Tower Plans for Washington Ave Ruffling Feathers
Though the one-story paper warehouse that used to run from 163 Washington Avenue, just north of Myrtle, all the way through the block to Hall Street was demolished months ago, news of what is planned in its stead has only recently trickled out to nearby Clinton Hill residents, many of whom aren’t pleased with the…
Though the one-story paper warehouse that used to run from 163 Washington Avenue, just north of Myrtle, all the way through the block to Hall Street was demolished months ago, news of what is planned in its stead has only recently trickled out to nearby Clinton Hill residents, many of whom aren’t pleased with the idea of a 16-story tower imposing itself on the neighborhood of three- and four-story homes. We also hear that local politicians aren’t happy with the fact that the plan for the building does not include any affordable housing. Instead, it’s an as-of-right, unsubsidized project. Designed by the ubiquitous Karl Fischer, the current plan filed with the DOB calls for a 177-foot-high structure with 49 residential units. We can certainly sympathize with the neighbors who are less than thrilled with the shadows and competition for parking spaces that this will bring (and those whose adjacent properties have already suffered damage from the demo process); the developer also has done nothing to engage with the community. To play devil’s advocate, though, this could be a shot of adrenaline for the businesses of Myrtle Avenue and help bring some life to what is still a bit of a desolate area between the Clinton Hill Historic District and the Navy Yard. We gather that some people are trying to organize an opposition to the building but don’t have any specific information yet. Anyone have renderings or contact info for the opposition? Update: Anyone not pleased with the current plan may contact buildingtootall AT yahoo DOT com. GMAP P*Shark DOB
1) What is e-mailing buildingtootall going to do for us?
2) There are more condos going in a few blocks east of there on Ryerson and Steuben that are much more modest in design. 16 stories is going to seem waaaay out of place.
it’s going to be 18 stories. alert everyone in the community that you can and email buildingtootall AT yahoo DOT com
we need to figure out how to stop this or to get them to build smaller.
As some who lives within about 750 ft of this site, a 16-18 story building will be painfully out of place to the surrounding blocks of 3 story woodframe houses. True there are the CH coops near by but those are off Myrtle Ave and don’t really effect the look and feel of the blocks on either side of Myrtle Ave. Obviously development is going to happen everywhere and communities have to negotiate with this fact.
But 16 stories seems like a bit much when literally everything around it is 3 stories. 6 stories seems much more reasonable. It’s about compromise. And there’s nothing compromising about a 16 story glass giant.
Anon 9:44 care to adjust your tinfoil hat?
“This is a “tower” so that the future tenants can literally and figuratively feel like they are above the rest of the neighborhood.”
Give it a rest.
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this whole area is going to be rezoned in 7 months. they have to pour that foundation within that time or it’s no dice. the new zoning will not permit buildings of this scale.
Anyone who is defending the “tower” as an opportunity to increase density, or maybe build some affordable housing either directly or by increasing total supply, etc. doesn’t know what they are talking about. The plans are for a 54,764 square foot building on a 20,000 square foot lot. It has an FAR of 2.73, not much more than many rowhouses. There is no need to build a “tower” to get the 49 apartments that this building will produce. This is a “tower” so that the future tenants can literally and figuratively feel like they are above the rest of the neighborhood. This is all about architecture, without the least consideration for planning. And, no, 1:53, people don’t have to own a property to have a interest in how it is developed. That is why the city is planning to rezone Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, to prevent abominations like this. Or, I should say more of them, since this building will likely have its foundation in before the rezoning is approved.
what the scoop on the damage to adjacent buildings? Too much of that happening in Brooklyn (and to be fair, in Manhattan as well)
gotta go with 1:53pm on this one folks… the more high rises, the more apts, the more supply, the better for us demanding more ‘nice’ apts. seriously, who cares if its low rise or high rise, its still most likely gonna look like crap.