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As you may recall, IBEC, the developer behind the State Renaissance Court, recently floated the idea of building six multi-million-dollar new townhomes on an empty lot they still own on State Street between Hoyt and Bond; while some people question the viability of the high-end project in this market, the neighbors are generally happy with the use for the space. But the developer also owns a second empty lot on that block, on the corner of Hoyt, and its plans for it aren’t sitting as well with some homeowners in the community. According to a letter we received, the developer is apparently close to doing a deal with Brooklyn Friends School, which wants to build a five-story, 55,000-square-foot academic building on the site. In order to do this, however, IBEC needs New York State to void the restrictions it placed on the property when it sold the land to IBEC in 2004. As part of that deal, lots along State Street were to be low-rise residential. Here’s how the opposition put it:

A school won’t have the positive impact that housing will on a neighborhood likes ours, rebuilding after years of blight and hemmed in by downtown Brooklyn and Atlantic Avenue to the north and south, and the jail and courts to the west. Unlike a nonprofit private school, residents pay property taxes that support our public schools. Residents patronize local businesses morning and evening, weekdays and weekends, summer and winter. They help keep the street safe at night. Homes make a neighborhood more cohesive and more desirable.

The group thinks that one of the nearby lots on Schermerhorn Street would be more appropriate. Do you agree? The group is reachable at keepstatestreetresidential@gmail.com.
Six More New Brownstones for State Street? [Brownstoner]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Do the IBEC developers own or control the “empty lot” at Hoyt and Schermerhorn (actually now used as a surface parking lot)? I thought this was part of the developments being managed by the group that did the 14 townhouses and the new building with the ballet school?

  2. Dear Heskel,

    Do not confuse YOUR interest in making quick money with our desire to grow and live in this neighborhood for the long term. You have made it really clear that you are here to make as much money as you possibly can with a complete disregard to the local folks. Do not try to associate us with your own motives. We bought because we love this neighborhood and because we want to see it grow in a healthy and constructive way.

    If you are so concerned about the area, why don’t you complete phase two of your construction project and build the townhouses that you were supposed to build in the first place on all of State St?

  3. The neighborhood has definetely improved with all the new townhouses and local business. Nobody is saying the contrary. Every resident enjoys it.

    What we dont want is more traffic accidents (2 deaths already at the corner or Atlantic and Hoyt), and more car honking at the cross of state and hoyt due to doubel parking. I dont believe that traffic jam and noise will make the area more pleasant. Lastly, State street has a lot of new owners that bought at the highs so the issue is not profit to be made here but rather a question of maintaining the quality of life.