Grand Prospect Hall Plans: Still Controversial!
The Times has an update on the controversial plan to build an 11-story hotel/parking garage next to Grand Prospect Hall, the venue on Prospect Avenue between 5th and 6th avenues, that explores both neighborhood opposition to the idea and owner Michael Halkias’ reasoning for why it’s vital for his livelihood. The opposition view is clear-cut:…
The Times has an update on the controversial plan to build an 11-story hotel/parking garage next to Grand Prospect Hall, the venue on Prospect Avenue between 5th and 6th avenues, that explores both neighborhood opposition to the idea and owner Michael Halkias’ reasoning for why it’s vital for his livelihood. The opposition view is clear-cut: The build, which would need a variance to go forward, would run contrary to the neighborhood’s hard-won 2005 rezoning, which caps construction heights at five stories. Meanwhile, Michael Halkias, the hall’s owner, is saying the development is necessary in order for him remain competitive amidst the construction of other hotels in Brooklyn that may at some point be built. Halkias says that if he can’t get the spot rezoning he’s going to have to turn the hall into “a factory” of “ethnic concerts” that would crowd the streets with cars; he says this isn’t simply a threat but a realistic plan for making the space profitable. This is the part of the article that really stands out, though: “Mr. Halkias contends that the neighborhood is already full of buildings as tall as what he plans, so it ‘would not be out of character.’ A small irony in the conflict is that Mr. Halkias helped foster the rezoning by letting residents use his hall for a discussion. He said he knew then that he wanted to build a hotel but was assured by a local official—he would not give a name—that a way would be found to make an exception for him from the rezoning.” Six years later, maybe not so much?
Catering Hall’s Plan for a Hotel Upsets the Neighbors [NY Times]
Developer Responds to Criticisms About Grand Prospect Hall Hotel Plan [Brownstoner]
Petition Against South Slope Hotel Expansion [Brownstoner]
Prospect Ave Hotel Opponents Will Not Go Gently [Brownstoner]
Opposition to Prospect Hotel Mounting [Brownstoner] GMAP
Renderings, Details Revealed for Prospect Hotel [Brownstoner]
what similar situation? we’re talking about a business owner wanting to put up a hotel- there is no back door, there is NO sinister hasidic plan to take over anything. *rolling my eyes* How about we NOT MAKE THIS THREAD into something it’s not?
This sounds similar to a situation that arose in Riverdale. A building owner worked out a deal with the local synagogue to rent rooms to its members who needed to walk to services and functions there on certain days. Because it was initially deemed a benign accommodation to religion, it was tolerated. It also turned out to be a back door way to become a hotel/institution/SRO (can’t remember which it ultimately became) in an otherwise residential district.
We make yuh nightmah cuh throo!
***Bid half off peak comps***
The Times article didn’t address GPH’s plan for 16th Street. When talking about the project that is one area Mr. Halkias avoids. His plans call for demolishing a number of houses in this residential neighborhood and, essentially, turning the block into his delivery and service entrance. Its one thing to build something within the law on his property, its another to encroach on the street behind him with absolutely no professed interest or concern for what it will do to his “neighbors”. Is there anybody who would embrace two access driveways that would surround everyone with trucks at all hours? Maybe that’s a prime reason his plans have not been welcomed.
diablorojo- Halkias is Greek.Why don’t we focus on the discussion at hand and not incite a flame war?
I agree with Action Jackson (Hi, AJ!) and also with BHS. It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out, but hopefully they will find some compromise that works for everyone.
fsrg, I agree.
I has half-assed in support of this project when it was announced, but every time this guy opens his mouth he sounds more and more like an asshole.
This guy sounds like a world class scumbag.
“I can’t imaging that he doesn’t sell to”: the Rabbi who was cheering on these project at the first meeting and the hasidic groups buying properties all over south slope and get away with the tax exempts for religious organizations on this property, then the neighbors will pick up the tab for that share of taxes. Leave it to politicians, folks and the mysterious public official Halkias mention.
I can’t imaging that he doesn’t sell to a large hotel chain the minute he gets the variance.