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
what politician is going to oppose housing for elderly?
gotta be kidding.
What would be a more ‘palatable alternative’?
What, take a moment to read brokestone’s post and try to bring your game up a few notches.
Can we see the plans for this building anywhere?
“This is of great concern to me and my neighbors since we just fought to have the zoning changed to prevent this size of development. ”
Why because you feel Lefferts Pl. is “Special”?
“This was a density issue as well, they were trying to destroy the “neighborhood feel” of this block.”
So just leave a Hole In The Ground???!!!
WHAT?! Lefferts Pl. between Grand and Classon is a God Damn Dump! That building would improve that block. Oh God what a bunch of Jackasses!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end..
The issue here is not to deny low income housing to anyone. It’s to have them build it within the zoning laws that were put in place in 2007. CNR can do this, HUD said they can do this, but they wont. The zoning laws were designed specifically to encourage developers to build large scale properties on the empty lots on Fulton and Atlantic.
This is about CNR, and it’s desire to make as much money as possible out of this project, regardless of the any laws in place.
This is of great concern to me and my neighbors since we just fought to have the zoning changed to prevent this size of development. We are also irked by the fact that we have been getting incorrect information from all levels – CNR, Community Board 2 (CB2), and local community leaders We have not been getting the entire set of facts for this proposed project.
About 2 weeks ago, fliers were distributed throughout Lefferts Place regarding CNR’s proposed development. The name of the developer on the flier was misspelled which made it difficult for us to conduct our own due diligence prior to the meeting. At the meeting, CNR never told us that they were looking to upzone our block to build their project. They pitched it originally as a variance, which we would still oppose We only learned of their plan to rezone our block when we phoned the attorney for CNR. Their attorney disclosed that they are actually seeking to upzone the site up from the recent R6B designation, which was supported unanimously by all Brooklyn politicians, up to R7A the same zoning as Atlantic, Fulton and Myrtle Avenues.
The rezoning was apparently an easier route for them to go since it would be harder for them to get a variance. The variance would require them to prove 5 different criteria, which given the size of the lot and the circumstances surrounding their development, would be hard for them to prove. This upzoning would set a precedent for the rest of downsized Fort Greene and Clinton Hill and really any residential neighborhood in Brooklyn. If this goes through, developers would be encouraged to change zoning laws in order to make their projects more lucrative, even though the size and scope of the projects are contrary to what the current residents want.
We asked if perhaps they could scale back the project so that it fits within the current zoning laws. The rep for CNR said there is no way they can alter their current application with HUD. They stated that they had to stick with the original application they submitted to HUD in 2000. They stated that any attempt to alter the current renderings may cause them to loose the HUD funding. Now mind you the original 2000 application includes renderings which has a building with 76 studio units and 22 one bedroom units. But in the meeting this week they said the building would contain a total of 71 units. So they have already modified the original application they submitted to HUD, even though they said they could not alter it now. Or they are lying. The bottom line is once the area is rezoned CNR can propose a building even twice the size of the one they are proposing to us. Other developers can build large scale buildings on Lefferts Place that are out of context.
When we spoke to the project manager at HUD reviewing their application, they told us CNR’s application was approved in 2000 and a firm commitment for the project was issued in 2002. The firm commitment has expired so CNR has to re-submit a portion of their application. This application would have to comply with current zoning laws. We were told that CNR would have to either have to change their current plans to conform to the current zoning laws or get the current zoning laws changed to conform to the project they are currently proposing to us. This means that they can in fact downsize the proposal. Contrary to what they are telling us, the proposed project does not have to be this large out of zone building that CNR says it has to be in order to retain the funding. This leads me to believe that the only reason CNR will not attempt to adhere to the current zoning laws is strictly because they are trying to make as much money as possible for this project. They do not care about this community.
Then most disturbingly John Dew, the chair of Community Board 2 (CB2), was also in attendance at the meeting representing CB2. He voiced his support for the project and stated that CB2 fully supported this plan, even though CB2 supported the rezoning that just occurred in 2007. Suddenly now they are against the R6B zoning on Lefferts Place. Residents asked him about the potential land marking application and how this could affect this project, and he actually said with a straight face that there is no application for an extension of the land marking in Clinton Hill districts and that he has never heard of any attempt at one. I”m assuming this means CB2 had some sort of meeting on giving the thumbs up for this project before it was even presented and more importantly before it was discussed with us!! Am I wrong or are they supposed to review these projects AFTER they are submitted for review? If that is not the case, shouldn’t they at least talk to the residents of this block and the community about whether or not WE support this rezoning since we are the ones who will be directly affected before making a decision?
The residents of Lefferts Place spent a lot of time and effort basically denying Chris Morris the right to develop a large building on the adjacent lot which holds the Yellow House. Tish James supported us. This was a density issue as well, they were trying to destroy the “neighborhood feel” of this block. This was done before the rezoning that happened in 2007. Now they are going to force an even larger building right next door to the house that they so readily helped landmark??? After they rezoned the block??? This CNR development would change the character of this block forever, making it another Atlantic Avenue!
” rezoned from R6B to R7A to enable them to build the center under Section 202 of HUD ”
i fully understood your Twitter post from yesterday, but need a glossary for this one.
Apparently What doesn’t understand the phrase “out of context.” I saw it before when he ranted about my use of a certain word.
“out of context” okaaaaay.
also, anyone railing against housing for low income elderly has a special place in hell for them.
*rob*