“We fought to get this area contextually zoned,” said CB6′s Landmarks Committee Chair Robert Levine. “I don’t see a need for a sixth floor.” And so the design for that architect Shell Shapiro wanted to build for his two sons was rejected by the community board. The Shapiros tried to sell the committee a sob story about how the irregular shape of the 213-square-foot lot at 638 President Street between 4th and 5th Avenues created unusually difficult conditions that only addition height and bulk on the building could compensate for. Sounds to us like someone overpaid for a property and now wants the community board to bail him out. Of course, in the end, the community board vote is merely advisory and the way the BSA has been handing out gifts to developers recently, there’s no reason to think it’ll carry much weight.
CB6 Jeers 6-Story Conversion on President [Park Slope Courier] GMAP