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]
ActionJackson,
Given some of the people who attended yesterday’s rally such as a certain funeral home owner and members of the Carroll Gardens Assoc., Gowanus Canal CDC, and the IND (a lot of these groups are the same people – different names) I would say this is politically motivated. Many people have called our CM in the past about other Scarano projects and have been ignored (or they have blamed the lack of response on staff message taking skills). It is only by telephoning and emailing en masse that those of use who live on the wrong side of Hoyt have been able to get our CM’s attention.
If Scarano quit architecture tomorrow, do you think the 8-story builder would go away? The developer would just find a new architect to build that big. Would the opponents be any happier with that?
Not that I like his buildings, but I think (thanks partly to this blog) he’s just become shorthand for “I’m just so sick of everything that’s happening in Brooklyn!” But focusing on him here just muddles the issue.
You design an ugly building out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood and people protest. As they have a right to do. Simple as that.
ActionJackson,
Given some of the people who attended yesterday’s rally such as a certain funeral home owner and members of the Carroll Gardens Assoc., Gowanus Canal CDC, and the IND (a lot of these groups are the same people – different names) I would say this is politically motivated. Many people have called our CM in the past about other Scarano projects and have been ignored (or they have blamed the lack of response on staff message taking skills). It is only by telephoning and emailing en masse that those of use who live on the wrong side of Hoyt have been able to get our CM’s attention.
Seems to me 2 different factions.
DiBlasio and other anti-Scarano people because of very questionable professional practices of the ‘architect’ and probably would not have been there if someone else had been architect on this deal.
Then the neigbhorhood people who could care less about architect…just don’t want 8 story building.
2 different issues don’t make a good fit. Each trying to use each other for own agenda.
Frankly, this comment “It’s nice to be able to stand outside on a pleasant day and watch the subway come down. Why should we lose that?” sounds too self-serving. Someone should not be able to develop his property because you waon’t be able to stand outside and watch the train coming? Gimme a break.
These NIMBYs never give up. After loosing on the Atlantic Yards Mega project, now they are going after the little guys. Well Hopefully the city wont listen to them and let Scarano and the developer build their building there. You buy the lot you built on the lot. Simple as that.
In this week’s Brooklyn Papers:
http://tinyurl.com/282el3
I love:
“I know what they’re saying out there,†Scarano said. “But now we’ve studied the area, and the building is going to be less modern.â€
Whatever. As long as there are no worker deaths, we’ll all be happy.
“Right, per my post on an earlier string regarding Scarano, Scarano’s the enabler for developers who want to profit by violating the building code and zoning laws. He signs off on stuff ethical architects won’t.”
Perfectly put. He is hired specifically for these reasons and thus attracts the lowest of the low-life developers.
The “I just draw them” excuse just does not fly with Scarano anymore.
If the State would take a closer look, he’d be out of biz. Perhaps he himself could become a developer and hire some of his own staff.
And agreed as well with AM Brennan’s DOB package at the State level. With the nick-named “Scarano” bill, he’s be out of biz quicker than you can say mezzanine.
As far as CM de Blasio, I wonder why now go after Scarano? Personal vendetta or political positioning? Seems personal to me.
But, if he gets the job done, I’m all for it, regardless the motive.
10:34, he will change his line of work if he loses his license to practice.
Second 10:35. Beyond Scarano, this development proposal is not something we have to roll over for.
Develop the parking lot, but do it within the zoning and in proper context to the neighborhood.