Forum: Zoning
June 19, 2008
Corner of Bedford and Gates
Anyone know what's going into the corner lot (SW) that used to be a day treatment program "Determination House?" I've heard possibly a supermarket, but others think it'll be more housing. Anyone know?
May 23, 2008
Sanborn Map of Brooklyn
Does anyone know if Sanborn Maps of Brooklyn are avaialble on-line?
Or if there is somewhere I can go to look at and make copies of an area.
Thanks.
April 12, 2008
Empty space and air rights
Hey Brownstoners,
I am interested to buy a place and I was checking it out. The place is nice, but I wonder what's up with the buildings and empty spaces next to the building. Where can I get more information about the empty space next to the building? Where do I get info about air rights, zoning and all the other stuff that might effect my building?
The place is in Park Slope. Any info is always welcome! THX!
March 24, 2008
Williamsburg Rezoning - Property Owners to Lose 25% of Property Value
Our local Community Board has rezoned 13 blocks along Grand Street in a fast-track process that has escaped the required public review. While these kind of initiatives typically take years to complete due to the required public hearings and analysis, this time the entire process has be compacted to a record-breaking 90 days. The Community Board claimed this lightening fast re-zoning was necessary to stop a 14-story development that was pending approval at the Department of Buildings. However that developer, Michael Lichtenstein, has already agreed to limit his project to six stories, which is allowable under the current zoning, and will sign a contract to that effect. Yet the Community Board continues to push forward without any thought or consideration for the residents as well as property owners of the Grand Street Neighborhood who will suffer tremendous consequences including severe financial repercussions, loss of vital community facilities (daycare, etc.) and diminished quality of life, as a result of this overzealous down zoning.
A group representing over 100 of the 254 property owners affected by this process; the overwhelming number did not know what was happening and no one had the opportunity to represent themselves. Many other property owners still do not know that their properties will potentially be stripped of hundreds of thousands of dollars of value if this re-zoning takes place. Additionally this re-zoning threatens to bankrupt many current development projects and could leave many blocks blighted by broken and bankrupted projects as a direct consequence. Many ask how could this happen and what can we do? Special interest groups in the community and on the Community Board are pushing this through without considering the community impact. We have the support of Assemblyman Vito Lopez but we need more help to stop this.
We want Williamsburg to keep moving forward and not backwards especially in this recessionary time. How do they pick 13 blocks in the whole of Brooklyn to attack and claim there is no opposition? How do they chop 25% off property values without explaining that to people…no wonder they think there is no opposition. The big buildings going up will survive the rezoning because they can afford to fight legally while the small guy gets punished. Imagine leveraging yourself to build, taking years to get plans approved only to have the rules changed….20 projects are in this circumstance that may lead to bankruptcies. Grand Street is the commercial street that is being slammed, not the residential areas we all want to preserve. What kind of message does this send to developers across the city when the public review process can be bypassed and neighborhoods targeted that are ill equipped to fight back? Will financing dry up for everyone with banks getting burned?
Grand Street Homeowners and Business Association
March 7, 2008
Who owns the sidewalk space in front of our building?
Our 7 unit condo on 3rd ave is trying to determine how much space we have the rights to in front of our building. I know we are responsible for shoveling the snow in front of the building, and can get cited for excessive trash in front, but can we put large planters on the sidewalk? We're trying to beautify 3rd avenue 2 planters at a time, so any commentary would help. Thanks!
March 5, 2008
Zoned for Incorrect Number of Families
Hello all. I have a question about closing on a property and zoning for a certain number of families. What happens when a property is sold that is zoned for a certain number of families but is being used for a different number of families (i.e. zoned for 3 being used as 4). Does the seller need to update the zoning prior to close or does it no matter? I am looking at older early 20th Century houses if that matters. Thanks in advance!
December 17, 2007
another question about parking
I've been meaning to ask about this. Given the prior post, now might be a good time. I recently purchased a house with a large enough front yard for parking. I have mixed feelings about converting the front of the house to parking, but the proximity of my place to Fulton street makes parking a huge hassle. Anyway, there just also happens to be an existing, hinged gate in the front... Does anyone know how I would go about converting the front into a legal driveway? My understanding is that it's not that difficult if there's an existing, legal (filed) driveway already on the block. But I don't know which city agency to start with. thanks, Brownstoners.
December 3, 2007
school zoning
Does anyone know if the insideschools website is the best place to determine school zoning? I am currently childless, looking at properties, so don't really want to go around to any schools in person just yet.
Just trying to get an idea if there are accurate zoning maps out there.
November 5, 2007
Uses for Stable/Garage
I am looking at buying a house that has a freestanding structure in the back yard (formerly stable) now being used as a garage. It is a separate lot zoned on property shark as R6B. It is in the backyard accessible by a driveway shared by the adjacent house. (Easement on the driveway) Does anyone know the legal uses of such a structure? Can you convert it into a living space? Can you use it (legally) as a work space? Any experiences/knowledge with this subject would be appreciated.
(Brooklyn)