With the City Council’s approval of new zoning for Clinton Hill and Fort Greene yesterday, any project underway that had yet to complete its foundation as of 12:01 am yesterday morning must conform to the new set of building laws. The highest profile development that failed to meet the deadline was 163 Washington Avenue, the 18-story tower planned for the through-lot just north of Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. (The top photo shows the worksite at 4 pm on Tuesday as the deadline loomed.) By the end of the day yesterday, the Department of Buildings had already issued a Stop Work Order for the site. Area residents had joined forces with Councilmember Letitia James to try persuade the developer to put up a lower building with an affordable housing component; the overtures were rejected and now (presumably) the developer, GLC Group, will try to convince the Board of Standards and Appeals that its principals will have to sell their houses in the Hamptons if they’re prevented from building their tower as proposed. Does anyone else know of other projects in the area that are impacted by this? Is there one on Grand near the BQE perhaps?
Race Against Clock at 163 Washington [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
163 Washington: The Digging Has Begun [Brownstoner] DOB
Rally at 163 Washington for Shorter Building [Brownstoner]
Tower Plans for Washington Ave Ruffling Feathers [Brownstoner]