Lefferts Place Threatened by Healthcare Developer
A company wanting to build an out-of-context low-income independent living facility for seniors on a lot at 86 Lefferts Place that runs through the block to Atlantic Avenue has residents up in arms. The company, CNR Healthcare, is trying to get the block rezoned from R6B to R7A to enable them to build the center…
A company wanting to build an out-of-context low-income independent living facility for seniors on a lot at 86 Lefferts Place that runs through the block to Atlantic Avenue has residents up in arms. The company, CNR Healthcare, is trying to get the block rezoned from R6B to R7A to enable them to build the center under Section 202 of HUD only a couple of years after the entire area was downzoned to prevent something like this happening. The juxtaposition would be particularly jarring given that the new six-story building would be plunked down between the landmarked yellow house at 70 Lefferts place and the old green house at 96 Lefferts Place. Ouch! According to residents who’ve tried to work towards some kind of compromise, the company has shown no interest in working with the community to create a more palatable alternative, opting instead to push for a rezoning. The whole thing sounds pretty darn shady to us and we hope that there will be some politicians who stand up and oppose it. In the meantime, you can express your opposition to this spot-rezoning proposal by signing this petition. GMAP P*Shark
“significantly increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic, service trucks, ambulances, noise. What is now a nice block where residents actually sit outside and chat with their neighbors will become a place where everyone stays behind closed doors because of the congestion and noise.
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if the proposal is for a 70-95 apt bldg for independent living for seniors your imagination of what would happen to the block sounds grossly exagerated. Downright hysterical. 100 or so old farts on the block aren’t going to cause much pedestrian traffic nor are they going to be speeding down the block in their corvettes.
As a Lefferts Place homeowner, no one I know is against senior housing. In fact, the multi-generational, economically diverse nature of the block is what attracted many of us in the first place. What is problematic is the scale of the proposed project and all of its attendant issues — significantly increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic, service trucks, ambulances, noise. What is now a nice block where residents actually sit outside and chat with their neighbors will become a place where everyone stays behind closed doors because of the congestion and noise.
Blowfish,
Non Profit is the most misleading term of all time. All it means is a company is not allowed to show a profit. An employee paycheck is not considered profit. Profit is when they have money left over in the bank at the end of a calendar year. Anyone can start a non profit, and earn a salary. The more money the NP brings in the more money you can pay yourself. The salary is public knowledge and anyone can look it up of you do some research. 800k is a very high salary for a non profit position.
wait a sec— Brownstoner says plan is for “low-income independent living facility for seniors ” — that is not same thisn a Nursing and Rehab center. Why are you using that comparison. I’, picturing the bldg similar to Carroll Gardens between Hoyt/Bond on Carroll st I think. WHich also
is ‘too tall’ according to present day neighborhood desires for bldg height. DOn’t think is so bad – and the housing for this group is badly needed—at that age who wants a 3rd fllor walkup.
Also…there is a nursing home (and hospital in Cobble Hill)
–don’t think the quality of life around there is so horrible.
I have visited the CNR Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at 520 Prospect Place on at least 25 separate occasions, at all times of the day and night, and I am utterly flabbergasted by the sheer amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic related to this complex. The traffic is literally non-stop, 24/7, with patients, staff, visitors, ambulance and medical personnel constantly traversing in and out of the facility. The proposed development is wholly inappropriate for a small residential street such as Lefferts Place. It will institutionalize the block, forever change its character and drive away families who prefer to live in a strictly residential community.
The rezoning of Lefferts Place from R6B to R7A will have a devastating impact on the community’s efforts to protect the architectural history of Lefferts Place and establish a dangerous precedent for the rest of Fort Greene – Clinton Hill. It will give developers a green light to acquire property and construct buildings in the R7A district that do not comport to the common scheme and character of our predominantly low-rise brownstone community. The efforts to rezone Lefferts Place may be in the best interest of CNR but it will be in the worst interest of the community which over time will more closely resemble Atlantic Avenue rather than small residential enclave it is today. Many families moved to Lefferts precisely to live in a small residential community. Many of these families will invariably move out and relocate to neighborhoods that are more family oriented and less commercial. Why is the dislocation of families, firmly rooted in the community, in the collective best interest of Lefferts Place and its residents?
CNR’s website says they’re non-profit. I believe they’re unionized. Both good things. How does Head Honch make $800,000/yr (assuming its from this gig alone?) That doesn’t add up to me.
I personally don’t see why low-income housing for the eldery can ‘t come in several, to-scale buildings– why it has to be one monolith or nothing. I think multiple small buildings sounds better, but maybe the financing doesn’t work, I don’t know.
Lefferts Place is part of the Clinton Hill South Historic District and is primarily comprised of low rise townhouses and villas dating back to the mid 19th Century. The proposed development calls for the construction of a six to eight story building (presumably much higher with the inclusion of affordable housing) that would be north of 100,000 square feet and consist of approximately 100 apartment units. The proposed building would tower over the adjacent Elwell House as well as all neighboring low-rise brownstones, limestones and villas.
brokestone- you should contact the people in CHNA and CHRM, if you haven’t already. Maybe they can offer some help or advice. I believe if your district is landmarked, that p[uts restrictions on new construction. You can contact Landmarks and check about applying as a block.YOu need a really strong association of your own to bring pressure to bear on the board.
But bear in mind, the idea of fighting housing for low income seniors makes you seem less than sympathetic- that’s an uphill battle. People will weigh that against your argument of zoning and charm- it’s not a good position to be in. Believe me, I do know.
All that said, if it does happen, you may be able to get the company to give something back to the community- such as gardens or whatever. And realistically- a residence for the elderly is not the worst thing that could happen- out of context or not. (refer to CHRM to see what I mean).