There is Good News and Bad News this weekend:
First the good news! We (Carroll Gardens) made an impressive ninth place showing in the Gowanus Lounge Top 15 Brooklyn Stories in 2007. From GL Friday, 12/28/2007:
"9) The Carroll Gardens Development Revolt. The plan to build at 360 Smith Street sparked a serious movement to put the downzoning of the entire neighborhood on the fast track. This one isn't over by a long shot."
Now for the bad news: GL's Number 4 on the List was "The Brooklyn Construction Crisis" which if you take the time to read (even for only 5 minutes!) may very well terrify you! Too much is wrong with all the new construction in Brooklyn right now and too many innocent residents and homeowners are unnecessarily bearing the emotional brunt as well as the financial costs and burdens of the city's blunders. And SAFETY and INFRASTRUCTURE are being ignored completely!
It will take sustained effort in Carroll Gardens to keep the pressure where it belongs: On our Councilman DeBlasio and on our other other elected officials in Brooklyn who supposedly do represent us and do care about us. We are not convinced yet. We are hearing all the right words and seeing no tangible results.
Several important things have been on the table for 360 Smith Street for example but they seem to disappear before they ever become reality. The Plaza jurisdiction issue for example, and the wide streets legislation. What ever happened to these critical aspects of our fight to save the plaza and the corner at 360 Smith Street from an overbearing, out of context building? Well they were there for a few seconds, and then they sort of vanished in the U.S. mail someplace. Councilman DeBlasio says he is doing "everything he can" to take care of these things. These are empty words. And what about SUBWAY SAFETY?? and the fact that the architect for 360 Smith Street which is OVER THE SUBWAY TUNNEL was so severely criticized by the Councilman (even before we knew his name ourselves here)? Shall we trust this project now?
After 7 months of fighting at 360 Smith Street we are still in the dark. And we are only the tip of the construction iceberg as development projects loom virtually everywhere in Carroll Gardens.
Meanwhile downzoning is no longer on any fast track or so I hear. I hope I am wrong. And landmarking "will take time, lots of time" (time we do not have). Again please prove us wrong. So the fight will surely continue................We in Carroll Gardens have set a record this year for community activism and involvement. This is already something to be extremely proud of! we dare say that for many of us, yes, our neighborhood DOES matter to us that much!!! This is important stuff! We just hope that some politician somewhere will take us seriously. We have heard recently that "overdevelopment" will be the coming election's big issue and we believe it.
CORD
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Holiday Madness and the Missing Councilman
Hello
It seems that all the bad things for our beloved neighborhoods and people in then always seem to somehow coincide with the vacations and holidays of all the "people in charge" like, say, the POLS, like, for example, Councilman DeBlasio, specifically. For example, the sudden granting of permits late this week on the controversial Scarano building at 333 Carroll Street. (See Gowanus Lounge, F.I.B., Pardon Me for Asking and others.)
How does that work? Didn't the Councilman not too long ago call on the public to help him denounce this architect? Didn't we all join him this year in a copy/paste campaign to New York State authorities to investigate this man? Mr. Scarano's work practice is an issue that the Councilman seized himself this year although CORD never asked him to. It was the Councilman who called for the public's help in investigating Mr. Scarano. His office put a copy/paster letter right on various neighborhood listserves, asking people to sign it then send it to Albany.
Yet, today another Scarano disaster story has hit the 'airwaves'....and has been on the blogs all week, joining the 333 Carroll Street building story. It as a new take on an old, worn-out theme.
How is that no one is questioning this architect or questioning Commissioner Lancaster, or others at the DOB? And furthermore what kind of "SAFE" building over our subway (F TRAIN/Carroll Street) can we expect from either Mr. Scarano, his firm, or from any developer selecting him out of the very large pool of other available architects? And how safe is such a plan to build next to hundreds of SCHOOL CHILDREN no less? (We have a brand new private school, Hannah Senesh) adjacent to this site, also on top the subway tunnel. Hundreds of young children and their parents/teachers will be using a building just INCHES!!! away from this proposed construction site!)
Where is help when we need it? CORD
From: "Philip DePaolo"Date: December 11, 2007 6:21:52 PM ESTTo: "Defend Brooklyn"
defendbrooklyn@lists.mayfirst.org
Subject: B.S.A gives Williamsburg the finger!
Today the B.S.A decided that the permit for 144 N 8th st (AKA THE FINGER BUILDING, anothe Scarano enterprise) is valid and they are allowed to resume construction. The BSA decision was based on a letter from Deputy General Counsel for the DOB, Felicia R Miller. The letter stated the permit issued in connection with Job #301784399 for a 16 story building was a validly issued permit. We understand further that there is pending litigation regarding the applicant's right to use roof top space at 115 Berry and 138 North 8th Street, as reflected in the plans. If they should loose that litigation, then the applicant will be in violation of open space requirements to the extent they decide to continue with construction beyond 10 stories. For this reason, there is a stop work. Order in place for construction beyond 10 stories. The problem is we have a request made to the DOB for two years ago for a final determination regarding the referenced building plans. I have been informed that the letter issued by Deputy General Counsel Felicia Miller does not constitute a final determination as it is not signed by
Commissioner Mossad.
The related Zoning Lot and Development Agreement dated January 27, 2004, p. 1-3, and Declaration of Easements dated January 27, 2004 p 2, specifically and explicitly preclude using the rooftops of 138 North 8th Street, 115 Berry Street, plus 10% of 133-141 North 7th Street as a roofdeck. Contrary to this, the plans approved for 144 North 8th Street use these prohibited spaces as a roofdeck, and count that area towards the buildings open space requirements. As such, the plans approved for 144 North 8th Street can not meet open space requirements. Yet
the building has the blessing of the city. But what happens when the final ruling comes down on the open space. The preliminary decision in February stated that, based upon
the foregoing, the motion for summary judgment seeking a declaration that the Developer purchased open space rights to the rooftops of 115 and 138 from is denied in its entirety.
So if this judgment holds up the original permit is invalid. Yet the BSA decided to rule before this decision on the open space requirements is finalized.
Prior to the Williamsburg rezoning in May 2005, this developer worked through stop work orders as documented bythe D.O.B., worked weekends without permits, and worked all hours of the night on weekdays, so that the development could be grandfathered under the old zoning regulations, allowing them to build a much larger building than would be allowed under the new
zoning. Despite numerous complaints and plentiful documentation by neighbors, and news media, the D.O.B. rewarded this illegal activity and vested the project. The question still
is, if by doing something improper, did the owners negate their vesting? And if they did, should the site have to comply with the new R6B zoning?
Developer Robert Scarano and Mr. Brach used land and air rights that they did not own in order to construct this building, so I believe the incomplete building must be made to
conform to the new R6B zoning. Even if it stays at 10 stories twice as large as the current R6B zoning allows. This ruling sends a clear message to any developer that they can break the rules and still get rewarded. This project is the poster child for bad development. But the fight is not over! More later. Phil
It seems that all the bad things for our beloved neighborhoods and people in then always seem to somehow coincide with the vacations and holidays of all the "people in charge" like, say, the POLS, like, for example, Councilman DeBlasio, specifically. For example, the sudden granting of permits late this week on the controversial Scarano building at 333 Carroll Street. (See Gowanus Lounge, F.I.B., Pardon Me for Asking and others.)
How does that work? Didn't the Councilman not too long ago call on the public to help him denounce this architect? Didn't we all join him this year in a copy/paste campaign to New York State authorities to investigate this man? Mr. Scarano's work practice is an issue that the Councilman seized himself this year although CORD never asked him to. It was the Councilman who called for the public's help in investigating Mr. Scarano. His office put a copy/paster letter right on various neighborhood listserves, asking people to sign it then send it to Albany.
Yet, today another Scarano disaster story has hit the 'airwaves'....and has been on the blogs all week, joining the 333 Carroll Street building story. It as a new take on an old, worn-out theme.
How is that no one is questioning this architect or questioning Commissioner Lancaster, or others at the DOB? And furthermore what kind of "SAFE" building over our subway (F TRAIN/Carroll Street) can we expect from either Mr. Scarano, his firm, or from any developer selecting him out of the very large pool of other available architects? And how safe is such a plan to build next to hundreds of SCHOOL CHILDREN no less? (We have a brand new private school, Hannah Senesh) adjacent to this site, also on top the subway tunnel. Hundreds of young children and their parents/teachers will be using a building just INCHES!!! away from this proposed construction site!)
Where is help when we need it? CORD
From: "Philip DePaolo"
defendbrooklyn@lists.mayfirst.org
Subject: B.S.A gives Williamsburg the finger!
Today the B.S.A decided that the permit for 144 N 8th st (AKA THE FINGER BUILDING, anothe Scarano enterprise) is valid and they are allowed to resume construction. The BSA decision was based on a letter from Deputy General Counsel for the DOB, Felicia R Miller. The letter stated the permit issued in connection with Job #301784399 for a 16 story building was a validly issued permit. We understand further that there is pending litigation regarding the applicant's right to use roof top space at 115 Berry and 138 North 8th Street, as reflected in the plans. If they should loose that litigation, then the applicant will be in violation of open space requirements to the extent they decide to continue with construction beyond 10 stories. For this reason, there is a stop work. Order in place for construction beyond 10 stories. The problem is we have a request made to the DOB for two years ago for a final determination regarding the referenced building plans. I have been informed that the letter issued by Deputy General Counsel Felicia Miller does not constitute a final determination as it is not signed by
Commissioner Mossad.
The related Zoning Lot and Development Agreement dated January 27, 2004, p. 1-3, and Declaration of Easements dated January 27, 2004 p 2, specifically and explicitly preclude using the rooftops of 138 North 8th Street, 115 Berry Street, plus 10% of 133-141 North 7th Street as a roofdeck. Contrary to this, the plans approved for 144 North 8th Street use these prohibited spaces as a roofdeck, and count that area towards the buildings open space requirements. As such, the plans approved for 144 North 8th Street can not meet open space requirements. Yet
the building has the blessing of the city. But what happens when the final ruling comes down on the open space. The preliminary decision in February stated that, based upon
the foregoing, the motion for summary judgment seeking a declaration that the Developer purchased open space rights to the rooftops of 115 and 138 from is denied in its entirety.
So if this judgment holds up the original permit is invalid. Yet the BSA decided to rule before this decision on the open space requirements is finalized.
Prior to the Williamsburg rezoning in May 2005, this developer worked through stop work orders as documented bythe D.O.B., worked weekends without permits, and worked all hours of the night on weekdays, so that the development could be grandfathered under the old zoning regulations, allowing them to build a much larger building than would be allowed under the new
zoning. Despite numerous complaints and plentiful documentation by neighbors, and news media, the D.O.B. rewarded this illegal activity and vested the project. The question still
is, if by doing something improper, did the owners negate their vesting? And if they did, should the site have to comply with the new R6B zoning?
Developer Robert Scarano and Mr. Brach used land and air rights that they did not own in order to construct this building, so I believe the incomplete building must be made to
conform to the new R6B zoning. Even if it stays at 10 stories twice as large as the current R6B zoning allows. This ruling sends a clear message to any developer that they can break the rules and still get rewarded. This project is the poster child for bad development. But the fight is not over! More later. Phil
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
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.Thank you.
CORD
In other news:
Q. What's the problem with architect Robert Scarano anyhow?
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......
Please subscribe to our newsletter for more of this story...
Sunday, December 9, 2007
BIGGER AND BETTER MORATORIUM CALLED FOR! NO NEW BUILDING PERMITS IN BROOKLYN UNTIL YOU CLEAN UP THIS MESS, MAYOR BLOOMBERG!
What can we say? We at C.O.R.D. are most grateful to have our fellow friends and neighbors not only agreeing with us but one-upping us as well. Bring it on!
And we might add: SOMEBODY PLEASE WAKE UP BILL AND BILLY!!! (from their eight month "nap/hibernation").Below are excerpts from today's Pardon Me for Asking Blog by Katia.
What better reason than this latest outrageous example of the abuse of power than her re-printed Daily News article (below) to remind everyone in Carroll Gardens to please sign our moratorium and subscribe to our newletter now!
From Pardon Me For Asking: Monday, December 10, 2007 Posted by Katia"
"LET'S ASK FOR A MORATORIUM ON ALL NEW BROOKLYN BUILDING"
"Scarano Horror Looming In Carroll Gardens"
Architect Robert Scarano
(photo credit: The Real Deal, November 2007)
Architect Robert Scarano
(photo credit: The Real Deal, November 2007)
Ms. Patricia Lancaster, Commissioner, Buildings Department (Photo Credit: www.nyc.gov)
"I am fuming mad and you will know why after reading the article below. For the last couple of years,Carroll Gardeners, decent, hard-working people, have had to fight to keep rogue architects from destroying their low-density brownstone neighborhood...... asking local politicians (to no avail) to stand
up for the neighborhood by helping to down-zone.......
up for the neighborhood by helping to down-zone.......
"Busy work! A waste of time! Why? Because in back rooms, the Buildings Department makes deals with architects who push the envelope in any way they can. The article which appeared this Sunday in the Daily News illustrates how dysfunctional the NYC Department of Buildings is..... in favor of unscrupulous architects and builders in order to fulfill Mayor Bloomberg's mandate of turning every inch of New York City into high-priced, high-rise condos. Shame on them all........"
"Pardon me for asking, but why not ask for a moratorium on all building here in Brooklyn until the Department of Buildings is re-organized, made functional and more importantly made less corrupt? Lets just say "no new issuing of permits" until Commissioner Patricia Lancaster is fired and architects like Robert Scarano don't get license to blatantly disregard existing codes.
Let's never forget that people like Commissioner Lancaster and politicians work for us, the citizens of New York. They get paid with our taxpayer's money, which in my book makes them our employees. We have rights. So lets use them."
"Lets tell them:
"Pardon me for asking, but why not ask for a moratorium on all building here in Brooklyn until the Department of Buildings is re-organized, made functional and more importantly made less corrupt? Lets just say "no new issuing of permits" until Commissioner Patricia Lancaster is fired and architects like Robert Scarano don't get license to blatantly disregard existing codes.
Let's never forget that people like Commissioner Lancaster and politicians work for us, the citizens of New York. They get paid with our taxpayer's money, which in my book makes them our employees. We have rights. So lets use them."
"Lets tell them:
NO NEW BUILDING PERMITS IN BROOKLYN UNTIL YOU CLEAN UP THIS MESS, MAYOR BLOOMBERG!
Building's Chief Hid Architect's Mistake
Daily News December 9th, 2008
By Brian Kates
By Brian Kates
The top official responsible for enforcing building standards in the city signed secrecy agreements to hide a series of blunders that led to death and building evacuations.
Patricia Lancaster, the $162,800-a-year buildings commissioner, hid the mistakes made by architect Robert Scarano.
Lancaster - also an architect - signed an unusual stipulation promising not to report the alleged misdeeds of Scarano to "any regulatory agency," including one that could revoke his license.
The charges involve 32 properties, mostly in Brooklyn, and include alleged carelessness that resulted in the death of a construction worker and a screwup that forced a Brooklyn family to evacuate its unsafe home.
Lancaster hid a charge that Scarano signed off on unsafe conditions at a Brooklyn site where construction worker Anthony Duncan Sr. was crushed to death in a March 2006 building collapse.
The victim's family is outraged about Lancaster's actions.
"If they are not going to pursue Scarano to the fullest extent, then who are they going to pursue?" asked Duncan's son, Anthony Jr. "It's like they're laughing in my face ... Scarano is still working, but my father is dead." ......more at her blog including:
Building Chief Hid Architect's Mistake (Daily New)
Brooklyn homeowner: Buildings commissioner should face charges (Daily News)
Scarano pointing the finger back (The Real Deal)
Friday, December 7, 2007
All that digging and shaking in Carroll Gardens spells: "MORATORIUM NOW!"
Dear Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Markowitz, Assemblywoman Millman, Councilman DeBlasio and Ms Burden,
We just happened to notice this 12/7/2007 Gowanus Lounge story: A Lot of Digging and Shaking at 340 Court Street link.
This is not exactly bore testing going on here---we don't think they generally use a bulldozer for that. Please see all these complaints on file link.
This is not exactly bore testing going on here---we don't think they generally use a bulldozer for that. Please see all these complaints on file link.
It seems as though the wild construction cowboys are at it again. We, for one, are not surprised, as we at CORD have been saying this all along.
Amanda Burden has asked the Borough President for "guidance" in identifying areas in critical need of zoning adjustments----
Do you think this type of flagrant disregard and disrespect for not only the community, but the law constitutes a need for some type of protective action? Would you characterize our needs as critical yet?
Who is watching out for our safety?
Who is protecting our property?
Why does it seem as though the developer's rights and interests are put before ours?
Don't you agree that an immediate interim moratorium is more relevant than ever for Carroll Gardens?
Can you think of another method that could be employed to immediately safeguard our community from this type of abuse?
Even the commencement of a rezoning study will not stop many of the proposed projects from beginning---it may even encourage more cutting of corners, which generally creates an even more dangerous atmosphere.
In this instance, it seems as though the people in charge of the 340 Court St project were under the impression that as long as they told the community the building would not be too tall, they could do whatever they wanted.
We need your help. We need it now.Please.
Sincerely,
CORD
Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development
Monday, December 3, 2007
Wake UP!! Councilman DeBlasio!
Coucilman Bill DeBlasio: Have you forgotten us here in Carroll Gardens? Where oh where are you? Where is the wide streets ruling change you promised? Have you forgotten you agreed that Second Place and our other Place and Street Blocks ARE NOT WIDE STREETS and this arcane ruling can be EASILY REMEDIED forcing new developments in Carroll Gardens to scale back?? Call Councilman Bill today! 718-854-9791
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