Mixed Agendas at Anti-Scarano Rally on Smith Street
We’d guesstimate that about 60 people spent their lunch hour yesterday listening to Councilman Bill de Blasio rail against the proposed design by Robert Scarano for the plaza and adjoining lot at Smith and 2nd Place in Carroll Gardens and call for the revocation of Mr. Scarano’s license to practice architecture. In his prepared remarks,…
We’d guesstimate that about 60 people spent their lunch hour yesterday listening to Councilman Bill de Blasio rail against the proposed design by Robert Scarano for the plaza and adjoining lot at Smith and 2nd Place in Carroll Gardens and call for the revocation of Mr. Scarano’s license to practice architecture. In his prepared remarks, de Blasio likened having Scarano do a project in the neighborhood to letting “the fox in the chicken coop.” “Scarano’s not welcome in our community,” he said more than once. Of course, the irony of de Blasio shaking his fist over an eight-story building being built in Carroll Gardens when he has not had any problem with a number of much taller buildings being built in nearby Fort Greene and Prospect Heights was not lost on some of the anti-Atlantic Yards protesters who showed up. In a piece of comedic theatre, two sign-holders from the de Blasio camp were kept on their toes trying to make sure that their anti-Scarano posters blocked the those of the Atlantic Yards protesters from the view of cameras. (Lots of reporters were on hand.) When the conference was over, we heard some locals saying they couldn’t give a hoot who the architect was as long as the building ended up being smaller scale. (“An enemy of my enemy is my friend.”) Based on an email that has made the rounds and was reported on Gowanus Lounge yesterday, the developer has already agreed to make the facade better integrated with neighboring buildings and has agreed to switch to a brick facade; last we heard, though, he wasn’t willing to give on the height of the building, which at its highest point is planned to reach 70 feet. Update: Neighborhood blog First and Court is reporting that DOB rejected the most recent set of plans yesterday.
Scarano Pushback on Smith [Brownstoner]
New Developments in the Battle of 360 Smith [Gowanus Lounge]
I don’t understand what the whole issue with Mr. S. is these days.
He lost many jobs because he used to push the envelope but no one can take his talent as an architect.
In my opinion he design very nice looking building and he is not related to the unsafely incidents in the sites.
Most of the people here can like or dislike his style, but establishing a hobby of criticizing and complaining of new construction is a different issue. Let’s face it for these guys – participating in this blog is a social act. So one guy complain – like sheep – all the others do so. It became a trendy to point on MR. S. but he is not the target.
Its not necessarily the 8 story buildings that’ll get ya, more like the 6 foot 8 councilman.
3:36 actually all the critics sound ignorant of zoning, architecture, building, and codes, while the defenders sound informed about the issues.
TO 5:18
1. I have never worked with Scarano before.
2. Don’t use my name.
3. Present yourself. Let’s see what have you done.
4. Spell check. “often” and not “ofter”.
Hi
The developers hired scarano because his product was sellable to the buyers period .
All the buyers loved his plans its a fact.
and the DOB teached him the loopholes up until nobody knew, the minute pepole started complaining thats when they turned their back on him.
the CODE language is written in a way that dosen’t suit todays developments when scarano came up to the dob a few years ago and made plans according to his understanding of the code the DOB had no problem with it, THEY even urged to become self certified,
when noise came up about his projects all of a sudden things became ilegal,
reminds me from my hometown RUSSIA
360 Smith- Lots of plans are rejected several times ….we don’t know the reason nor does it prove much. My neighbors are trying to get permit for addition …several times rejected. Means little.
333 Carroll…yes, Scarano rightfully gets flack for trying to find loopholes. And probably deserves getting his self-certification revoked.
And some major fines.
Bowery, Finger and Grand. I see nothing in what your claim to fault architect. Sounds like owner/developer and lawyers to me.
My opinion is Scaranot should have punishment and that he is a bit ‘nutty’
(he has written me silly emails after criticised him on this blog awhile back). But I think most of his buildings are attractive and creative.
I may not like the height/size of some of them where they are built but nonethless I don’t think any are POS or whatever other childish remarks are often made here. I’ve not seen any inferior in quality or design.
And to this development on Smith, whetner he is architect or not, I find nothing wrong with 70′ (not sure if this is 6 or 8 story) at this location if is built ‘as of right’.
On commercial street, right after elevated track structure,etc. I would object if middle of block of President between Smith/Hoyt but am amazed at objection to this spot. Maybe only small # of whiners no matter what is proposed.
By the way I am a zoning attorney who ofter works with Robert Scarano.
Mr. Anonymous and others,
You should be going after the DOB and not the hard working people who make things happen. The DOB is confused, tired and they can’t deal with the amount of new bulidings going up. If you have problems with bulk go to city planning.
Scarano did not break any laws. He just sat down and read the zoning resolution.
By the way I am a zoning attorney.
Other archiects, I assume are just envy of him because they don’t have the wit to interpet the zoning resolution.
I assume they never went through it.
Hey, Mr. Zvi,
It’s not as of right if you mislead DOB as to what you are actually building, as Scarano has done on many occasions, hence the loss of self-cert privileges and many of the above cited problems he has run into.
Everyone who is complaining about mixing up the developer with the architect is missing the point. Scarano is the go to guy for developers who want to build more than the law allows because Scarano is willing to put in false filings that allow the developer to do so. So in criticizing Scarano is a useful shorthand for criticizing the developer and the project.
At this point, he has played it fast and loose on so many projects, and thankfully gotten caught on some of them, that his mere involvement raises eyebrows.
For you pro-development types, he is not responsible for the boom in new condos. That would have happened whether Scarano or someone else was the architect. What Scarano is responsible for is a bunch of problematic development that exceeds what the law really allows.
So don’t come complaining about “as of right” — lots of architects can do that. Scarano goes beyond that and that’s why people are unhappy about him.