Carroll Gardens Residents Debate Zoning Amendment
Last night the Department of City Planning held a hearing for its proposed zoning text amendment in Carroll Gardens, a change that will limit the size of new developments and additions on several blocks in the neighborhood. Pardon Me For Asking attended the meeting and reports that many residents spoke passionately about the zoning amendment….
Last night the Department of City Planning held a hearing for its proposed zoning text amendment in Carroll Gardens, a change that will limit the size of new developments and additions on several blocks in the neighborhood. Pardon Me For Asking attended the meeting and reports that many residents spoke passionately about the zoning amendment. Those in favor of it say it’ll preserve Carroll Gardens’ character by disallowing out-of-context structures to rise on the blocks in question. Some Carroll Gardeners, however, testified against the amendment last night, according to Gowanus Lounge, saying there wasn’t enough notice about the zoning change, thus “seeming to lay the groundwork for a legal challenge.”
Carroll Gardens Narrow Streets Get Their Hearing [GL]
Carroll Gardens Testifies In Front Of City Planning [PMFA]
Drawing from PMFA.
I think that one of the problems that many of us that actually live in and around CG is that the congestion of larger buildings in the neighborhood will only put more stress on an already over crowded subway system. Having to watch one or two trains pass by in the morning is bad enough as it is. Adding large condos right off the F is only going to make matters worse.
Carroll Gardens has lasted for years as an area in which buildings have not passed five or six stories. This zoning proposal shouldn’t be an issue… if you care about Brooklyn, than you want the preserve its beauty; if you don’t you’re selfish and shouldn’t be living here. Therefor the proposed zoning is what this neighborhood needs… the only problem is it may be too late for some places.
Armchairwarrior makes the best point of all in this:
“Density is good for the environment.”
This FACT (which no expert disputes) really shows how inconsistent the beliefs and practices are of the limousine liberals of Brooklyn. They’re green but they own a car. They say they embrace urban city living but oppose density.
Which is it?? Figure it out, people. Are you urbanites or suburbanites?
As for height, who ever notices it on a narrow street? I don’t. I notice two things only: bad design, and buildings that jut out too far in front of other nearby buildings. Buildings should be even with each other in front and not be built in a way that makes the sidewalk more narrow in spots.
people who purpose this should just move to suburbia.
density is good for the environment. please don’t change the rules to suit your suburban lifestyles.
11:24 here
the point is less of competing with Manhattan than it is one of allowing BK the some of the same opportunities for growth and unique development as is easily seen in Manhattan.
Obviously BK is its own animal, and should be… but when i see a lot of the cool projects and growth in soho, etc… it makes me sad to know that BK wont be getting those opportunities for obstinacy.
A Brooklyn where you can find GOOD top paying jobs of competitive nature in high volume downtown would be a boon to all. Having to commute to Manhattan for the cream of the crop employment opportunities is no boon.
The juvinile aspect im not really intrested in. But having increased opportunities inside BK through PROPER development (not crap projects) can only help the boro prosper alongside others.
This is a single metropolis, which is very much intergrated, brooklyn’s growth wouldnt inhibit any others necesarily… however allowing for the distribution of economic and residential premium districts to go beyond simply manhatten and into BK would also allow for a better city for all.
I’m all for restrictions on these garden blocks. More should be landmarked. But I don’t think 360 Smith project should be so controversial or some of the other buildings.
Greater density in the neighborhood – especially where can fit in is appropriate.
P.S’ – I find statements like this silly
“would LOVE to see BK become a true rival to Manhattan ” — This is one great city and should plan and develop as one. Why rivalry and competition from one boro to another?
Or for that matter, one neighborhood to another which seems to be so much of the juvenile dialog on this site.
a few comments to 11:24
zoning requirements say nothing whatsoever about quality of building – only use, bulk, open space, etc. What you’re talking about is a design review committee. Be careful what you wish for
why exactly do we need a Brooklyn that rivals Manhattan?
Carroll Gardens is a stone’s throw from Metrotech? you’ve got a mighty strong arm, my friend
Its this sort of protectionist elitist BS that keeps communities from developing.
Im all for certain types and degrees of zoning restrictions, especially ones that push new projects to have some degree of harmony with their areas… However the ORIGNIAL zoning allowed for larger buildings, and was intended so, BK shouldn’t hold itself back from growing at the very least in the way originally allowed.
This whole thing is just a vain attempt by people i wont name to preserve their egos, or to keep out other people. In the end it just hurts the area. If they wanted to keep the area up to par, they could push for zoning requirements that focussed on the QUALITY of building, not just reducing its size.
Similar behavior can be found in france and other such places… where the living conditions are even tighter and more expensive than NY, as a result of silly feet in the sand behavior.
Not only is this the US, this is NY where we EMBRACE change and GROWTH. Please note… not ALL change and growth is good or desirable… but knee-jerk protectionism is also not acceptable.
In all honesty, i would LOVE to see BK become a true rival to Manhattan as it once was, with a REAL downtown and real large accessible living quarters in close proximity, we already have very well developed train service to support it, and all we need is to keep the Luddites from grounding everything in sight.
im not proposing building a skyscrapper condo in freaking sunset park, but CG? for christ sakes its a stone throw from metro-tech, etc…
Time to grow up, and become greater.
Funny, I was one of the speakers yesterday, but I don’t remember Bob of Gowanus Lounge being there.