420 42nd Street and the Rule of Law
The fight over the 12-story tower that developer Kenneth Wong is trying to build at 420 42nd Street in Sunset Park just escalated. Big time. At the urging of local residents, the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights and Community Board 7, the DOB took a closer look at the self-certified plans stamped by architect James…
The fight over the 12-story tower that developer Kenneth Wong is trying to build at 420 42nd Street in Sunset Park just escalated. Big time. At the urging of local residents, the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights and Community Board 7, the DOB took a closer look at the self-certified plans stamped by architect James L. Robinson and issued a Stop Work Order (a 10-day letter of intent to revoke) after finding a reported 37 violations, including (a) failure to submit a full and accurate set of architectural plans, (b) failure to properly calculate the floor area ratio and building height for a 12-story building, and (c) failure to include a rear yard on site.
There’s been a lot of talk in the past few months by politicians about stepping up the enforcement and penalties on developers and architects who pull this kind of crap; this would be an excellent time for the DOB to show that it’s serious. If the Stop Work Order results only in a few minor fines and a few days’ delay, it will fail to provide any disincentive to other developers who thumb their noses at building regulations. When someone is caught doing this kind of thing on this scale, the penalty should be financially crippling and career-ending, as it should be for those who commit equally serious safety infractions.
420 42nd Street: This One Could Get Ugly [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
420 42nd Photo Gallery [CCGH]
Goodbye Sunset Park Views [YouTube]
420 42nd Street
“Accept the old Brooklyn. The never changing place!”
Jeez, what a moronic sentiment. Might as well level it all and restore the huts that use to line that old Indian trail now known as Flatbush Avenue. Maybe Park Slope should be restored as it was in the 1970’s.
I think that NIMBY Brooklynite and lostinbrooklyn seem like the real criminals. They don’t let Brooklyn evolve. They want to keep it stuck in time for their own pleasure.
I am with lostinbrooklyn. These people who like this crap are totally trolls. Go back to your suburbs or Manhattan. Brooklyn needs to be like a museum intact with its beautiful and ugly history. You don’t like it then too bad. Move somewhere else. Yes I am a NIMBY and i am happy about it!
Oh and I also like all of those empty lots and ugly garages and the sort. That is what Brooklyn is all about. I am even ok with crime. It seems that crime goes down wherever they put those crappy new buildings.
Accept the old Brooklyn. The never changing place!
I live in a Brooklyn in an old brownstone apartment and can’t wait to stay in my favorite Brooklyn and moved to a new building soon. Nothing wrong with the new in Brooklyn.
I live in Sunset Park. I want two things — to preserve the beautiful view from our beautiful park, and to see mid-rise construction on 4th Ave. The only reason we might not be able to get both is because of the incompetence of the City of New York, whose job is precisely to mediate between competing goals, but can’t even seem to stop scofflaw developers from wrecking other people’s homes.
What is good about these new developments is that they will house more people who are been price out of Manhattan. Also the people in those old boring buildings won’t be displace if there are new developments that will accomadate the newbies. 🙂
What is wrong with the proposed building? The city is changing, we need more inventory to keep up with population. At one point, people in Brooklyn were upset that someone built brownstones on top of farmland. It’s called progress. Face it, the old days ain’t coming back.
Ramirez, guess I am looking for a bit more dialog that “I like big buildings” from folks.
Half the time these posters just throw the sh*t on these threads to provoke people.
Like me 😉
Oh, and to the “NIMBY” comments, I have a new one for you when it pertains to illegal and noncontextual development (since I have NEVER been anti development) “NIMB” (Not In My Borough).
That should take care of it and make easy for all of you.
I like the idea of a new development in SP, but I hope the building is nice. I bet it will be fugly. 🙁