The down-zoning movement is gaining momentum in Carroll Gardens, reports Brooklyn Papers, where many residents want to see a 50-foot height restriction imposed on the Brownstone neighborhood. The highest-profile offender? The six-story 11 Second Place which we discussed back in October. Our view then was that we didn’t like the height but thought that otherwise the building looked nicer than most new developments in Brooklyn these days. Another development, 151 Carroll Street, is rising to a height of 58-feet on a site that used to house a one-story parking garage. No one wants to freeze growth, but when you are dealing with a neighborhood that is largely two- or three-story buildings, you need some kind of height cap to preserve integrity, says Simeon Bankoff of the Historic Districts Council. Some people obviously like the new digs on Second Place: The first five condos at 11 Second Place reportedly sold on their first day on the market; the last few sold quickly this fall.
It’s Gettin’ Ugly [Brooklyn Papers]
Carroll Gardens Down-Zoning? [The Real Estate]