Closing Bell: Another Hearing Set for Ace Hotel in Downtown Brooklyn
The question of a variance for the planned 13-story Ace Hotel at Bond and Schermerhorn streets moves on to the Board of Standards and Appeals next week, according to a public agenda posted on the BSA’s website. At issue is whether developer GFI Capital can build 50,000 square feet larger than as-of-right zoning allows, enough…
The question of a variance for the planned 13-story Ace Hotel at Bond and Schermerhorn streets moves on to the Board of Standards and Appeals next week, according to a public agenda posted on the BSA’s website. At issue is whether developer GFI Capital can build 50,000 square feet larger than as-of-right zoning allows, enough room for 285 hotel rooms instead of only 169.
Community Board 2’s full board voted against the variance last November, because they were concerned about traffic on Bond Street and the hotel’s lack of parking. Currently, the property is a big parking lot at 51-63 Bond Street, or 252-270 Schermerhorn Street, pictured above.
The hearing will take place Tuesday, February 10, at 1 pm at Spector Hall at 22 Reade Street in Manhattan. Anyone can attend and testify or file notarized objection forms with BSA via email (submit@bsa.nyc.gov), mail, or in person.
Ace Hotel Coverage [Brownstoner]
Photo by Google Maps via NYY
more importantly – will i be able to get a lamb burger and thrice fried chips here?>
Ace Hotels are generally well designed with beautiful architecture. And good food. We should welcome them to our neighborhood.
The concern about parking raised by a couple people at the last hearing especially doesn’t make sense. Tourists visiting New York don’t drive. And anyway there’s a huge parking surplus in downtown, especially at night, which will continue even with the loss of that lot and the one across the street.
Derp, why does a hotel need parking? Manhattan hotels seem to do just fine with offsite valet.
We sent in a notarized form supporting the project, even though we would like the hotel entrance to be on Schermerhorn. We figure that the developer (architect and hopefully ACE Hotel) are likely to be better than most alternatives like a Kaufman designed hotel. It is inevitable that Bond Street gets built up and dense, and we are willing to support groups, such as GFI and Ace, that have repeatedly developed sites that add to the respective neighborhoods.
This is NYC – the place where anyone will complain about anything. The same argument – too much traffic – was made about the Barclays Center, and guess what, the concern never materialized. Most people take the subway.
Beside, the spot is currently a PARKING LOT, which means that all cars there are currently driven. So this is just another NIMBY argument. Build the hotel. Make downtown more upscale, which it desperately needs. Most people will take the subway. And an eyesore, a nasty parking lot, will go the way of the Dodo.
Anyone familiar with Bond Street between State and Schermerhorn should realize that adding a hotel entrance does not make sense. It is a narrow crowded street that is often blocked by traffic. I have witnessed at least two side-view mirrors getting clipped by trucks as they try to squeeze down that street. Schermerhorn is significantly wider and much more appropriate. Join us on February 10th to support the neighborhoods objections.