Yesterday the Board of Standards and Appeals ruled that the building permit for Williamsburg’s infamous Finger Building, aka 144 North 8th Street, was valid and that construction on the project should be allowed to resume. The ruling gave the go-ahead for construction provided it doesn’t violate the SWO prohibiting it to rise beyond its present height, 10 stories (developer Mendel Brach wants to build 16 stories). The BSA wouldn’t give its blessing beyond 10 stories because of outstanding litigation aimed at Brach and architect Robert Scarano charging they illegally plan to use rooftop space from neighborhood buildings in their calculations for the Finger’s open space requirements. The implications of the ruling seem to be that the city is going to let the building stand at 10 stories no matter what (despite urgings from community members that it be chopped to half its size to comply with the area’s current zoning), and that Brach will be allowed to build to 16 stories if he wins the lawsuit that’s been brought against him. Unsurprisingly, Finger foes weren’t thrilled with the decision. An email sent out by neighborhood activist Philip DePaolo said the BSA based its ruling on a letter from the DOB that wasn’t signed by Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Magdi Mossad and that the city should have waited for the open space issues to be hashed out in court. Our take? The BSA is known for ruling with city agencies oh, basically all the time, so the decision isn’t shocking given that the DOB green-lighted the development. DePaolo ends his email by noting that the fight is not over! We bet it isn’t.
CB1 Meeting: Finger Fireworks, Sewage and Bike Racks [Brownstoner]
Amputation in Finger’s Future? [Brownstoner]
Developer of Finger Building Denied by Judge [Brownstoner]