LPC Hears Proposal for Municipal Building Alterations

On Tuesday, Al Laboz of United American Land and his architect PKSB Architects presented their proposed alterations to the Brooklyn Municipal Building to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. UAL was selected by the city to earlier this year to transform the lower two floors of the historic building at 210 Joralemon Street to retail. At the meeting Laboz, reports the Brooklyn Eagle, Laboz promised “that there will be no banks, no cell phone stores, no pharmacies and no fast food tenants in the building.” Laboz–and the city–are shooting for a “full-service restaurant and a home-goods-type store.” As for the renovation design, “We went for a more conservative approach with the windows, and only removed a very limited amount of architectural and historical detail,” said a PKSB representative. The design was generally supported at the meeting by the offices of the Borough President, Council Member Steve Levin, the Brooklyn Heights Association and the Historic Districts Council, though the latter two organizations expressed specific concerns about the plan. “There are details to be reviewed,” said LPC head Robert Tierney. “Our staff will work with the development team and will take action in the very near future.”
Developer’s Promise for Brooklyn Municipal Building [Brooklyn Eagle]