Two Trees isn’t wasting any time putting up its new rental next to the future home of Trader Joe’s on Atlantic Avenue. It’s not clear whether the City Council has officially approved the building at 182 Atlantic Avenue, which is slated to rise 10 feet higher than what’s allowed in the Cobble Hill Historic District, but last week the DOB issued a permit for a six-story building. Even if Two Trees is waiting for the Council’s OK on those last 10 feet, though, the rest of the development (which is supposed to look like the rendering on the jump, per Curbed) is going up very quickly. At the same time, no work has been done on the Trader Joe’s building, a state of affairs that’s not sitting well with Lost City. The blog points out that Two Trees argued the new rental should be green-lighted because the developer was going to be a worthy custodian of the landmark former bank/future supermarket:

For the past couple weeks, the new structure has been a hive of activity, quickly rising floor by floor. Meanwhile, at the future home of Trader Joe’s: tumbleweeds. No action since the interior was gutted months ago. Apparently, Two Trees has its priorities, and they’re the exact opposite of the wants of the neighborhood, which doesn’t crave the rental and is longing for the supermarket.

Of course, for all we know, the hold-up in renovating the bank building has to do with Trader Joe’s and not Two Trees. Any insider perspectives?
Update: We’ve heard from Councilman de Blasio’s office that the Council did not approve Two Trees’ application to build 10 feet higher than what’s allowed in the Cobble Hill Historic District. The Council sent the proposal back to the Planning Commission, and the plans were subsequently approved at 50 feet, conforming to the district’s height limitations.
10 Feet for Trader Joe’s Building Preservation: A Fair Trade? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Will Two Trees Proposal for Atlantic Ave. Get Chopped? [Brownstoner]
Skewed Priorities [Lost City]
Does Walentas’ Size Matter on Atlantic Ave.? [Curbed]