Opposition to Prospect Hotel Mounting
Over the weekend we were sent a number of statements by people who live in the vicinity of the Prospect Grand Hall, whose owners recently proposed a plan to erect an 11-story building with parking and hotel rooms on the site. While there was plenty of support voiced for the project at last week’s community…
Over the weekend we were sent a number of statements by people who live in the vicinity of the Prospect Grand Hall, whose owners recently proposed a plan to erect an 11-story building with parking and hotel rooms on the site. While there was plenty of support voiced for the project at last week’s community board meeting (including a vote of confidence by the 5th Avenue BID), the emails we saw over the weekend were largely negative.
— “A building and business of that size will have an enormous negative impact on the quality of life for the residents of 16th street. As others have pointed out, we’ve fought hard to have zoning put into place to keep the scale and feel of this neighborhood.”
–“An 11 story hotel on the GPH site is an abomination. It will completely commercialize the block…To preserve our neighborhood this project must be stopped.”
–“As I stood outside my house today I thought about the height and scope of this project. I am concerned about the height of the project, it would loom over anything in the neighborhood, 11 stories, the tallest is about 8 stories on that block (unless I counted/remember incorrectly). In reading the details on IMBY’s blog I also see that houses on 16th would be demo’ed and that bothers me. Even if they currently own the properties, it is the changing of the scale of the neighborhood that is worrisome.”
–“Aside from the infrastructure and traffic issues, the shadow this 110+’ building will cast, the noise, the blight it will make 16th street into with two major driveways cut into the middle of the block all make me very nervous.”
Personally, we can’t see the justification for a variance in this situation, regardless of the kind of impact the project would have.
Ok,
My vote is to eminent domain the whole block and then build a series of apt buildings along Prospect Parkway. The ballroom can have its hotel.
NY needs apartments. Along prospect parkway is about as inobtrusive as development will get.
That said, I am sure there are many who would prefer to restore the roads to their original unpaved condition. After all, that’s how it was at the turn of the last century when those houses were built.
From the brooklyn paper:
“Developer Michael Halkias, owner of the Grand Prospect Hall catering center between 15th and 16th streets, has also touted his “Grand Prospect Hotel†plan, but even he was pitching it as a garage project at the meeting at Public School 10.’
“And he’s spent decades courting the good will of the borough’s political establishment. Records show that Halkias and his wife Alice have given $16,150 to various local candidates since 2000.
The vast majority of that — $9,850 — was given to Borough President Markowitz, whose support will be needed as the project moves through the public review process.”
@IMBY “Even though the Board of Standards and Appeals is famous for rubber stamping developers’ plans, in the case of The Grand Prospect Hall Hotel, the owners would have a hard time proving “financial hardship” in order to get a variance. GPH is a thriving business.”
That’s what I have been saying, indirectly. Claiming they will have to lower the bar of their clientele, which from some of the posts is already questionable, is complete BS. They are fully booked up every weekend (and many week nights) when I have passed by.
@clintonhillbuyer, IMBY is correct. GPH has a heck of a lot more $$ to (eventually) throw around in the attempt to garner positive public support. But I think they are going to get a battle on their hands now that cat’s out of the bag. Via Community Board 7 or otherwise.
I am curious to hear CB7’s and CM Lander’s response to the new criticism from the community, in the press and on this blog.
“2 laws in this City – The Toll Brothers spent $365,000 on lobbyists to get their rezoning.
I’m guessing that GPH has not hired a PR firm judging by their NY1 interview and that embarrassing handout passed around but they do have a lawyer. Not sure how many homeowners can afford the $$$ up front retainer and $400 per hour fee in order to get their points heard.
I would bet that for most of the homeowners objecting to this hotel, their homes are their only major asset.
Thanks IMBY and g_man – very helpful.
IMBY – if they are seeking a zoning change, it does not go through BSA, so the findings of a variance do not apply. Financial hardship, therefore, is not a factor (often the inability to prove a hardship, or one that is not self-created, is the reason for doing rezoning vs. variance – no idea if that is the case here).
“2 laws in this City –
One for the haves and an other for the have nots.”
PUH-LEASE!!! I’m so sick and tired of Slopers talking about “haves and have-nots.” We had to sit through the same bullshit after the snow storm. I dont think the distinction between upper middle class and rich counts as “haves and have-nots.”
Do you people define poverty as being forced to buy a used Vovlo and a brownstone wtihout sufficient period detail?
AJ is correct in that they are seeking a “spot rezoning” similar to what the Toll Brothers received along the Gowanus Canal when they wanted to build their large scale condo project… From a Manufacturing Zone to a Residential Zone.
I think the owners of the GPH were at some time hoping that they could extend the commercial over lay provided by 5th Avenue, but they found that would still not give them enough extra FAR to build what they want
Even though the Board of Standards and Appeals is famous for rubber stamping developers’ plans, in the case of The Grand Prospect Hall Hotel, the owners would have a hard time proving “financial hardship” in order to get a variance. GPH is a thriving business.
I don’t think it is important, at this time to get bogged down in aesthetic debate about the drawings. The GPH has not really finished their investigation and design process. No traffic, shadow, environmental impact studies have been under taken… yet. That information will be made public at a later time, according to their lawyer. The owners of GPH, and their architect couldn’t even provide a definite answer to any questions related to specific dates or even provide a general time frame as to when these things will occur.
What I find objectionable is that they intend to tear down two homes along residential 16th Street to provide access to the parking lot and service loading dock for the hotel. It is the rear of the building (they provided no renderings at the meeting) which poses the biggest threat to the health and well being of the neighborhood. Follow up public meetings are being planned.
If you have questions and or concerns, now is the time to contact Com. Board #7 and let them know. They will forward them on to The GPH.
http://www.brooklyncb7.org/committees/?a=detail&content_id=76
AJ, you’re right about the zoning. I thought this place was further up the hill.
@g_man, I’ll have to check the zoning map, but I believe the only R5b (sadly) in the 2005 rezoning was Webster Place, Jackson Place and a small part of 16th Street. There may have been a small part of Prospect Ave, but that would have been above 6th Ave.