360 Smith: Update and Review of New Plans
No one can accuse the group of Carroll Gardeners protesting the large building that William Stein is trying to build at 360 Smith Street of lacking enthusiasm. Tact and subtlety, maybe, but definitely not enthusiasm. In the wake of the developer being granted permits to erect a fence around the property at the corner of…
No one can accuse the group of Carroll Gardeners protesting the large building that William Stein is trying to build at 360 Smith Street of lacking enthusiasm. Tact and subtlety, maybe, but definitely not enthusiasm. In the wake of the developer being granted permits to erect a fence around the property at the corner of Smith and Second Place last week, the group, which calls itself CORD (Coalition for Respectful Development), called for Bill de Blasio’s head on a stick in a somewhat manic email. Up to that point, de Blasio’s targeting of the project’s architect, Robert Scarano, had jibed nicely with CORD’s agenda of reducing the size and increasing the contextuality of 360 Smith. The issuing of the permits, however, prompted the protesters to accuse de Blasio of being “very disingenuous.” This email followed another in which they urged people to fight the building on behalf of the squirrels who like to hang out in the plaza and the circulation of a petition calling for a moratorium on the construction of any building over the height of 50 feet “until landmarking or a down-zoning is decided.” (The petition had over 800 signatures at last count.) The latest news, via a CORD email last night, is that the revised renderings (which have not been publicly released yet) are still unacceptable:
With or without the trademark Scarano elements the building is clearly massive. On the southern-most corner of the Smith Street side, where the building facade will be “commercial” not residential is a seventy foot tower. This rectangular prism juts vertically into space sure to cast an enormous shadow and act as a light barrier for all the buildings on Smith Street. The rest of the commercial facade is very tall and goes along the Smith street sidewalk with no set back and joins the Hannah Senesh School known for its VERY! eclectic mix and match materials and colored architecture. The new facade in turn, will cast an enormous shadow on Second Street.
It’s hard for us to weigh in on without seeing the new renderings but there’s no reason to think that the description above isn’t right on the money. Can anyone email the renderings to us (anonymity guaranteed)? In the meantime, if there’s anyone in the neighborhood with a background in public relations who opposes the project, you should think about donating your time to CORD. They would benefit from some polish and focus.
Scarano Pushback on Smith [Brownstoner] GMAP
Mixed Agendas at Anti-Scarano Rally on Smith Street [Brownstoner]
Yeah, more conspiracy, corruption, yadda, yadda. Not that the zoning, etc hasn’t been in place for decades. And the proposed bldg had been on Scarano’s website for several years (but only at last minute is the outrage). BTW, even on his website the new rendering is not yet available.
Even under current zoning, there are very few parcels in the neighborhood that could viably be asembled to build these ‘towering’ apt buildings. So fear factor of area being taken over or forever changed is hysteria. There are some buildings in area that are this size (or bigger) and seem to work well. Degraw between Hoyt and Bond – the old school). Degraw between Smith and Court has newer bldg. 505 Court st is very bulky.
Fine if want to work to get new zoning in, etc. And especially important to prevent ‘tear downs’ etc. And would be great to expand ‘historic district’. But hard to imagine this proposal is any way harmful. The shadow talk is really silly. Very very few people can afford to buy a townhouse or brownstone. All neighborhoods have to allow other types of housing in. Carroll Gardens is too central to have total 50′ cap.
It is unrealistic and selfish. Especially on top of a subway station on a commercial street.
Why not all this neighborhood energy go into improving look of Smith St. on blocks immediately south of this location? That is blight. Not this proposal.
to posters 10:11, 10:29, 10:42, 10:50, 10:55, 10:58 and 11:00
thank you for your thoughtful and carefully-reasoned arguments against the neighborhood committee’s concerns. It is truly refreshing to see enlightened debate on both sides of a contentious issue
I don’t understand. How is it that the developer can build on the plaza? Is it not public?
Can someone please explain?
Don’t want someone towering down on you from three stories up (you got to chuckle!) then buy out the developer. I think it would be a great investment. The lot can be yours for $4M and then you can turn around and create an organic vegetable garden for the community. Now how noble would that be? You’d be a local hero!
What? What was that you said? It wouldn’t make “economic sense”? Hhhhhmmmm…that’s a novel concept. First time hearing of it on this board. What does it mean?
You moved next door to a MASSIVE empty corner lot that sits on a major commercial strip. What did you expect would eventually get built there? A community garden?
Real Estate 101: Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware
Boring but true.
I wish I could figure out your point. Wycoff and Gowanus towers would not be built today if you had to flatten an entire neighborhood. (Not too many people would say that 60s-style urban renewal was a big success.) What does that have to do with the Smith Street project? NO ONE is saying that there should be a ban on tall buildings in New York City. They are merely trying to convince a developer to scale back one project which is the size it is because of a strange zoning loophole.
Ohhhhh boy….More corruption non-sense. Yes, we heard it all with AY: backroom dealing, money under the table, complicity and “developers gone wild.” Yadayadayadayada…. So boring… 🙁
Anything “as of right” does not have consider rights of the “folks next door”. But it was meant for stuff like fixing your doors or windows NOT! a 46 family hosuing developmetn! “As of right” is being grossly maniplulated by slick developers with big bucks, that much is obvious. What really irks here is the inherent compilcity of the POLS deBlasio and Markowtiz are right there on the top of the list. Money talks, and the POLS understand the zoning lawas better than the average Joe. The “people” are right to be furious! You would be do if these guys were planning this project next door to the beautiful house you have lived in and worked on for years. Cut them some slack!