CG's Generous FAR Loophole Yielding More Additions
Everyone remembers the Third Place Atrocity that we devoted so much ink to last year, right? Well, the gent who developed that bastardization is up to his old tricks just down the block. Austin Nagel has had plans to do a “horizontal and vertical enlargement” of his four-story brick townhouse at 120 Third Place (at…
Everyone remembers the Third Place Atrocity that we devoted so much ink to last year, right? Well, the gent who developed that bastardization is up to his old tricks just down the block. Austin Nagel has had plans to do a “horizontal and vertical enlargement” of his four-story brick townhouse at 120 Third Place (at left) since last summer so we can only guess he’s been waiting for the proceeds of Number 45 to get moving; it’s a safe guess that the expansion will look something like the one that’s underway two houses over at 116 Third Place )at right). What’s prompting all this action? As a commenter rightly pointed out in last Tuesday’s thread about 360 Smith, an archaic twist in the neighborhood’s zoning that lumps the unusually large front yards into the calculation of street width means that builders can get more juice out of these lots than in other brownstone nabes. GMAP P*Shark DOB
Why is anybody fighting me on this thread? The fact that a block is already ugly doesn’t mean you should be happy to see new, additional ugliness.
Chilll has never been on 3rd Pl cul-de-sac or she’d know that is hideous looking block , mishmosh of styles with curb cuts and view obscured by elevated train.
Screw you, Anon 11:46. You’re the one who should be ashamed, defending this hack. In fact, your aggressive, personal tone suggests that you are the developer, yourself. If so, you are a jackass who is fucking up the view in some beautiful communities with your hideous additions that comply fully with building codes and zoning rules–and that, nonetheless, suck. It is usually at least *possible* to utilize FAR without ruining beautiful architecture, and developers like this can’t even be bothered to try. Arrest is too good for this schmuck–he should be declared an enemy combatant and sent on an extraordinary rendition to Syria. Shithead.
anon 1:43,
I’m an architect, and like you, I thought that street width had no impact on FAR – but in fact, it does. Go to section 23-145 of the zoning resolution to see how this loophole is being exploited
the street width does not effect the FAR – it effects the setbacks and where and when they happen.
Austin Nagel and his atrocities will become the example that will help get CG the the revised codes and landmark status it deserves.
Nice job Dude!!!
I used to live at 116 and in my mind there is no way this building will be anything other than a tenament infested with mice and rats. Yes rats. At the time we were living there I was furious about being kicked out so this person could build his dream mansion but in retrospect he did us a favor since I was getting really tired of seeing the rodent kingdom stroll through our hallways everyday. Maybe the fact that the train tracks are so close brings them?
It’s also interesting how he took offense to the phrase “oh you’re the person evicting everyone in the building” when I met him. He looked a bit sad and said ” I really wish you wouldn’t put it like that…” aw shucks!
Great — the only thing moderating the housing price increases is the construction of new houses/units. I say max out the FAR everywhere — I’d rather have a cheap place to live than atmosphere.
Of course there is oversight. Zoning and building code. So cut the drama.
Saying should be arrested is stupid, trivializes system of law and you should be ashamed.
Until recently – the economics of it wouldn’t have made it feasible – so wasn’t much of an issue.
Now that is an issue -work to change things. Fine.
(PS – hope they put in an elevator at least).