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June 19, 2009
Douglass Street Signage Legal?
Has anyone noticed a business on Douglass btwn Court & Smith? They now have major advertisements on their brownstone building. Is this possibly legal? It's not too distasteful, but it is a RESIDENTIAL block. There must be zoning laws that prevent this. Please advise!!!
Comments
Oh, yeah, the business is a real estate business called "Madison Estates," established in 1953 if anyone really cares!!! Do they think they can get away with this because they were established in 1953?
Posted by: crankypants at June 18, 2009 8:50 PM
Oh, yeah, the business is a real estate business called "Madison Estates," established in 1953 if anyone really cares!!! Do they think they can get away with this because they were established in 1953?
Posted by: crankypants at June 18, 2009 8:50 PM
crankypants, are you sure they are not SELLING the building? They are brokers...
Posted by: denton at June 18, 2009 9:01 PM
Yes, they are setting up shop in the garden level. The building is freshly renovated with a picture window where the two garden level windows would normally be beside the stoop. There is a tall vertical banner strung between two permanently mounted poles on the second-third floors, and a large (I'm guessing 10 feet wide?) sign above the picture window, which is overly large and definitely inappropriate.
Posted by: crankypants at June 18, 2009 9:28 PM
you sound like a bitch..sure glad that i dont have to wake up listening to you incessant whining
Posted by: eman1234 at June 18, 2009 10:23 PM
I wouldn't want that on my block either. Maybe yours isn't so nice and nobody cares, eman.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 19, 2009 8:17 AM
are you sure not advertising condos or something? Madison Estates is some real estate firm far away from here. Why they would want to start a new office on Douglass in this slow market?
Call 311 - and make complaint about signage. A home business like real estate is probably allowed - but I really don't know.
Posted by: Petebklyn at June 19, 2009 10:43 AM
R6 zoning allows commercial space 100 feet from a commercial strip. They are within that 100 feet (of Smith St) and therefore allowed to conduct business there. I haven't seen the sign so whether it's size is an issue or not I can't comment but when they were under construction and expanding the ground floor (to be used as commercial space) within 20 feet of my rear lot line I queried it on Brownstoner at the time. That's how I learned about the 100 foot zoning exemption.
Posted by: 99luftballons at June 19, 2009 10:53 AM
wow - check DOB site for tons of complaints while construction under progess at this place. Either arrogant contractor or pesky neighbor.
Anyway - there is complaint already called in about the signage.
Building bought by partner (joseph baglio) of Madison Estates real estate (for cheap price) and has permits to change to office and 3 rentals.
Posted by: Petebklyn at June 19, 2009 11:28 AM
I was going to pose this question this morning, too. People have been stopping and gawking at the sign, it's that large. Crankypants is not a bitch, he/she is perfectly justified in questioning this.
They aren't selling the building. They were renting the apartments back in March and I've watched people move into them over the past few months. It makes sense that there is a business on the garden level because that wasn't included in any of the rentals. I really hope that sign comes down.
Posted by: JBrklyn at June 19, 2009 12:48 PM
Thanks, 99 and Pete. Even if they are sneaking through the ordinance, it's still a pretty crass gesture and won't be making too many friends on the block. Maybe their security camera above the sign shows they anticipate a less than warm reception.
Posted by: crankypants at June 19, 2009 3:33 PM
The sign was just taken down!!!
Posted by: JBrklyn at June 20, 2009 9:17 AM
The sign was just taken down!!!
Posted by: JBrklyn at June 20, 2009 9:18 AM
Just heard the news from a neighbor, that's great. I wonder what made them do the right thing.
Posted by: crankypants at June 20, 2009 5:04 PM
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