CORD has just received this wonderful letter in opposition to the
Toll Brothers project. It has already been sent to our
Boro President, Marty Markowitz. As we posted earlier this week
the email address to the Borough President is:
askmarty@Brooklynbp.nyc.gov
and he reads his mail! Please let him knows your views on the Toll
Brothers project and other "overdevelopment" projects here in our
beloved Carroll Gardens. You can also write to us at cgcord@gmail.com!
Sent to:
Borough President Markowitz
Brooklyn Borough Hall
Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:56 AM
Dear Marty:
As 15-year residents and property owners in Carroll Gardens,
we are strongly opposed to any kind of development
that alters the historic and cultural character of this great
Brooklyn neighborhood.
This includes the Toll Brothers project that is the current
subject of discussion by your office and the city.
Already, there is deep concern, which we share,
over high-rise and other residential and commercial projects
that adversely impact the character of Brownstone Brooklyn,
which as I am sure you know, is an area of distinctive urban
architecture quite unlike any other in the world.
The idea that absentee developers with no
stake in a neighborhood other than financial would be allowed
to erect inappropriate structures that do damage to its
quality and architectural integrity is an affront - indeed, an
insult - both to the citizens who have lived here for decades
and those who came more recently because of what
it promises as a place to live and raise families.
One need only visit 2nd Place between Clinton and Henry to
see how a single, jarringly out-of-place building
destroys the asethetic nature of an otherwise beautiful block. How
this monstrosity snuck past the gate of common sense is a mystery
to everyone in the area. No argument for increased tax base, or
any other politicians' rationale, is valid against the damage
that would be inflicted by the building of structures that exceed
traditional heightlimits or otherwise violate the intrinsic quality
of Carroll Gardens' graceful streets, yards and houses.
Even if a new building does not directly abut
or impinge on historic or otherwise exceptional structures, it can
set a dangerous precedent that opens the door to future unwanted
development. That of course is a strategy used by developers
and is the greatest concern expressed by people
in Carroll Gardens.
If you care about Brooklyn, and we are
certain of that, you should do whatever is necessary to
put a stop to this project and any others that would
also undermine or overwhelm this neighborhood. This applies
to any scheme that would crassly violate
the nature of Carroll Gardens and its historical ties to early
Brooklyn and to New York Harbor.
Thank you for your consideration.
Clinton Street Residents
(Names Withheld by Request)
Carroll Gardens
Folks, we could not have said this better ourselves! CORD
