Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight
We only just found about about this, probably because the organizers don’t want the Brownstoner crowd showing up, but there’s a meeting being held tonight about CNR Healthcare’s proposal to get a special upzoning of a block of Lefferts Place to enable them to build an outsized supportive services facility on the otherwise residential block….
We only just found about about this, probably because the organizers don’t want the Brownstoner crowd showing up, but there’s a meeting being held tonight about CNR Healthcare’s proposal to get a special upzoning of a block of Lefferts Place to enable them to build an outsized supportive services facility on the otherwise residential block. There’s a great deal of opposition from people who own homes on the neighboring two blocks. As we reported back in July, the company has shown an unwillingness to work with residents to find a more palatable solution, preferring instead to try to ram the rezoning down their throats. More than 200 people have signed the petition against the upzoning. The meeting takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at the senior center at 966 Fulton Street between Grand and Cambridge.
DBD, I don’t have a dog in this fight other than a desire to have the facts accurately presented. None of my comments above express an opinion on the project.
bkln, Lincoln road is in a different (and yes nice) neighborhood – Prospect Lefferts Gardens – this is Lefferts Place in Clinton Hill.
bklyn20, I think you’re extremely confused about where we’re talking about. This is Clinton Hill, not Flatbush.
This is an exquisite neighborhood. I have a good friend who owns and grew up nearby, on Lincoln Road. When I visit, everyone seemed to know everyone, but in a positive way — I smiled at anyone looking my way and they all smiled right back. And didn’t this area — maybe even Lincoln Road — win “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” this year? If this area is re-zoned, lord knows what !”#* will get built given the current economy.
Every citizen of New York City has a dog in every zoning decision made here. Decisions should be made city wide or block by block this will turn into Houston. You have made a good case for retaining the R6B and I support you, but we all have a dog in the fight, no single block should decide for themselves.
G Man, the community is against the rezoning of all or part of Lefferts Place. We do not support a variance of any sought as well. The members of the Lefferts Place Civic Association, which is the largest block association in southeastern Clinton Hill, voted unanimously against the CNR proposal. The other two neighboring block associations did the same. Homewoner, renters and seniors who are part of the Lefferts Place community are against the proposed development. Lefferts is a historic residential neigborhood (R6B) and a project of this size and scope is highly inappropriate for this neighborhood. There are plenty of vacant lots on both Fulton and Atlantic Aves (already zoned R7A) that is far more suitable. Question: what dog do you have in this fight? Just curious.
Having spoken to the attorneys for CNR, an upzone for the entire block is exactly what CNR is looking to do. They do not qualify for a variance as they need to prove hardship. There is not hardship here.
Well, 1842, I guess we will all know later tonight. I stand by my earlier comment.
Lefferts Place has three large and contiguous development lots that are of great concern to the community: 70 Lefferts Place (65’ x 120’), 86 Lefferts Place (165’ x 119’) and 96 Lefferts Place (58’ x 123’). Since Lefferts Place was excluded from the initial designation of the Clinton Hill Historic District in 1981, the street has become a favorite and frequent target of developers.
Lefferts Place is a small residential enclave that consists of three tree-lined blocks in the southeastern corner of Clinton Hill. Known for its architectural diversity and beauty, the streetscape is mostly comprised of Italianate, Greek Revival, Romanesque, Queen Anne and 19th & 20th Century townhouses and villas. Of the original freestanding suburban villas in Clinton Hill, very few remain. One rare free standing Italianate villa, the James W. Elwell House (c. 1854), located at 70 Lefferts Place, is a designated NYC landmark. In addition to the Elwell House, there is a two-story Greek Revival residence at 96 Lefferts Place that dates to as early as 1853.  Lefferts Place is part of the Clinton Hill South Historic District as designated by the National Registry of Historic Places and is included in the proposed expansion of the Clinton Hill Historic District. Many of us who reside on Lefferts Place were drawn to this section of Clinton Hill because of its small community feel and significant architectural history. As such, residents of Lefferts Place have become over the years some of the strongest and most outspoken advocates for historic preservation and low-density development in Clinton Hill.