Barf! Katan Tries to (Ab)Use Affordable Housing
As we reported three weeks ago, preservationists are setting their sites on the Domino Sugar Factory just as Isaac Katan is gearing up to squeeze as much FAR as possible out of the plot of land that the iconic structure sits on. Katan, who is one of the most reviled developers in the borough by…
As we reported three weeks ago, preservationists are setting their sites on the Domino Sugar Factory just as Isaac Katan is gearing up to squeeze as much FAR as possible out of the plot of land that the iconic structure sits on. Katan, who is one of the most reviled developers in the borough by people who care about little things like aesthetics and safety, has obviously been learning from Bruce Ratner’ success at hiding under the rubric of Affordable Housing. To wit, his attempt to define the debate on those terms: We certainly support preservation, said a Katan spokesman. But he added, Our priority is affordable housing, and we want to achieve a balanced plan. What a load of baloney! Yassky, who opposed the landmarking of 184 Kent last year (wonder how that decision ended up playing out at the polls?), is onboard to save Domino. It’s a landmark in the popular sense of the word. When I talk to people in Queens or Manhattan about that part of my district, I say it’s right by the Domino Sugar factory, and they know where that is. Hey, if the populist angle will help save the building, go for it, Dave.
In Williamsburg, a Face-Off Over the Future [NY Times]
Photo by Sherilyn
well, that thread just got more and more thoughtful as we went along….
going back to the question at 9:37 am, “Landmark what?!?,” this is the last of what was eight (+/-) sugar refineries that defined the economic and physical landscape of Williamsburg. can’t speak for LPC, but that certain is enough to pass muster for the national register of historic places.
thanks WBer for reminding some folks about certain realities that are as real as, ‘he paid $30M, blah, blah, blah’
and finally, a Williamsburg neighbor of mine walked through the place and told me, ‘it’s not a building; it’s a machine with a skin over it.’ that may also affect the question of adaptive reuse.
you may resume bickering about capitalism and social responsibility now….
“Hate on Katan all you want. He’s filthy rich and you’re dirt poor and bitter. A bunch of desperate, left wing, radical, anti-development whackos! So pathetic!”
So are mob bosses and other criminals. there is a difference, greedy developer, between smart, sustainable development and short term gain that long term is bad for the community and society at large. If the Robert Moses and greedy developers of the 60s had their way, there wouldn’t be a brownstone standing. Would this be an improvement? I love how Real Estate firms and developers always sell the neigborhood on its historic character, yet want to ruin just that. oh and I am right wing republican.
why do i feel this building is going to catch on fire really soon.
I love you Brenda
I agree! Write some checks or shut the hell up! Otherwise, accept the fact that you will be living next door to six 50 story penises! You guys are a sad and sorry bunch! You have no comprehension of the real world and probably have failed at everything ever attempted in life. How can you succeed in anything when you do not live in reality? Hate on Katan all you want. He’s filthy rich and you’re dirt poor and bitter. A bunch of desperate, left wing, radical, anti-development whackos! So pathetic!
That’s right. I paid 30 mil for a ware house and now You are going to give me a Variance to build Luxury Condoms. Which will be made of shit and I’ll probably kill a few illegal immigrants in the process. But what the fuck. They don’t pay taxes anyway. Oh yea! I don’t pay all my taxes either, but I do pay off a lot of politicians so that makes me more important than the rest of you.
Oh! By the way. I forgot to tell you that the rest of you poor slobs will be paying for my new digs in Israel by way of increased taxes while I get a tax break for the next 20 years. Thanks to your stupid 421A tax abatement.
Thanks and Happy Yum Kippur
So i’m a developer and I spend 20 mil on a property. I don’t give a fuck about what anyone living there thinks and I build 6 buildings that resemble giant dicks. It’s my property and it’s my right to make a profit. 99% of the community oppose six giant penis buildings, but they go up anyway. Why shouldn’t the community have a say about what goes up in their back yard?
Here Here! Gowanus.
What is not being considered is that NY and particularly Brooklyn was put on the map by the working class. Most of whom worked in jobs that were somehow related to our waterfront and it’s incredibly deep and natural water line. That the power brokers of this city have taken it upon themselves to sell it out along with all the jobs that it produced is what is truly an embarrassment. How many “LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS” do we really need? Who will buy them all once you’ve pushed all the working class out of the City? Katan and his cronies could not possibly afford to buy all of the Luxury Condo’d on the Market. Even if they could I can assure you that they wouldn’t be buying the ones that they have built. They are all death traps built with Nonunion Day labor of inferior and unstable craftsmanship. If anyone doesn’t believe me, just ask any of the many people who have had the experience of buying into one of his illegally built Towers. Or there neighbors for that matter.
Please everyone calm down. I am sure Isaac Katan, Henry Radusky and Bricolage Designs will find a beautiful creative solution for this new developement site.