CG Zoning Tweak Passes; Oliver House Height Doomed?
Yesterday was a big day for residents of Carroll Gardens who have been trying to protect their neighborhood from the construction of out-of-scale buildings. The City Council unanimously approved a zoning text amendment that will limit the height of new construction and additions on several streets in the neighborhood (primarily the “Place” streets). Pardon Me…

Yesterday was a big day for residents of Carroll Gardens who have been trying to protect their neighborhood from the construction of out-of-scale buildings. The City Council unanimously approved a zoning text amendment that will limit the height of new construction and additions on several streets in the neighborhood (primarily the “Place” streets). Pardon Me for Asking writes that “After almost a year of meetings, hearings and community outreach efforts, there is finally something written into law that will truly help to protect the historical character of the neighborhood.” The Times’ story on the passage of the amendment, meanwhile, raises questions about whether the new rules will affect the height of 360 Smith Street, aka ‘Oliver House,’ the under-construction condo project that some residents have long been wary of. Oliver House developer William Stein says says he hopes his six-story (plus penthouse) build will be exempt from the amendment, which goes into effect immediately.
City Council Unanimously Says “Yes” To Carroll Gardens [PMFA]
New Limits on Builders in an Area of Brooklyn [NY Times]
“I don’t think a rezoning creates a hardship”
Wber, IF this is treated like a standard rezoning (Billyburgh/Greenpoint, Ft. Greene, Bay Ridge, South Park Slope, Park Slope, etc.), and DOB deems less than “substantially complete” work (foundation, I assume), then a BZY and/or A-case appeal will be filed at the BSA. Waste of time and effort since the track record on the BSA turning down BZY’s and especially A-case appeals is very low.
And yes, his expenditures will be taken into affect if they file an A-case, not so with the BZY (while they’ll attempt to show it, it’s not really applicable).
Curious to see what develops.
BoxerMonkey – This re-zoning isnt about just 1 building
– and btw yes EVERY new building and every new apartment helps keep housing costs down to some (albeit small) extent
Yes, ACW, without new, denser apartment buildings, I will not be able to tell Carroll Gardens from Syosset. It must be such a pain for CG residents to mow those enormous lawns and to have to drive anywhere just to eat out, go to a movie or shop for food.
god damn you whiners. nyc without density will be the suburbs. that area is perfect for density near subways etc…. also good for the environment.
Does anyone know if the vesting process under a text amendment is different than that under a rezoning? A rezoning would automatically result in a stop work order, which would also note the % completion of the foundation and other work. So long as the foundation was completed, the owner could then apply to continue under the old zoning, a process that would take a week or two. If the foundation was not complete, the owner could apply for partial vesting (as in the South Slope) or a variance (usually much harder).
But there’s no SWO on 360 Smith, which leads me to think that there may be different rules.
AJ – hardship is not the only requirement for a variance (and I don’t think a rezoning creates a hardship per se). In this case, though, there is the very unique condition of the subway entry (there are other findings too). Neither of these conditions are necessary for a vesting appeal – what they have to show there is substantial work on the foundation and (I think) substantial expenditures. Ironically, I think they can count all of the planning and redesign they did (and associated legal & consulting fees) toward their overall expenditures, thus making them that much more substantial.
I don’t think Stein has anything to worry about. He is far enough along at this point that no one is going to be able to press the rewind button.
“Check back in 6yrs when the complaint will be that people are forced to move from CG because housing costs too much.”
Please, if you think a six-story building in CG will help kepe housing costs in the neighborhood down, I’ve got a park under the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you.
This affects the streets from Henry to Hoyt for the Place blocks and also other blocks like Carroll and President. The Need now comes With the Landmarking the Whole Area.
Can you say BSA anyone?
Slam dunk hardship case. Billy has nothing to worry about except a lag in time of completion due to the appeal.
This is a perfect case to question changing the Texts at all when projects can skirt ZR changes via conduits like the BSA.