Development Watch: Race Against Clock at 163 Wash
The clock is ticking at 163 Washington where the developers are trying to get the foundation for their 17-story as-of-right tower before City Planning approves the Clinton Hill/Fort Greene rezoning at its June 25th meeting. From what we hear, neighbors are standing ready with video cameras in case the developer tries to cut any corners…
The clock is ticking at 163 Washington where the developers are trying to get the foundation for their 17-story as-of-right tower before City Planning approves the Clinton Hill/Fort Greene rezoning at its June 25th meeting. From what we hear, neighbors are standing ready with video cameras in case the developer tries to cut any corners nights and weekends.
163 Washington: The Digging Has Begun [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Rally at 163 Washington for Shorter Building [Brownstoner] DOB
Tower Plans for Washington Ave Ruffling Feathers [Brownstoner]
Original plans for this building called for 7 stories on Washington and 5 stories on Hall street and included MORE apartments. That means they would have provided more density which means more Princeton grads would have been able to move into your neighborhood.
Furthermore, this building does NOT front Myrtle. The only thing they could put in this building resembling retail would be a daycare or a doctor’s office.
As BStoner said, it’s also what development will bring to the area in terms of food and retail establishments, for example. Improvements in such respects will presumably be a benefit to property values.
First off, Mr Brownstoner, this building does NOT front Myrtle Avenue. Secondly, contrary to your clearly limited understanding of this situation, “backyard light” is barely the reason for opposition to this 17 story tower.
I don’t think this building is oversized. It will occupy the equivalent of 12 lots for the neighborhood of 2-3 family houses. So its 49 units being put into what would normally have been 24-36 units.
Personally I prefer the 4 – 8 story city model but when you have a lot of land developed at 1-3 stories you have to make up the density somewhere.
The final say on property values is going to be if we get a quality new construction or a cut cost substandard building- which I don’t know at this point.
I really don’t understand how this will destroy property values and I’d say this area already has plenty of housing available for people of low income. I agree with bstoner. Hopefully it will boost food and retail on Myrtle.
“More housing is good in general” This is not necessarily true. There seems to be this mentality that anyone who throws up a trashy building is bestowing some gift on the neighborhoood. Behind every building is a developer whose only interest is how much money he is going to make. As inappropriate, oversized building are built they make the neighborhood less desirable and destroy the property values of the original owners. These builders are taking money from the owners of the original brownstones in effect. And virtually none of these buildings are for low income people who have fewer and fewer alternatives in this part of Brooklyn
As we’ve said before, we certainly sympathize with those people whose backyards and light would be negatively impacted by this and we wish this were not as tall (10 or 12 stories would be better), we think Myrtle Avenue in general is an appropriate place to build some bigger buildings. They will only boost the food and retail offerings on that stretch; plus, there needs to be more housing built in the neighborhood in general. Our reasoning is similar for 525 Clinton Avenue.
Are those accurate renders? I’m more concerned with what the entire lot is going to look like rather than just a tall building.
If its just going to be a tower in a parking lot that is crappy.
There are about four buildings of equal height 17 stories plus literally right around the corner from this development site. First, who are you people kidding about it being out of context and second, who cares since the building is “as of right”?
More housing is good in general and more upscale housing is great for this section of Myrtle Avenue in particular.