At a neighborhood meeting last night, developer William Stein tried to win the hearts and minds of Carroll Gardeners—or, at least, their blessing for his 70-foot building at 360 Smith Street. Stein unveiled new renderings for the condo that doesn’t scale back its height (which has been the main sticking point for residents, and led to calls for a building moratorium on all new construction over 50 feet) but attempts to make the building more contextual. Per a tipster who was in attendance:

The rendering he presented would fit in better. More rhythm to the facade and would not fight with the brownstones around so much. It retains the plaza. Some people thought it was a bit “South Beach”. It reminded me a bit of a certain era of two-tone Art Deco Grand Concourse buildings in the Bronx. But with the most height and bulk in a sort of tower (well, only 70 feet) on the corner of Smith and 2nd…the height is staggered as it moves away from the corner.

Stein wouldn’t let photographs of the renderings to be taken because he said the design wasn’t yet final. According to Pardon Me for Asking’s report on the meeting, it was all very vague and Stein was a master of not committing himself to anything. Since Stein’s latest design still rises 70 feet, we’re betting that his dealings with the angry Carroll Gardenens crew are far from over.
Mr.Stein’s Show-And-Tell In Carroll Gardens [Pardon Me for Asking]
Calls for Reining in Development at Carroll Gardens Meeting [Brownstoner]