For Sam:
"does anyone know when the feud between walentas and the BHA originated? It is kind of funny because the BHA opposed the initial change of use waivers for the big (formerly empty) industrial buildings in DUMBO and now, half the condo owners in DUMBO are Brooklyn Heights refugees. Why did the BHA oppose the residential re-use of the Gair factories and the clocktower building. Seems so silly in retrospect"
I do not live in BH and am not a BHA member. Nor do I have a view issue.
First of all, in the 1970's regarding Empire State Park, BHA played the significant roll in the acquisition of the land by the State and formation of a state park. They have always maintained an interest in the area surrounding the Bridge
The first 'feud' I can remember was in 1998 over the proposed TT inter-bridge hotel, movies and shopping destination project in the footprint of the Empire State Park and his Water Street holdings (i.e., Dock Street lot) - This was strongly opposed by all the local community groups, and BHA joined a little later. TT lost that, but there were other powers at work besides community activists. The Empire State Park parcel was eventually included in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.
TT then made several rezoning requests for each of their properties which were not opposed because of residential housing, which most groups, including BHA, supported, but that TT was doing what is known as 'spot' zoning instead of addressing the whole area. This is partially the reason why the Dock Street project lots have never been rezoned. TT won all of these zoning battles.
BHA (and all other community groups, all the LEOS, CB2, and most important, the City Council) opposed TT's prior offering in 2004 for a similar structure. Most arguments today against have not changed other than in detail. The school and 80/20 seemingly has raised a race card, but I think is a false and misleading reaction against the opposition by those who are for. It's the height and the density issues.
If you want to explore something really interesting, I recommend that you research why TT waited 15 years to develop DUMBO - they had most of these properties in the early 1980's. That may enlighten you.
For Sam:
"does anyone know when the feud between walentas and the BHA originated? It is kind of funny because the BHA opposed the initial change of use waivers for the big (formerly empty) industrial buildings in DUMBO and now, half the condo owners in DUMBO are Brooklyn Heights refugees. Why did the BHA oppose the residential re-use of the Gair factories and the clocktower building. Seems so silly in retrospect"
I do not live in BH and am not a BHA member. Nor do I have a view issue.
First of all, in the 1970's regarding Empire State Park, BHA played the significant roll in the acquisition of the land by the State and formation of a state park. They have always maintained an interest in the area surrounding the Bridge
The first 'feud' I can remember was in 1998 over the proposed TT inter-bridge hotel, movies and shopping destination project in the footprint of the Empire State Park and his Water Street holdings (i.e., Dock Street lot) - This was strongly opposed by all the local community groups, and BHA joined a little later. TT lost that, but there were other powers at work besides community activists. The Empire State Park parcel was eventually included in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.
TT then made several rezoning requests for each of their properties which were not opposed because of residential housing, which most groups, including BHA, supported, but that TT was doing what is known as 'spot' zoning instead of addressing the whole area. This is partially the reason why the Dock Street project lots have never been rezoned. TT won all of these zoning battles.
BHA (and all other community groups, all the LEOS, CB2, and most important, the City Council) opposed TT's prior offering in 2004 for a similar structure. Most arguments today against have not changed other than in detail. The school and 80/20 seemingly has raised a race card, but I think is a false and misleading reaction against the opposition by those who are for. It's the height and the density issues.
If you want to explore something really interesting, I recommend that you research why TT waited 15 years to develop DUMBO - they had most of these properties in the early 1980's. That may enlighten you.
Posted by: Borgqueen at December 21, 2008 1:08 PM in response to Full House, No Vote at Dock Street Hearing