Development Watch: 154 1/2 Washington Avenue

Across the street from 163 Washington Avenue, a three-story addition to an existing two-story building is going up, courtesy of Scarano Architects. But really this is just a new building disguised in Alt-1 clothing. Here's the description of work from the DOB app: "Proposed addition of new three (3) stories & alteration of existing two (2) stories building, including the demolition & installation of exterior and interior bearing and non-bearing partitions, fixtures, finishes, cabinetry & casework, including the complete repiping of the building." Can't have been a whole lot left when all that demo was done, but getting approval for an "Alteration" is much easier than for a "New Building" and if Scarano's known for anything, it's for gaming the DOB system. GMAP P*Shark DOB

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I have no particular love for Scarano, but I wouldn't say he's "gaming the system". There's a well established precedent that an Alt can be filed as long as foundation and some (can't remember the #) percentage of exterior walls remain.

Posted by: Troy McClure at August 17, 2009 3:11 PM

50% of the existing exterior must remain for it to be considered a renovation. Gene Kaufman, Hot Karl and others at this level all regularly practice this type of "renovation" work.

Posted by: FloatingWorld at August 17, 2009 3:18 PM

the google maps streetview shows there wasn't much of anything left after they demolished the old building:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=163+Washington+Avenue,+brooklyn+ny&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.335236,55.634766&ie=UTF8&ll=40.693928,-73.966992&spn=0.000472,0.000849&t=h&z=20&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=40.694018,-73.967012&panoid=oMXjPZ7hN2zWQQ3kZDiNYg&cbp=12,275.28,,0,-7.65

Posted by: aishling at August 17, 2009 3:51 PM

The last building was truely an eyesore, too beaten up and misused to be repaired or renovated.

Posted by: FloatingWorld at August 17, 2009 5:07 PM

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August 17, 2009

Development Watch: 154 1/2 Washington Avenue

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