Scarano Crashes 4BNA Development Meeting
The Greenpoint Star describes an almost surreal event this week that brought together politicians, DOB officials and neighborhood activists. The main topic in front of the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance (4BNA) was supposed to be the 11-story tower that developer Joe Chan wants to put up on Baltic Street. (That’s neighbor Deborah Kaufmann handing…
The Greenpoint Star describes an almost surreal event this week that brought together politicians, DOB officials and neighborhood activists. The main topic in front of the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance (4BNA) was supposed to be the 11-story tower that developer Joe Chan wants to put up on Baltic Street. (That’s neighbor Deborah Kaufmann handing out alternative proposals for the empty lot in the photo.) But bad-boy architect Robert Scarano may have stolen the show by appearing unexpectedly and trying to make light of his recent troubles: “I’m the poster boy for what’s wrong with Brooklyn,” he reportedly said “wryly” after Councilman Tony Avella had already cited him as exemplifying everything wrong with the building codes and development process in the city today. “I’m practicing for 20 years,” said the Gravesend-born architect in a conversation with Avella. “I can’t be the be all end all of the evil around here, even if I have 150 properties. The Borough President’s office thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread.” Interestingly, Scarano weighed in on the plans for the Baltic Street tower. His verdict? Thumbs down.
Scarano Crashes 4BNA Event [Greenpoint Star]
CHANGE IS ON AND IN THE HORIZON. The sad part is the developers have not looked at the communities across Brooklyn for the beauty in the surrounding homes. All over Brooklyn buildings/homes are being built that do not fit into the style of the neighborhood. They are for the most part ugly and unattractive in comparison with the architect already in place. They build these huge massive buildings to cram people in and don’t think about the impact on the community around it or to the people who will live in the buildings they build. They are shiny and new with no pizzazz. If you ask me Brooklyn is going to the hounds.
CHANGE IS ON AND IN THE HORIZON. The sad part is the developers have not looked at the communities across Brooklyn for the beauty in the surrounding homes. All over Brooklyn buildings/homes are being built that do not fit into the style of the neighborhood. They are for the most part ugly and unattractive in comparison with the architect already in place. They build these huge massive buildings to cram people in and don’t think about the impact on the community around it or to the people who will live in the buildings they build. They are shiny and new with no pizzazz. If you ask me Brooklyn is going to the hounds.
CHANGE IS ON AND IN THE HORIZON. The sad part is the developers have not looked at the communities across Brooklyn for the beauty in the surrounding homes. All over Brooklyn buildings/homes are being built that do not fit into the style of the neighborhood. They are for the most part ugly and unattractive in comparison with the architect already in place. They build these huge massive buildings to cram people in and don’t think about the impact on the community around it or to the people who will live in the buildings they build. They are shiny and new with no pizzazz. If you ask me Brooklyn is going to the hounds.
I love it!!! All this hoopla, and finger pointing. Its great!! I dont know what to think. No news is good news. OR There is no such thing as bad press. Ying and Yang would have a ball with this one. Personally, i think its all a direct result of the rules not being written properly. To many grey areas, and loopholes, that it was only a matter of time untill this came about. As a pioneer, Scarano has blazed a trail and cleared the way for all the other Architects in Brooklyn to go about thier business. Addressing issues, and taking risks most wont, he has almost clearend the mine field, allowing for safe passage. The world isnt flat, and Architecture isnt as cut a dry as most people think. If enough money is to be made, and the right hands are greased, anything is possible. Brooklyn is booming, and someone must grab hold of its reins. I would hate for my Borough to end up looking like a watered down version of itself. Lets all get on the same page and ask The NYC Dept. Of City Planning to stop hiding behind the shortcummings of the DOB, and face the music. Architecture is beautiful, not political. Like State and Church, the two must be kept seperate. Intermingiling will currupt a system that is struggling to hold on.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH SCARANO ATTENDING THE MEETING? THEY WERE HAVING THEIR MEETING ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK. I THINK IT IS BRAVE OF SCARANO TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT HIS — I’M SURE HE HAS BEEN SINGLED OUT AS THE “BAD BOY”, AND I’M NOT SAYING HE IS INNOCENT, BUT I KNOW OF OTHER GREAT SELF CERTIFIED CRIMES TAKING PLACE IN BROOKLYN THESE DAYS, AND PEOPLE ARE FREE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT BECAUSE THE DOB AND THE REST OF THE BOROUGH ONLY HAVE THEIR EYES ON SCARANO. I’M SURE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A WIDESPREAD DESEASE. PROVE THAT YOU ARE TRULLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR BOROUGH AND HELP THESE OTHER ARCHITECTS GET CAUGHT, LIKE SCARANO DID!
I READ IN THE PAPER THAT THEY WERE SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT HIM AT THAT 4BNA MEETING BEFORE HE TOLD THEM WHO HE WAS. THE FUNNY THING IS THEY REALLY LIKED HIM UNTIL HE REVEALED HIS IDENTITY… HE REALLY DOESN’T LOOK LIKE SUCH A BAD PERSON WHEN YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM.
NO THREATS FROM THE THUG YET????
“I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread”
Is that part of a towering turkey club sandwich, with bacon mezzanines? Or PB&J (pretty bad and a joke)?
He’s definitely doing damage control in lieu of the OATH trial covered by the NY Times a few weeks back…scheduled for July.
Word down at DOB is that anytime one of his properties comes through the door, everyone assumes it will be added to the OATH hearing. Wishful thinking.
The endorsement of Brooklyn’s Bozo in Residence, Markowitz, is not always a good thing.
For the record, I like Scarano buildings, he is a local boy who injects modern archicture into New York’s dead veins. Too bad he seems to be push the envelope in areas outside of architecture.
Unfortunately, comments are also an accurate reflection on the priorities of our Borough President’s office