Follow Up on South 3rd Street Development
When we took a look at these two adjoining buildings a couple of weeks ago, we didn’t know whether they were being perpetrated by the same developer or not. Our man on the street tells us that indeed they are. He also tells us that the developer is not The Developers Group (the firm is…
When we took a look at these two adjoining buildings a couple of weeks ago, we didn’t know whether they were being perpetrated by the same developer or not. Our man on the street tells us that indeed they are. He also tells us that the developer is not The Developers Group (the firm is only lending its marketing genius to the project). This source also tells us that this is an example of a technique that many developers (especially those with close religious affiliations) have used to juice their FARs. Supposedly, at the beginning of a project, they get a religious organization to commit to occupy some or all of the space, which allows them to build more floor area than they otherwise would be allowed. Then, as the project is nearing completion, the organization backs out. But, guess what, the building is already built and the developer is laughing all the way to the bank. We have nothing but hearsay to back this up, so we’d like to hear from people who actually know what they’re talking about. We’d also be interested to know whether this is what’s going on at 15th Street in the South Slope as well.
More (Un)Hot South Third Street Action [Brownstoner]
Too Tall in Park Slope [Brownstoner]
in case the full link didn’t come through
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/nyregion/
17williamsburg.html?ei=5007&en=
76ccad4be7436a61&ex=1392354000&adxnnl=1&partner=
USERLAND&adxnnlx=1119294665-FHn+CW6CaoRiLtcsfaKX6w
you’ll have to cut and paste carefully
here’s the full link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/nyregion/
17williamsburg.html?ei=5007&en=
76ccad4be7436a61&ex=1392354000&adxnnl=1&partner=
USERLAND&adxnnlx=1119294665-FHn+CW6CaoRiLtcsfaKX6w
you’ll have to cut and paste carefully
this times article from 2004 seems to fit in here somewhere although i am not sure where:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/nyregion/17williamsburg.html?ei=5007&en=76ccad4be7436a61&ex=1392354000&adxnnl=1&partner=USERLAND&adxnnlx=1119294665-FHn+CW6CaoRiLtcsfaKX6w
I for one am not a totalitarian statist, Iceberg, which is exactly why I am planning to open my 10 story paper mill next to your house.
Where is it, please?
Mr/Ms I–
I do recall the “clearly it’s a Hasidic job” with which I also took issue. Of course, I also noted one of the responses, which was something to the effect of “sell it to the goyim.” As goyim is perjorative (as opposed to Hasidic, which is not), I’m sure I simply overlooked your additional objection to this term.
Secondly, these are not racist terms since they are not based in race. They are insulting, intended as rude, and, if you ask me, simply in bad taste; they could be termed “ethnicist” or “religist” (if those qualify as words) but they are not racist. Just to play your word game.
Thirdly, you’re ***clearly*** a developer or investor, and you want to try to blame the lack of affordable housing on the fact that there are zoning laws. Get a grip! There are not eight zillion more people living in NY right now– it’s just that there are more people joining together incomes, more people gainfully employed, and mortgage rates lower than when my parents bought their Westchester home in the economically cataclysmic 70s. Ergo, it’s a boom market! The appearance is that all these people desperately want and need homes and should pay anything to get one.
You’ll wonder where they all went when the bubble goes “POP.” Then when the crack addicts start squatting in your empty buildings, the zoning laws will be an annoyance from a bygone era. (Too bad there are only zoning laws and not Flawed Personality rules. That way I’d have a shot at avoiding a neighbor like you!! [Maybe I can write my city council rep…])
PS– spare me the free speech claims… you don’t see anyone stopping you, right? From now on, however, surely you will note people ignoring you.
Developers daring to dream – that’s the best laugh I’ve had in a long time. Thanks, iceberg.
Pete–
Thanks for your note– I will keep checking on nyc.gov. I spoke to the realtor who brokered the deal for the (to be 7 or 9-story bldg) land, and she said it was to be 9 stories… though perhaps meant, as you say, to include attic and cellar (our building was approved by the DOB as 3 stories with an “attic,” which is simply the second story of each top loft apartment… just more chicanery on the part of developers to get around regulations).
As for Mr. or Ms. Iceberg…
1) Who said anything about Hasidic folks??!? Best I know, the developers for the building in question *may* be Asian (assumably not Hasidim, but I neither know nor care). Either way, what difference does that make?
2) Supply and demand? I’m not 100% sure, but I believe the investment bank for which I work has heard of it. Let me check with them and get back to you.
3) Surely you’re not implying that developers do what they do in order to house the “houseless,” as you put it? If you meant homeless, I will bet everything I have (and that you have, too)that there is not one formerly homeless person moving into these apartments. Not one. I volunteer at a shelter, so I would know. If you meant, “houseless,” as in they don’t have a house… well, I still don’t know what you’re talking about.
What *I’m* talking about, however, is the greed and myopia that drives developers to ignore the architectural and cultural vernacular of particular neighborhoods and just keep building skyward, as cheaply as possible.
Just because it’s *possible* doesn’t make it the best thing to do. Yes, I’m a fan of free markets, and I do think it’s best to let the buyers simply make their own decisions… I just assume that when the market dries up that the newer, cheaper, bigger (40 stories and counting in DUMBO) buildings will be the first to suffer. I can only hope that this will hurt the developers while they are still selling their cheap goods. In the meantime, we turn to fantastic sites like this that pay homage to craftmanship of old, where participants appreciate the artistry and skilled handiwork of ceiling cornices, fireplace mantels, floors, doors, windows… you get the idea. I encourage you to read and enjoy those wonderful posts, rather than tell us all how it should be. There are plenty of sites where those notions are extolled. (And they belong to developers!)
“Make a living” by lying about their intentions hmmmm
to C: I think its really 7 story that proposed for Baltic – but I don’t see any approved plans yet on nyc.gov (only 9 story if include cellar/attic).
Across street they are trying for a taller one (11?) but there too still nothing approved as far as I can tell.
I think its called ‘Community Facility’ – which both are trying to incorporate for increasing permissable sq. ft. built. Don’t know if using religious org. to sign on or how else this is abused to get more sq. ft.