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October 27, 2009

97 St. Marks Avenue Update

97-St-Marks-102609.jpg
It's been about a month since we broke the news about the new owner at 97 St. Marks Avenue who was trying to create a curb cut in the recently landmarked part of Prospect Heights so we thought we'd check back in with DOB to see what the status was. Remember that last we checked the DOB had just issued a 15-Day Letter of Intent to Revoke the permits for the cut. Here's the latest from the buildings department: "The Department has put the applicant on notice that approval needs to be obtained from the Landmarks Preservation Commissioner before work can begin for the curb cut. The Department also issued a Stop Work Order which will remain in place until the approval is granted."
DOB Posts Letter of Intent to Revoke on St. Marks Ave [Brownstoner]
A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? [Brownstoner] GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:00 AM | Comments (25)
Categories: DOB, Development, Prospect Heights

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I know that people should be able to do what they want but it's hard for me to see how one could make a curb cut look at all good here. Cars were not something the original builders had to deal with but are with us now but it is such a shame to ruin that beautiful facade...

Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at October 27, 2009 9:06 AM

I think when we last discussed this it was brought to our attention that the zoning laws will not allow curb cuts in areas including this one.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 27, 2009 9:12 AM

does this mean they want to put in a garage?

How can you find out if someone has the right to put up a no parking sign? I am suspicious of a spot on 6th avenue between sterling and st marks, where the curb is not cut, and a "gallery" has big no parking sign up in the window.

Posted by: joe_the_bummer at October 27, 2009 9:20 AM

Joe, its bogus, ask Sam Schwartz.
They just hope you won't park there, and it works in that it will deter many people.

Posted by: dittoburg at October 27, 2009 9:22 AM

joe - I often see a parked car in the semi-garage where the gallery stands. the question is whether you want to risk having your vehicle towed (even at the gallery owner's expense).

Posted by: AEPE at October 27, 2009 10:22 AM

I thought a lot had to be 40 feet wide to be considered for a curb cut....could someone get around that?

Posted by: PHfamily at October 27, 2009 10:24 AM

It's essentially illegally reserving a parking spot. See 10th street bet 3rd and 4th. I'm no fan of cars, but I'm even less of a fan o that type of selfish behavior. Ticket the owners.

Posted by: Johnny at October 27, 2009 10:24 AM

I thought a lot had to be 40 feet wide to be considered for a curb cut....could someone get around that?

Posted by: PHfamily at October 27, 2009 10:36 AM

Yeah, curb cuts are not allowed in 20' wide lots in R6B, so even if landmarks did approve, DOB still shouldn't grant the permit. So it's odd to see DOB referring them to landmarks.

Posted by: zinka at October 27, 2009 10:39 AM

There were two permits issued: one for the curb cut and one for turning the first floor into a garage. Is only the curb cut subject to the Stop Work Order?

Granted, a garage without a curb cut is pretty worthless, but the homeowner could still desecrate the house, correct? Or is that subject to Landmarks review as well?

Posted by: epkwy at October 27, 2009 10:44 AM

That gallery is on 6th btwn St. Mark's and Prospect.

Posted by: infinitejester at October 27, 2009 11:01 AM

NO. That gallery is between Park and Sterling across from the church, next to the pet food store. and that curb cut has been like that for years, get over it.

Posted by: billyboomer at October 27, 2009 11:12 AM

More civilized cities were laid out with service alleys behind houses to accomodate carriages, garbage pick-up, service deliveries, etc. But apart from a few blocks in Manhattan and a few in Broklyn Heights, real estate developers in NYC left out that amenity. The result is mounds of garbage on the sidewalk no place for contractors or delivery trucks to park and of course no place whatsoever for the family car. That, and the use of brown sandstone, which is one of the worst building materials ever, are our historic districts' two big original flaws.

Posted by: Minard Lafever at October 27, 2009 11:22 AM

Minard, yes, Baltimore's row houses have service alleys -- and they work wonderfully.

We have friends who have an alley behind their limestone house in Crown Heights. This allows them to use part of their backyard to park their car. They access the alley at the end of the block, where there is a remote-operated gate (which keeps the alley relatively safe). If you drive, it's a very convenient set-up.

Posted by: writeonadelphi at October 27, 2009 11:39 AM

if it's true that dob is passing the buck to landmarks - what a bunch of weenies. just cite the 40-foot R6 rule and deny the application for a curb cut. case closed. instead, a landmarks review process of dubious authority is about to begin.

Posted by: z at October 27, 2009 11:54 AM

"More civilized cities were laid out with service alleys behind houses to accommodate carriages, garbage pick-up, service deliveries, etc."

The back service ally is where Hank, Dale, Boomerhauer and Bill hang out and drink beer on King Of The Hill.

We unfortunately have guzzle our swill on the stoop- so gauche!

Posted by: TownhouseLady at October 27, 2009 11:54 AM

"But apart from a few blocks in Manhattan and a few in Broklyn Heights, real estate developers in NYC left out that amenity."

Minard;

Not completely correct. In the 1920's a number of rowhouse developers in Brooklyn built them. Here are a few examples in other sections of Brooklyn with which I'm familiar:

-Lake St. between Kings Highway and Quentin Road in Gravesend; Also in Gravesend: Quentin Road between West 3rd and West 4th Street.

-71st Street between 11th and 12th Ave in Dyker Heights (and the surrounding blocks - my cousin lives in one of these homes).

-Many of the streets around Ave. U and V between Bedford Ave and Nostrand Ave in Sheepshead Bay.

Also, these alleys are not nirvana. One of the big issues is their maintenance. At least in NYC (can't speak for other places) these alleys are commonly not a common property of the homeowners who utilize them. Each homeowner is responsible for the alleyway that abuts their property. It becomes hard for folks to agree on a repaving. Also, during the winter, it only takes one homeowner who doesn't fee like shoveling their portion to render them useless.

Posted by: benson at October 27, 2009 12:26 PM

Similary, there are alleys for carriages (and such) in Strivers Row in Harlem.

Posted by: BrooklynIsHome at October 27, 2009 12:26 PM

I know in PH the service alleys are now our back yards. Id like to remain uncivilized and keep it all. Mine mine all mine!

Did I ever tell youz that I can almost land a small plane in back yard?

Posted by: jack slade at October 27, 2009 1:27 PM

There are also the same alleys in Crown Heights South behind President St, and also parts of Union and Crown, if I'm not mistaken. From what I can see in passing those streets, Benson is correct as to the advantages and disadvantages of such.

In Crown Heights North, there was once a service alley between Park Place and Prospect Place, between Kingston and Albany. It was filled in and annexed to the property lots, but all of the footage went to the Park Place owners, none to the Prospect Place owners, creating 150' backyards on Park Place.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 27, 2009 2:09 PM

By the way,

When I was a kid in Gravesend, the name we used to give these service alleys was "Skulley's alley number "x"", with the different lanes in the neighborhood being assigned a different number. I don't know the origin of the name "Skulley's alley" and I'm not sure it it was peculiar to Gravesend or was used throughout Brooklyn. Here is how we would use it: you would be riding your bike around the neighborhood and all of a sudden, someone would call out "I'll race you down Skulley alley number "x"". Off we went to that lane for the big race.

Posted by: benson at October 27, 2009 2:29 PM

Most all of Chicago has alleys and because of that, everybody has a garage!!!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 27, 2009 3:37 PM

Rutland Road between Bedford and Flatbush, in Lefferts Manor, has one of these alleys.

Posted by: dt at October 27, 2009 7:57 PM

friend in Forest Hills have them too.
So who decides what a civilized city is and what is the criteria?

Posted by: Petebklyn at October 27, 2009 9:03 PM

A civilized city is one that is NOT designed for cars. Alleys and curb cuts de-civilize the city.

Posted by: zinka at October 28, 2009 10:15 AM

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