot do any actual legislation because the city charter will not permit it without the proper land use procedure.”
A Resolution, more or less, an unenforceable agreement, is not exactly what we had hoped for, but it is a small first step….maybe one we can build upon. We knew that this would not be easy. We knew one town hall meeting would not be enough. So, we need your help again. We have written a short letter for you to copy and paste and send to our Councilman, Bill DeBlasio. We also would ask you to send the same letter, addressed as is, to ALL of the email addresses/links below. We want them to see our request to our Councilman. Each of these individuals, in different ways, possesses the ability to speed up or to delay the “proper land use procedure” process, if they choose to do so. LET’S MAKE THEM HEAR US. We know that this is work for you, but, please…don’t give up yet!

**Homework: Copy,Paste,and Send to ALL of the addresses/links below-same letter to all**

Dear Councilman DeBlasio:
I appreciate your efforts to take steps to enact an interim building moratorium, here in
Carroll Gardens. Thank you for hearing us. A Resolution is good. But, an interim moratorium is NECESSARY. I am terribly concerned about our safety, our sanitation needs, our transportation needs, our education needs, our weakened infrastructure and our quality of life .We are not physically prepared for this overdevelopment. INTERIM MORITORIUM NOW! Councilman, you publicly agreed that these very concerns justify our demands. Please go to work for us. We now number in the thousands and all of us are counting on you.

Signed, xxx
The addresses/links are as follows:

Councilman Bill DeBlasio: deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us

District Director Tom Gray tagray1@gmail.com

Mayor Bloomberg http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Amanda Burden, DCP Chair http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcp/html

Purnima Kapur,Comm.,Bklyn DCP http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcp/html

Melinda Katz katz@council.nyc.ny.us

Borough President Mary Markowitz askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Councilman Tony Avella Avella@council.nyc.ny.us

Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker quinn@council.nyc.ny.us

Craig Hammerman, CB6 info@brooklyncb6.org

Betsey Gotbaum, Public Advocate bgotbaum@pubadvocate.nyc.gov

Friday, September 7, 2007

Waiting on "PINS and NEEDLES" in Carroll Gardens

Joe Maniscaclo continues to thoughtfully and accurately cover our 360 Smith Street Story in this week's Carroll Gardens Courier! (The one that has the front page bold title: "Public Place Race").
Below are a quotes from: "Waiting on Pins and Needles in Carroll Gardens/Worried Residents Are Left in the Dark About Plans for 360 Smith Street" (September 7, 2007).
See the entire article in the Courier on the streets now. (It will be on-line later this week at the Courier website.)

by Joe Maniscalco 9/7/2007:
"Another week has gone by and residents of Carroll Gardens still don't have a clue as to what they might eventually have to live with in Carroll Gardens.

"The much anticipated meeting between Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Assemblymember Joan Millman, and property owner Billy Stein failed to shed any new light on the situation.

"Residents fear that a new multi unit building will not only overshadow the rest of the brownstones on the block, but also encroach upon the pedestrian plaza outside the Carroll street subway stop at 2nd Place and Smith Street.

"An open violation remains on the site for working without a permit.

"CORD-Carroll Gardens Organization for Respective Development ("Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development" (my edit, T.S.) -is driving ahead with a bold new moratorium on buildings over 5o feet tall.

"At a standing room only Town Hall held at Scotto's funeral home on First Place a couple of weeks ago, CORD openly challenged deBlasio to support their efforts.

Members of CORD said that as a result of the Town Hall, they anticipated being included in last Wednesday's meeting between deBlasio, Millman, and Stein.

"We were never officially informed of the meeting date, time or place and we were never invited," said Triada Samaras, one of CORD's founding members.

"DeBlasio spokesperson Jean Weinberg said there would be additional opportunities to give their input once the plans are close to being done.

"Millman Chief of Staff Sam Cooper said he couldn't talk about any details of the meeting. Discussions are 'continuing'.....

"Stein could not be reached for comment."

"A lot of people in Carroll Gardens will be staying tuned."

CORD

P.S. We are told the following:

The first meeting of the CGNA General Meeting cycle is:
Monday, Sept. 10, 2007
7:30 pm
Scotto's Funeral Home
106 First Place (at Court) and all are invited!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Door to Door September Petition Drive!


Cord has received several inquiries relating to last week's meeting(s) and the current status of 360 Smith Street, and we promise to have a few words on these subjects very soon! But, in the meantime: CORD NEEDS YOUR HELP!! We are looking to find volunteers to help us get more signatures for our Cord petition! We think that one very simple and easy way to get lots of new signatures is to have one or two volunteers per block who are willing to go door to door explaining the importance of signing this petition to your very own neighbors.
So, how about it? Will you please help us take this petition to your streets? Please contact us at: cgcord@gmail.com if you would like to help us out. Thank you in advance!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Happy Labor Day Weekend from CORD

"CORD Challenges deBlasio" (!)
What better Labor Day gift could CORD possibly have than the article in this weekend's Courier by Joe Maniscalco? "CORD challenges deBlasio: This is your chance to make a difference they say....." by Joe Maniscalco: (Thank you Joe from CORD!)
Carroll Gardens Cobble Hill Courier Link (*Article at newstands only this weekend)

Recent media summary

  • There has been a great deal of interest in our idea for an interim moratorium to coincide with the downzoning study now being proposed by the office of NYC City Planning. Since the Town Hall Meeting that took place last Thursday evening in Carroll Gardens (see stories below), many journalists and bloggers have been reporting on our story. Here is a little round-up for those of you who would like to read more:
Links:
Courier-Life Publications: *"CORD challenges deBlasio: This is your chance to make a difference they say....."

Gowanus Lounge: Conflict Over Carroll Gardens "Town Hall" Meeting
Gowanus Lounge: Carroll Gardens "Town Hall" Meeting Coming Up
Curbed: Carroll Gardens Meeting Report: 'Moratorium Now'

Found in Brooklyn: "All Hands on Deck" for CORD meeting with Bill
Brooklyn Eagle: Stop the Clock on Development
Brownstoner: Calls for Reining in Development at Carroll Gardens
Outside.In: Carroll Gardens
Queens Ledger: Moratorium? Downzoning? Landmarking? Yes, yes..
Brownstoner: Will Clarett Think Big in Carroll Gardens?
Courier-Life Publications-Wait your turn-Gardens told to stand...
New York: News & Features/Daily Intelligencer: All 'Carroll Gardens' Posts

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