RESOLUTION DAY

On Wednesday, January 30, 2008, our Councilman, Bill DeBlasio introduced to his fellow Council Members, a Resolution calling for two things that a substantial number of Carroll Gardens residents have been seeking for quite some time.

Councilman DeBlasio asked for the requested downzoning study to commence immediately and, more importantly, called to halt construction on anything that would exceed fifty feet (a simplified representation of the downzoning result) immediately as well. For all intents and purposes, he asked for the interim moratorium that we have been hoping for.

Now, unfortunately, a Resolution, even if unanimously passed, is not legally binding. It is not law. It is little more than an agreement between civilized parties. But, we, at CORD are most appreciative of this first step. Councilman DeBlasio promised this to us back in September and he has delivered. Some people would say, “So what? It doesn’t really mean anything.” But, we think it took courage to take this very politically unpopular idea to the Council Chambers.

We think that this is the way change begins. It starts with thinking about things differently, challenging what is no longer working and looking for a way to do and make things better.

What was introduced on January 30^th, in the NYC Council Chambers was a small, but very good first step. We must remember that real change takes determination, purpose, conviction and tenacity. It takes resolve.

January 30^th was Resolution Day.

CORD

When "Okay" is "Not Okay"! Mayor Bloomberg's button M.I.A.

Technology sure does simplify things doesn't it? ahem.... NOPE. For example, in the post below we gave you a LINK to the Mayor's office: a direct link via an email message from you to him. Guess what? It's impossible to use for many..... many...... people

That's because the "Okay" button is NOT OKAY! The "okay" button, located on the very bottom, left of the pop-up page that confirms your text, is so far down the page that many people are having trouble even finding it! One has to wonder. Does the Mayor' s office NOT? want too many emails from his constituents? To remedy this situation try a HIGHER RESOLUTION (find that in the "Display Settings") so that your text on your monitor gets SMALLER so that you can find the "Okay" button. OKAY? One of our petitions signers sent in another trick:

"I got the email to the mayor to work an even easier way....On the top of the screen, on my computer, are things that say , file, edit, view, tools, message, and help...n the VIEW section, there is something that says, TEXT SIZE , with a sideways arrow indicating more choices....put the cursor on the arrow and VOILA!, from smallest to largest text size...I needed to go to SMALLEST, before the darn thing would work"

But if these idea makes you anxiety-ridden, there is always option number two!

OPTION TWO! SNAIL MAIL!!
Simply Copy/Paste this letter below (or the longer, more comprehensive one on our newsletter, or write one of your own!) and sign it and put in an envelope and lick a stamp and you are good to go!
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
NY, NY 1ooo7
Now wasn't that easy?

OPTION THREE ANYONE? Highlight, Print and FAX to: (212) 788-2460
Don't let technology stop us! We have come too far for an little "OKAY" button to stand in our way!
CORD

Poem by a Carroll Gardens Petition Signer:

Please help us write to the MAYOR!

Calling all Carroll Gardens!

Please Dear C. G. Resident:

Copy/paste this letter below and send it ASAP to Mayor Bloomberg!** Here is the link...it's so easy!!

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

We are Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. We have sought relief from the hyper-development that is taking place here through moratorium petition (3000+ signatures), contextual downzoning application (an undetermined wait time), amendments to the zoning text (a fairly lengthy and only partial solution), City Council Resolution (valiant and appreciated, but unbinding), expansion of our historic district (a volatile, divisive topic) and a rally at Borough Hall organized by our Councilman and Assemblywoman.

We have overcrowded schools, dirty streets and air, inadequate public transportation. We have far too many stop work orders regularly issued for dangerous construction situations. We have no nearby Post Office. Almost all of the private parking lots have been developed. All of our local elected officials have recently requested information from both the DOB and the MTA/NYCTA regarding their communication and procedures when construction is being conducted in close proximity to our subway tunnel. There are currently dozens of such projects, an unprecedented amount for our Smith Street corridor, most of which seemed to be completely under the MTA/NYCTA radar. We are all concerned. The pace here is fast, and all too often, homeowners are paying the price in property damages, simply for living next to, nearby or behind a developer who has hired careless workers employing, at times, questionable practices.

Read the local blogs, Mr. Mayor, take a look at our local papers. We have been crying out for months for help. We are not anti-development. All we want is thoughtful, responsible, respectful development. We love where we live. We would like to preserve it. Won’t you please help us?

Respectfully,

XXXXX

** For a longer, more comprehensive version of this letter which you can mail by hand to Mayor Bloomberg please visit out newsletter! Here is the link

RALLY!!

RALLY for DOWNZONING and INTERIM MORATORIUM!!
Tuesday, January 29th
11:00AM
Brooklyn City Planning Office
16 Court Street
Join Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Assemblymember Joan Millman, The
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, Carroll Gardens Coalition
For Respectful Development, Baltic & Warren Neighbors, Columbia
Waterfront Neighborhood Association and The Union-Sackett Association
And support a resolution calling upon the Department of City Planning
to immediately commence a downzoning study of Carroll Gardens to
protect our neighborhood.
The Resolution will call upon the Department of City Planning to
immediately commence a downzoning study of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
The resolution will also call upon the Department of Buildings to
implement the appropriate procedure to protect the character of Carroll
Gardens until the downzoning is complete.
For additional information please call Tom Gray at 718-854-9791
Or Tagray1@gmail.com

AND SAVE THIS DATE:
NEW VOICES ON THE GOWANUS!!
MONDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2008 @ 6:30 PM
P.S. 58 Auditorium
(Enter on Carroll Street between Smith and Court, F Train or B75 Bus)

Scholars and Scientists of Columbia University Report on:
THE PUBLIC PLACE
Where did the pollution come from?
How does it behave?
What are its risks?
What might be done to remediate it?

This Public Meeting is hosted by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez,
Assemblywoman Joan Millman, SBLDC - South Brooklyn LDC, FROGG Friends &
Residents of Greater Gowanus, CORD Coalition for Respectful Development.

You have heard from potential developers, city planners, government
agencies, not for profits, elected officials, et al. about their visions for the future of
the Gowanus Basin and especially The Public Place. Now hear New Voices and up to now missing points of view “ that of academic and scientific scholars. Professors Patricia Culligan and Richard Plunz and their students from Columbia University Graduate Schools of Civil
Engineering and Architecture, Planning, and Preservation have been studying our Gowanus for over two years have just published a book "Eco" Gowanus: Urban Remediation By Design (147
pages in full color) with their complete research, findings, theories, ideas, and
recommendations. At this event they will give a Power Point presentation of the main points
of their book. At and take pollution and remediation related questions from the
audience. This Public Meeting is hosted by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez,
Assemblywoman Joan Millman, SBLDC - South Brooklyn Local Development Corp., FROGG “
Friends& Residents of Greater Gowanus, CORD “ Coalition for Respectful Development.

Carroll Gardens does TV!

Carroll Gardens does TV!

Hello from CORD! From our blog today at www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

Carroll Gardens does TV!

B-CAT is starting a brand new TV segment using BLOGGERS on their TV news magazine program called "Interview", a program featuring Brooklyn News on Brooklyn Independent television.

The first blog to be featured will happily be: Gowanus Lounge by Bob Guskind, who has consistently and tirelessly been covering our neighborhood for months, highlighting our fight to preserve the integrity of our beloved neighborhood against overdevelopment.

Thanks to Bob, CORD was invited to an interview for this premier segment!

Featured were, of course, the Democracy Wall, our Petition for a Building Moratorium in Carroll Gardens, and other CG overdevelopment issues and "hotspots".

This program will air on television repeatedly for TWO WEEKS starting this MONDAY JANUARY 29!
(See dates and details below). Also coming very soon will be a free viewing link which we will post on the CORD blog so do not worry if you do not get Cable TV......

Stay tuned for the link!

The segment premieres on B-Cat 3 on Monday, 1/28/08 at 9pm and then airs again:

Tuesdays at 3:30pm & 11:30pm;
Thursdays at 1:30pm & 9:30pm;
Fridays at 1:30pm;
Saturdays at 8:30pm
3rd Monday (and 1st Monday of the following month) at 9pm

All shows air on "B-CAT 3" which is:

Time Warner Cable channel 56
OR
Cablevision channel 69

See you there! Triada S.

COME TO THE RALLY!!!

TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT CARROLL GARDENS,

SOUTH BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29^TH 11:00 AM

16 COURT STREET

BROOKLYN, NY

Join Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Assemblymember Joan Millman, The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association (CGNA), Carroll Gardens Coalition For Respectful Development (CORD), Baltic & Warren Neighbors, Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association and The Union-Sackett Block Association

To support a resolution calling upon the Department of City Planning to immediately commence a downzoning study of Carroll Gardens to protect our neighborhood and the Department of Buildings to implement the appropriate procedure to preserve the character of Carroll Gardens until the downzoning is complete.

For additional information please call Tom Gray at 718-854-9791
Or Tagray1@gmail. com

Another important date to save: Feb 12!

Meeting. Gowanus Canal Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan Report: February 12, 2008

Under a 2005 Consent Order with the NYSDEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has prepared a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan (WWFP) for the Gowanus Canal located on Buttermilk Channel in the Upper New York Bay. The WWFP outlines the work that has been done to-date and future plans for improving water quality in the Gowanus Canal, including abatement of the Combined Sewer Overflows into Gowanus Canal. The WWFP is the first step in the process of meeting water quality standards. The Long Term Control Plan (LTCP), per the USEPA CSO Policy, will be prepared in the near future.

Public Meeting: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 58 located at 330 Smith Street at Carroll Street in Brooklyn

Tom needs help

----- Original Message -----

From: Tom Gray

To: CG residents (names omitted here)

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:43 PM

Subject: Here we go....

I will be hitting the subways tomorrow after work if anyone can help get vols to help flier! I will send a place and time to meet for anyone interested in the AM and will bring copies.

--
Tom Gray
District Director
City Council Member Bill de Blasio
(718) 854-9791
(718) 854-1146 Fax

Here it is!

From: tagray22000
Reply To: CGNA@yahoogroups.com
To: CGNA@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CGNA] ome Rally to Support a Resolution Calling for the Immediate Down Zoning of CG!!!
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:33 PM

Join Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Assemblymember Joan Millman, The
Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, Carroll Gardens Coalition
For Respectful Development, Baltic & Warren Neighbors, Columbia
Waterfront Neighborhood Association and The Union-Sackett Association
And support a resolution calling upon the Department of City Planning
to immediately commence a downzoning study of Carroll Gardens to
protect our neighborhood.
The Resolution will call upon the Department of City Planning to
immediately commence a downzoning study of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
The resolution will also call upon the Department of Buildings to
implement the appropriate procedure to protect the character of Carroll
Gardens until the downzoning is complete.
Tuesday, January 29th
11:00AM
Brooklyn City Planning Office
16 Court Street
For additional information please call Tom Gray at 718-854-9791
Or Tagray1@gmail.com

Date Change for Downzoning Rally!

Hello! CORD has received an email from Tom Gray today saying the RALLY date for our downzoning is January 24th not January 29th. Frankly, CORD was never sure about that 29th date for various reasons which is why this is our first post on this topic of the date. It seems very wise to check with Councilman DeBlasio's office before planning on going anywhere for a rally on either day just to be sure. We understand there is some frustration about this.
CORD

360 Smith...Nothing but Questions!

67 QUESTIONS from C.G. Residents to Mr. Stein re: 360 Smith Street and still counting.....

Our Councilman's Office has been saying that Mr. Stein, the 360 Smith Street developer, has offered to meet with us and discuss the plans for the building...again...

In the interest of giving Mr. Stein the ability to cover all of our issues, we have TWICE submitted the same series of questions/concerns which were supplied by you, our readers, and CORD to Tom Gray, the Councilman's District Director.

We have been anxiously awaiting the response.

Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:54 AM Re-Sent:Thursday, January 3, 2008 4:11 PM

Dear Tom

Please find two attachments.

These were prepared not long after the CGNA meeting which Bill Stein attended back in September.

At the time, the CGNA was interested in having him come back and answer some questions more specifically than he was able to do that evening.

CORD reached out to the neighborhood. We passed these on to the CGNA. The attached letter is self explanatory as are the questions.

Although we greatly appreciate Mr Stein's offer to sit with us at your office, rather than presenting these questions, some of which he may not be able to answer on the spot, to Mr Stein at a meeting, perhaps you would be willing to pass these on to him and have him get back to you with his responses.

The one question that is not included on this list is---

"What did Councilman DeBlasio mean when he announced at the CGNA Landmarking Forum that Mr Stein had "already agreed to come down a floor"? Since the neighborhood has never seen a building plan of the actual building how shall we understand that exactly?"

Hopefully, Mr Stein's responses will address that as well.

Thank you, CORD

The following is the cover letter presented with the questions:

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
October 11, 2007

Dear Mr. Stein,
Attached please find a list of questions from Carroll Gardens community members who reside in the area surrounding your project at 360 Smith Street .

As you are well aware, the very limited information that we have been able to garner regarding the proposed building's specifics, has made many of the residents upset, uncomfortable, resentful and defensive.

The attached list is representative of not only their questions and concerns, but their feelings. CORD, The Coalition for Respectful Development, a neighborhood group, has made a promise to each person who wanted to contribute a question or relate a concern, that their queries would be expressed.

We deliberately did not edit any of the questions because of that promise.

We are extremely appreciative of the fact that you are willing to listen to us. We know very well that you are not obligated to do so. We hope that you will answer each and every question.

Perhaps, once answered, your new neighbors will find many of their concerns unfounded, fears allayed. Perhaps, once our feelings are expressed, you will find yourself willing to compromise on things you may have not previously considered. At the very least, once accurate, detailed information is received and exchanged, we will all have a clearer understanding of what to expect pre, during and post construction, its impact on our homes and daily lives.

We, at CORD, would like to thank you for taking the time to hear us. We look forward to your response. CO RD

Here is the complete list of questions submitted:

"--Is there a scale model? Would he be willing to present it?

--Why is the �heavy metal� version of the building still on the Scarano website? What exactly is he building?

--What does the current approved plan look like? How does it differ from the drawing shown at the last cgna meeting?

--As long as the developer has purposefully chosen to keep the design plan secret from the community, while simultaneously claiming to have a real interest in their input, why does he choose to aggravate and confuse by allowing the original design to remain on the website of the architect? Can't he request that it be removed? Is it still there because it is what will be built?

--Is Robert Scarano still the architect of the project or is the �new� design done by someone else?

--Why were there no renderings presented of the Smith Street side or the back side of the �L�? Depending on where we live, we must deal with the whole thing, not just the front.

--Given the fact that the subway tunnel is so close to the surface of your site, and your architect's abundance of halted projects, some of which are for damage to surrounding properties, which companies have you employed as contractors, engineers and construction workers? As daily passengers on the F & G trains, as well as residents of the community, we wish to educate ourselves as to their safety records and professional reputations.

--Why would the developer wish to mess up Carroll Gardens ?

--As an attendee at the meeting when the drawing was displayed, and as a NY/ Miami area snowbird, the tall portion of the building looks much more like the house of detention on Atlantic Avenue than anything in South Beach, Miami . Can't that part be made to look more like the historic buildings in Carroll Gardens ?

--Why was the building number on the old District Office 15 building (now the school) changed from 360 Smith to 342 Smith St ?

--What is the expected start date?

--How long is the construction expected to take?

--Will the 2 Place roadway be closed at any time during the construction?

--Will additional parking spaces on 2 Place be lost during the construction to make room for equipment, dumpsters, etc? How about after construction? Will 2 Place keep the same number of parking spaces on your side of the street that are currently available to us now?

--What plan is in place to provide for the safety of pedestrians, subway riders and especially the scores of school children who will have to pass the construction site on a daily basis?

--Traffic is already a horror where 3^rd Street , Smith Street and 2 Place meet�what plan does the developer have to ease that congestion while his construction activity is added to the mix?

--Will the developer provide three or four residents on Second Place with a phone number where he can be reached immediately in the event of the development an unsafe situation/condition?

-- Will there be personnel on site specifically to maintain safety?

--Will there be netting placed around the building as it goes up?

--What other measures will be taken to keep the area as �particle free� as possible?

--Will the use of heavy machinery halt during the hours when the �child traffic� is heaviest? (Ideally, 8:15-8:45 AM and 2:50-3:30 PM)

-- Will the developer be responsible for alerting the correct city agencies so that the services needed, that he is not required to provide, will be requested before a potentially dangerous situation arises? (example, crossing guards, traffic control, additional traffic lights and/or crosswalks added to accommodate the kids, etc)

--What, if anything is the developer prepared to do to make the much smaller Second Street subway entrance more accessible to the handicapped, elderly and moms with baby carriages during the construction?

--Will the developer be providing personnel at the 2 Street subway entrance in order to maintain control of the rush hour crowds and insure their safety?

--What is the expected length of time that the 2 Pl subway entrance will be closed?

--Why is it necessary to close that entrance at all?

--Does the developer anticipate any situation arising during his construction which will necessitate the closure of the Second Street subway entrance as well as 2 Pl?

--Will the finished 2 Pl subway entrance be changed/reconfigured/relocated/increased or reduced from its current size in any way?

--What will the new 2Pl entrance ultimately look like?

--Will the newsstand return?

--How much of the plaza will be eaten up by the structure?

--Will there be a �tunnel� leading to the new 2 place subway entrance?

--How much of the plaza (in square footage) will remain open?

--Will the plaza be landscaped or fenced off? Will it include seating? Will all of the plaza (not just the path to the subway entrance) remain as an open, accessible, welcoming place for the entire community?

--What will happen to the trees at the subway plaza?

--If taken down, will they be replaced with mature trees of close or equal size or tree �sticks�?

--Is the developer really willing to deal with thousands of disgruntled residents?

--Will the building be built upon a concrete �slab�?

--How thick will that slab be?

--What are the final finished roof heights for each level of the building on 2 Place and Smith Street ?

--What are the locations of each egress?

--How high will the garage wall be at the end of 2 Place?

--Will there be commercial space? How many square feet? Where will it be? What type?

--Will parking be made available within the new building to accommodate the retail/commercial space patrons/workers?

--What type of materials will be used on the building's exterior?

--What is the type and location of the ventilation system for the garage?

--What type of fire suppression system is being used?

--Will there be cell phone towers? If yes, at what specific locations?

--Does the developer have any regard for the nearby residents and the impact his building will have on their lives and homes?

--Where will all of the garbage be stored before being placed out for pickup?

--Where will all of the trash be put out for pick up? Will it be lined up along 2 Place?

--Will there be noisy air conditioning equipment? Where will the a/c units be located? Will they be enclosed? If so,how?

--What type of light trespassing can be expected? Will there be windows facing the 2 Pl back yards? Will there be balconies facing the 2 Pl back yards? Will there be recreational space atop the garage? Playground? Pool?

--Aren't the recreational areas required to be lit all night? What type of lighting/wattage will be used? Please specify the types and locations of all lighting fixtures in the design.

--The height and sheer bulk of your building will certainly deprive many surrounding homes and gardens of much needed and loved sunlight. Where is your sense of respect for the homes of others?

--Will the apartments be offered as condos, coops or rental units?

--What is the breakdown of the sizes of the apartments? How many are studios, 1 bedroom, etc.

--Will there be any 3 and/or 4 bedroom units?

--How many total units will there be? What is the price category�luxury, market rate? What percentage, if any, will be offered as affordable? What will the price range be to purchase or rent?

--Given the current glut of two bedroom condos on the market, don't you feel your development will become no more than a revolving door of transient renters? How do you justify this as a benefit to our community when any honest realtor will tell you that that particular situation actually lowers the value of the surrounding properties?

--How is the developer planning to handle the unavoidable rat problem that we will all be left to deal with?

--Is the developer willing to provide the multiple rat bait traps that all of our homes on Smith Street , 2^nd Street , 3^rd Street and 2 Place will need in place before he begins to make holes in the ground?

--Would the developer respect a City Council Resolution granting an interim moratorium in Carroll Gardens ?

--CORD asks if the developer would be willing to comply with the following:

--To build his apartment house to conform with all aspects of R6b contextual zoning

--To build his apartment house in a style similar to and in character with our neighborhood---something that would be deemed acceptable if the street it will be occupying had already attained landmark status

--To include some three and four bedroom units so that the building will truly be more family-oriented and a stabilizing factor in the neighborhood.

--To leave the subway plaza, as is, open and free of any buildings overhanging it in any manner"

To be continued...

CORD

CARROLL GARDENS is not only exhibiting an unprecedented amount of development, it is also exhibiting a great deal of spirit, enthusiasm and a wonderfully high level of interest in community affairs. No matter which side of the fence you choose to stand on, it has always been and continues to remain a place of intense passion.

CORD is interested in your stories of what makes Carroll Gardens special to you.......your memories, your experiences here.We wish to display and celebrate that depth of passion, that thoughtful interest . We want you to share the stories of the neighborhood you found, what has changed since then and what you see and/or wish for the future.

Here is the first of what we hope will be many stories. This was sent to us today ..... CORD

"I am a third generation Carroll Gardens resident. Both of my parents and both sets of grandparents were born and raised here.

It is difficult for me to walk down almost any street in Carroll Gardens and not have some familiarity with at least one house. Whether it was the home of a family member or a childhood friend of mine, or perhaps it was the home of one of my sisters' or parents' or cousins' friends. At one time or another, I had walked through its doors, climbed its stair and took a peek out the window to see if and how the view differed from my own......story in full at CG CORD newsletter......click here to sign up

by, GPS, Sackett Street, Carroll Gardens

We want to encourage everyone to contribute to this newsletter. Share your essays, short stories, poems, artwork, memories, maybe even a photo that means Carroll Gardens to you. Send it via email to cgcord@gmail.com

Each submission should reflect an aspect of having lived in, living in, leaving or returning to Carroll Gardens. Whether you are new here, or a "lifer",whether you lived here long ago, just arrived, or came back here after an absence, we would love to hear your impressions, your memories, your stories about why our little place is so special to you. CORD
(This story, in full, is also featured at Gowanus Lounge today!)

Our Letter Of Appreciation

This is a letter of appreciation to the POLS who have been willing to listen to our concerns and respond to us and who propose immediate, tangible remedies for our current, dire overdevelopment and out of context building situation here in our beloved Carroll Gardens.
We have also, of course, sent it to them personally.

From: CG CORD cgcord@gmail.com
Sent: Monday January 14, 2008 11:07 PM
To: Open Letter
Subject: Thank YOU!

CORD appreciates your regard and respect for our desire to preserve the aesthetics of our Carroll Gardens neighborhood.

It is true there are many areas that need attention and call for new development. Our wish is that it would be considered by all involved as an opportunity to enhance the charm of our little enclave.

We would all gain if respect were given to contextual design.

It is our hope that you will continue with your support and help us in every way possible. It is with appreciation that we close.

Sincerely,

CORD

We've Got Mail!!

If you look at our December 13 post below you will see that we asked our readers to cut and paste a letter to Borough president Marty Markowitz...

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.... you may want to consider taking the time to send this letter to our Borough President, Marty Markowitz........

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
Thank you.
CORD

January 13, 2008

CORD is very happy to report that late last week we got mail! This is the second time the Borough President has addressed our concerns here in Carroll Gardens and his Deputy Director of Planning and Development, Mr. Richard Bearak, has been most helpful to us in so many aspects.

Below is a portion of the letter the Borough President sent to Commissioner Burden and the letter Mr. Bearak wrote to Cord on behalf of the Borough President. The full letters and a third letter from Assemblywoman Joan Millman to Commissioner Burden can all be found at our newsletter. To read and/or subscribe it's easy! Click on this link and enter your email address. Thank you!
CORD

January 2, 2008
Amanda M. Burden Chair

City Planning Commission 22 Reade Street

New York, New York 10007

Dear Commissioner Burden:

Thank you for your response, dated October 25, 2007, to my letter dated September 26, 2007. As we are about to embrace the new year I thought that it would be appropriate for you to share your expectations of your agency's ongoing efforts in addressing out-of-context construction while redirecting development to appropriate corridors. In addition, I would like to know whether it might be feasible to embrace new zoning initiatives that have been requested for Bedford-Stuyvesant North in Community District 3, Carroll Gardens in Community District 6 and Crown Heights in both Community Districts 8 and 9.

As for Carroll Gardens, the residents have been quite vocal in their disappointment in the lack of action to stop out-of-context development. In addition to seeking a rezoning, they requested a moratorium and began consideration for becoming designated as an historic district. Some have even questioned the century-old legislation that resulted in the "Place" streets meeting the defmition of a wide street for zoning purposes.....
(edit)

The "Place" streets in Carroll Gardens, while physically narrow, actually have an official city mapped width of 116' -10 12" and include the front gardens of the buildings along the blocks. The city's Zoning Resolution allows buildings on defined wide streets to be bigger and taller than on narrow streets such as Carroll and President Streets. The premium right to develop properties fronting First, Second, Third and Fourth Places between Henry and Smith Streets has not only resulted in the proposal at Smith and Second, but also led to a substantial number of building enlargement applications for more than 600 properties along physically narrow streets that are termed as wide streets.....

(edit)...If your staff has any questions, please have them contact Mr. Richard Bearak, my deputy director for Planning and Development, at (7I8) 802-4057. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, Marty Markowitz-

Following are excerpts of the letter from Mr. Richard Bearak to CORD:

"Borough President Marty Markowitz has requested that I respond on his behalf to your recent e-mail in regard to the reply that the borough president received from City Planning Commission Chair Amanda M. Burden, dated October 25, 2007, about overdevelopment expressed by the Carroll Gardens community.

"I have attached a copy of the borough president’s letter to Ms. Amanda Burden, dated December 26, 2007 citing some of the unique factors that make Carroll Gardens vulnerable for alteration of underutilized properties and buildings that are commonplace along the streets of this neighborhood. Marty has also requested an update regarding the status of the requested zoning initiative. When the borough president receives a reply from the Department of City Planning, I will contact you again....

(some text bites following): .......
"Marty supports you in your desire to preserve Carroll Gardens’ special neighborhood aesthetics and qualities. He believes that we can achieve such preservation while finding appropriate opportunities to direct growth........

"The borough president understands your frustration of living in a neighborhood that is experiencing construction at multiple locations. It is very evident to Marty that Carroll Gardens is experiencing a wave of construction not witnessed before. Whether it be developers constructing new buildings or neighbors expanding their homes, the borough president is aware that your neighborhood’s R6 rezoning does not restrict such construction. While Commissioner Burden welcomes Marty’s guidance in setting priorities, many communities throughout Brooklyn have similar concerns. The borough president will continue to communicate with Commissioner Burden with regards to your concerns........for this entire letter, and to see the Boro President's letter to Amanda Burden as well as a separate letter from Assemblywoman Joan Millman to Commissioner Burden.....

"Please do not hesitate to contact me again at the number listed below or via e-mail should you have further questions. Thank you for sharing your concerns with the borough president.

Sincerely,
Richard Bearak, AICP/RA
Deputy Director of Planning and Development
Brooklyn Borough President's Office
718-802-4057

From Assemblywoman Joan Millman to Commissioner Burden:

Dear Ms. Burden,

I understand that you have requested the guidance of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and other elected officials to identify
neighborhoods in Brooklyn that are in dire need of adjustments. I ask the Department of City Planning to regard Carroll Gardens as one such neighborhood that must be considered as an immediate priority for a rezoning study.

Carroll Gardens is a true Brownstone Community that is under enormous pressure from out-of-context development that threatens to destroy the very aspect that makes the neighborhood such a desirable place to live.....(edit)
I further request that once the study has begun all projects which would be inappropriate under the new zoning be halted until the study has been completed. Too often, irresponsible developers have rushed to complete projects before a neighborhood was rezoned with little regard for the needs of the community or the safety and welfare of the construction workers.....(edit)

Sincerely, Joan L. Millman
Member of Assembly

for these full letters....please see our newsletter (click here)!
CORD

"Where's The Bill?"
Brooklyn Paper 1/12/2008

Where's the Bill? Constituents wonder what DeBalsio's doing....in Iowa
By Mike McLaughlin The Brooklyn Paper

"You win some votes, you lose some votes. Constituents of Councilman Bill DeBlasio blasted the political animal for spending most of the past two weeks campaigning for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“I’d like to think that our council members are spending their time trying to solve city issues,” said Eric McClure, a member of Park Slope Neighbors, echoing a widespread sentiment...."
for more click here.....

Union-Sackett Streets Group Meeting: Saturday 1/12 11:30am C.G. Library

Union-Sackett Block Associations Meeting Tomorrow!
Martin Connor and Yvette Clarke are sending reps to this next meeting. Hope
you all can help make the turn out great...we need to show the politicians
that we mean business...please let your friends and families know...
Agenda Topics include:
1) Define structure, objectives and appoint officers for USBA
2) Discuss recent meeting with 340 Court Street Developer, Clarett, and next steps resulting from the meeting. ALL IDEAS WELCOME! Spread the word and bring your neighbors!
More INFO: http://union-sackett.blogspot.com
http://cgunion.wik.is Tel. 718-243-9138
The meeting is at the Carroll Gardens Library Saturday, January 12th 11:30 AM downstairs. The library is at the corner of Union and Clinton...

360 Smith...Nothing but Questions!

Our Councilman's Office has been saying that Mr. Stein, the 360 Smith Street developer, has offered to meet with us and discuss the plans for the building...again...

In the interest of giving Mr. Stein the ability to cover all of our issues, we have TWICE submitted the same series of questions/concerns which were supplied by you, our readers, and CORD to Tom Gray, the Councilman's District Director.

We have been anxiously awaiting the response.

Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:54 AM Re-Sent:Thursday, January 3, 2008 4:11 PM

Dear Tom

Please find two attachments.

These were prepared not long after the CGNA meeting which Bill Stein attended back in September.

At the time, the CGNA was interested in having him come back and answer some questions more specifically than he was able to do that evening.

CORD reached out to the neighborhood. We passed these on to the CGNA. The attached letter is self explanatory as are the questions.

Although we greatly appreciate Mr Stein's offer to sit with us at your office, rather than presenting these questions, some of which he may not be able to answer on the spot, to Mr Stein at a meeting, perhaps you would be willing to pass these on to him and have him get back to you with his responses.

The one question that is not included on this list is---

What did Councilman DeBlasio mean when he announced at the CGNA Landmarking Forum that Mr Stein had "already agreed to come down a floor"?

Hopefully, Mr Stein's responses will address that as well.

Thank you, CORD

The following is the cover letter presented with the questions:

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
October 11, 2007

Dear Mr. Stein,
Attached please find a list of questions from Carroll Gardens community members who reside in the area surrounding your project at 360 Smith Street.

As you are well aware, the very limited information that we have been able to garner regarding the proposed building’s specifics, has made many of the residents upset, uncomfortable, resentful and defensive.

The attached list is representative of not only their questions and concerns, but their feelings. CORD, The Coalition for Respectful Development, a neighborhood group, has made a promise to each person who wanted to contribute a question or relate a concern, that their queries would be expressed.

We deliberately did not edit any of the questions because of that promise.

We are extremely appreciative of the fact that you are willing to listen to us. We know very well that you are not obligated to do so. We hope that you will answer each and every question.

Perhaps, once answered, your new neighbors will find many of their concerns unfounded, fears allayed. Perhaps, once our feelings are expressed, you will find yourself willing to compromise on things you may have not previously considered. At the very least, once accurate, detailed information is received and exchanged, we will all have a clearer understanding of what to expect pre, during and post construction, its impact on our homes and daily lives.

We, at CORD, would like to thank you for taking the time to hear us. We look forward to your response. CORD

Dear Readers: There were 67 QUESTIONS submitted. Here is a tiny sample.

--What does the current approved plan look like? How does it differ from the drawing shown at the last CGNA meeting?

--Why is the “heavy metal” version of the building still on the Scarano website? What exactly is the building?

--What is the expected start date?

--What are the final finished roof heights for each level of the building on Second Place and Smith Street?

--How much of the Plaza will be eaten up by the structure?

--Will there be personnel on site specifically to maintain safety?

For the complete list go to the newsletter. Sign up here or on the link top right hand side of our blog.

Latest New Year's Events

The Democracy Wall is featured at News 12 in Brooklyn! See it at You Tube as well:

And see the latest stories at Gowanus Lounge:

"Check Out the News 12 Democracy Wall Story" and

"Carroll Gardeners Testy About Council Member's Iowa Foray"

And Found in Brooklyn:

"360 Smith Street and Democracy Wall in the News"

And Pardon Me for Asking:

"Bill DeBlasio: He is Not Your Neighborhood Politician"

And it's only January 4! CORD

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We here at C.O.R.D. have much to be happy about this year!

GL has given some impressive New Year's "grades":
Participatory Democracy Award, Genuine Version
#1)!! The Carroll Gardens Development Moratorium movement. It started with opposition to a single building and became a neighborhood-wide cause.
And:
Community Groups of the Year
#1)!! CORD. They are loud. They are insistent. They have made enemies. But good community groups are supposed to do all those things.
Furthermore:
News 12 has listed us as a Top Story in Brooklyn this weekend with the headline: "Wall turns into protest of Carroll Gardens development." Here is the link to the live feed.

(12/30/07) CARROLL GARDENS - Fliers, messages and paintings on a wall have become a visual protest of a planned Carroll Gardens condominium building. The Carroll Gardens Coalition to Respectfully Develop, along with residents, has turned a wall surrounding a lot at 360 Smith St. into an anti-overdevelopment campaign. Newspaper articles and other items are posted at the site of a future 70-foot building.....

Furthermore: F.I.B. is featuring a story on C.O.R.D., the Democracy Wall interview, and 360 Smith street 12/31/2007.