We need to make these sites into assets for the community. Many of these developments are causing real hazards for their neighbors, with fences falling down on sidewalks, loose construction debris that can become deadly in high winds, and unsecured sites that are dangerous for children and an invitation to squatting.
Help the effort to convert local blight to community benefit by providing feedback and tracking the progress of each site.
Leave comments below on a individual site to update us on the conditions. If you call 311 about an issue, please leave a complaint number in the comment.
Showing posts with label Idle development site. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idle development site. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
430 Carroll Street, Gowanus
(between 3rd Avenue and the Gowanus Canal)
Project Description: Development of sites along the Gowanus Canal
Project Type: Existing buildings and development site
Status: No activity. Sites for sale.
Background: Developer Shaya Boymelgreen and investors began planning Gowanus Village, a major residential development, in 2004. They bought three large parcels of land along the east side of the canal; two adjoining lots are between Carroll and 1st Streets, and the third is across the street on the 1st Street side. The site contained former manufacturing and industrial buildings, with prior uses that including a printing ink company, manufacturer of electrical equipment, a plumbing contractor, a truck storage facility, an auto repair facility, an auto wrecker, a sheet metal processor, an oil company and a storage facility. One of the remaining buildings was a historic red brick power station.
Boymelgreen hit financial trouble and was bought out by developer Isaac Katan and the original co-investors, Africa-Israel, which put the sites up for sale in early 2008. The buildings on the sites are deteriorating. A 2006 violation noted failure to maintain one of the buildings, which had hazardous conditions including bricks missing from the lintel above the garage door, the façade cracked and bulging, leaning brick columns and cracked mortar joints. Subsequent violations indicate that the defective conditions are continuing. The sites are not classified as Stalled.
Project Description: Development of sites along the Gowanus Canal
Project Type: Existing buildings and development site
Status: No activity. Sites for sale.
Background: Developer Shaya Boymelgreen and investors began planning Gowanus Village, a major residential development, in 2004. They bought three large parcels of land along the east side of the canal; two adjoining lots are between Carroll and 1st Streets, and the third is across the street on the 1st Street side. The site contained former manufacturing and industrial buildings, with prior uses that including a printing ink company, manufacturer of electrical equipment, a plumbing contractor, a truck storage facility, an auto repair facility, an auto wrecker, a sheet metal processor, an oil company and a storage facility. One of the remaining buildings was a historic red brick power station.
Boymelgreen hit financial trouble and was bought out by developer Isaac Katan and the original co-investors, Africa-Israel, which put the sites up for sale in early 2008. The buildings on the sites are deteriorating. A 2006 violation noted failure to maintain one of the buildings, which had hazardous conditions including bricks missing from the lintel above the garage door, the façade cracked and bulging, leaning brick columns and cracked mortar joints. Subsequent violations indicate that the defective conditions are continuing. The sites are not classified as Stalled.
Monday, February 1, 2010
138 Sackett Street and 211 Columbia Street, Columbia Waterfront District
(near corner of Sackett Street and Columbia Street, with existing building fronting Columbia Street and open lot fronting Sackett Street)
Project Type: New building
Project Description: Construction of new 11 story building (10 dwelling units + retail)
Status: Frozen, no activity, not in compliance with rezoning.
Background: Permits for a new, 11 story building were issued in 2007, demolition of an existing structure was planned, and a sidewalk shed was installed. The roof was demolished, but the wall of the adjacent building was not protected and has had water damage. A Stop Work Order was issued in mid-2008 and was partially rescinded only to allow weatherproofing and masonry repairs. The developer opposed the changes in the 421a tax exemption law, which would have necessitated affordable housing units, and he put the site up for sale but couldn’t find a buyer. He subsequently reported that he was considering building new townhouses instead.
Meanwhile, the Carroll Gardens/Columbia Waterfront Rezoning was undertaken, and the previously-planned tall building would be out-of-compliance and cannot proceed. Under its new R6A zone, the maximum height can be 70 feet. The sidewalk shed permits were renewed in December 2009, but no new building plans have been filed.
Project Type: New building
Project Description: Construction of new 11 story building (10 dwelling units + retail)
Status: Frozen, no activity, not in compliance with rezoning.
Background: Permits for a new, 11 story building were issued in 2007, demolition of an existing structure was planned, and a sidewalk shed was installed. The roof was demolished, but the wall of the adjacent building was not protected and has had water damage. A Stop Work Order was issued in mid-2008 and was partially rescinded only to allow weatherproofing and masonry repairs. The developer opposed the changes in the 421a tax exemption law, which would have necessitated affordable housing units, and he put the site up for sale but couldn’t find a buyer. He subsequently reported that he was considering building new townhouses instead.
Meanwhile, the Carroll Gardens/Columbia Waterfront Rezoning was undertaken, and the previously-planned tall building would be out-of-compliance and cannot proceed. Under its new R6A zone, the maximum height can be 70 feet. The sidewalk shed permits were renewed in December 2009, but no new building plans have been filed.
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