Reading for a Rainy Weekend: Perspective

Good reads for those who have interest in development and history. I've kept these two links on my personal list of things to check once in a while for over a year now. It's time to clean house (or blogroll), and there's no better time for that than a dreary, indoor weekend.

Here are two items from years ago (though not quite as far off as this or this) to remind us that new and disturbing buildings are not so very new, and Sunset Park's changes (and the reactions to them) is also the same old, same old. It's good to remember that efforts at positive change do work, and that it's never a one-time job. It's also never a job that we can hope someone else completes. Many people have to do the heavy lifting. Enjoy.

What You See in Sunset Park: Building Boom

A lovely walk down 43rd Street to get a papaya drink (I wanted avocado, but it was too early) at Ba Xuyen revealed some activity at 765 43rd Street after their stop work order was rescinded. It's going to be an eight unit building. Add that to the ten units at 713-715 43rd, and I think we're in for one heck of a big block party next year! Let's hear it for development that forces irresponsible population explosions! Go trash pick-up! Go school overcrowding! Go water! Go Park use!

These photos were taken on Wednesday morning (8/19/09).

A front-loader was very actively and quickly digging up dirt from the site. Considering the nine complaints lodged against this site in less than a year, perhaps the sooner the better for the next door neighbors. I mean, since the developers around here just do whatever they want with as few permits as they can get away with, it may as well be over as soon as possible.

One of the elderly residents of the next door building was taking a look at the work. This is the same building that has a front lawn memorial. The two residents I've seen and said hello to are both very friendly and sweet. I feel terrible that they have had to deal with the demolition and now digging and soon construction that they've endured for over a year already. If you happen to walk by and see anything that seems odd, please call 311. The adjacent building has already had to be repaired more than once due to the demo and foundation at 765 43rd Street. And we all know how well a "repair" holds up. How much shall we bet that 763 gets sold to another (or the same) developer to make another apartment building?

This block of 43rd will soon be all apartment buildings.

Hey! What's that I see through the backyard? Another apartment building going up on the next street over! Nice.

Fancy Wall Toppers for New Construction

The new construction on 44th Street, close to 8th is shaping up to be everything I hoped. Recently, four fancy decorative elements were added to the penthouse terrace. The planters will be filled to overflowing with fragrant blooms, I'm sure. Check out the shiny marble-esque-ness of the pair of balls the building sports below. I can't wait to see what the balconies look like!

What Happened at the Department of City Planning Hearing Yesterday?

Sunset Park had five people speak up at the DCP hearing on the re-zoning. What follows is from a SPAN email, provided by one of the people who were there. Thanks to Arun for allowing me to re-post his email.

No matter which side you're on in the re-zoning (are there three sides? Four?), it's important to stay informed and active. The re-zoning, or the lack of re-zoning, will affect our streets for better and worse. Take a look around at what is for sale right now. There are a lot of "For Sale" signs out there, and each one could become something pretty scary if we let it.

from Arun Aguiar:

5 folks spoke on our matter, 4 against, 1 for.

The guy who was for has a narrow interest in seeing that his two-story property at 61st & 2nd Ave, which is currently outside the preferred zone, be somehow included in the up-zoning.

The other 4 who spoke against were: Maria Roca, Arun Aguiar,Wendy of Committee to Protect Sunset Park, and finally David Galarza.

We didn't have anything new to say, but we all said our stuff in different ways:
I introduced myself as representing (the new) Gandhi-Ji Community Center, and said one of the programs I/ we were supporting was PTP, and I distributed PTP flyers to all 14 Commissioners present, through the Secretary.

I expressed disappointment that the Commission was holding the hearing without Brooklyn Borough President having informed us (the community) what his decision was, but that didn't fly with Charlie Rose's girlfriend, Commission Chair, Amanda Burden; she said he had sent his ok to them.

Wendy endorsed my views, and made some of the Commissioners sit up when she handed over a petition demanding an end to the Zoning process as it now stands, accompanied by 4,000 signatures

Two different Commissioners asked, one of Wendy and the other of David, whether the Community Board vote of 34-0 in favor had no significance. Wendy replied that they did not take into account the sentiments of the community. When he was asked, David retorted that the Board was dominated by affluent Windsor Terrace, who do not accurately reflect the diversity that is Sunset Park, and Windsor Terrace issues were swiftly and speedily solved, while Sunset Park civic issues went on the back-burner.

Maria Roca, as usual, made an impassioned plea and exhorted the Commission to preserve the beauty of Sunset Park as a great city resource.

NEXT STEP: A 2nd hearing by the Commission after they have had time to digest our comments and staff submissions. We will NOT get a chance to be heard at this hearing, which, however, WILL be open for observation by the public

Amanda Burden did commit to directing her staff to meet with Wendy, in particular, and the community in general to explain how the City Planning proposal was in fact a PROTECTIVE ZONING.

Sunset Park Matters

Since becoming a parent of two, I've been slipping on the housing issues in the area. And because I was never particularly crusader-like to begin with (nor was/am I especially knowledgeable about permits and zoning), that means my occasional calling out on developers has slowed to a trickle.

Luckily, Sunset Park Matters has photos and vivid commentary about a couple of my pet peeves in the area. One is the new hotel (?) going up and up and up on 39th and 5th. The other is the dead brownstone turned multi-unit/commercial building on 6th Avenue. They are far from unique right now. Building is booming. The blog asks for residents to document and send in examples of irresponsible development.

I'm not a fan of the strategies sometimes used in the postings and response to commenters; I think it turns more residents off than enrolls them in the issue. But I don't need to like it, I just need to read it and research what's said and respond to it. Besides, we need bullhorns these days to help us pay attention to issues around us. Check out the site.

When Development Attacks

A resident on 47th between 7th and 8th wrote in to Brownstoner for advice on how to handle a "monstrosity" being built next door. The thread has several responses and answers on how to deal with the issue (and subsequent property value drop).

It's a little confusing because the original question states that the block is all brownstone houses, yet the block is actually facing rows of cute brick houses with porches. It's one of my favorite blocks. I always try to walk down it on my way to 8th Avenue, especially when the front roses are in bloom. Let's hope it doesn't turn into what the neighbor fears.

Speak Out for Sunset Park

Help with the outreach prior to the public hearings regarding the rezoning in Sunset Park. See below for the organizer's contact information.

from the SPAN email:

WE WILL SPEAK OUT FOR SUNSET PARK!

Important dates have been announced by Community Board 7 concerning Dept. of City Planning's proposed rezoning plan of Sunset Park. This is the first step in the process to approve a rezoning plan that will displace current residents and small businesses in Sunset Park.

We will be there to speak out on our concerns about this plan. Please join us on these dates and on Saturday, May 9th to do outreach in the neighborhood. (If you want to distribute literature on May 9th with us please email directly to Rosita_11215@yahoo.com for the time and location)

What we want: Dept of City Planning recently undertook a rezoning in Bay Ridge that better protects the community and even downzones certain areas. Our priority is a comprehensive plan that encompasses the entire community so we can find solutions to preserve and create housing affordable to the long-time working residents of Sunset Park. We want equal protection for our neighborhood.


Sat, May 9th, (afternoon)
Join us to do outreach in the neighborhood
(Contact Rosita_11215@yahoo.com for details)

COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS

Wed May 13th, 6:30 PM
PS 169 Auditorium
7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets

Saturday, May 16th 1:00 PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Auditorium)
6th Ave bet 59th an 60th Streets

Proposed Community Board Vote on Rezoning
Wed, May 20th, 6:30 PM
Old Court House, entrance on 43rd St. and 4th Avenue

Favorite (non) Work Site Now Has an Official Excuse

My favorite walk-by site has been less than entertaining of late. After the buildings were demolished and the fences went up, not much seemed to be happening. Well, except for some new graffiti. Literally, nothing has been done to the site by the owners since the middle of May. Recently, somebody wanted in because the fencing has been carefully pulled apart in one place to allow easy access to the space. That's what brought on the Stop Work order pictured. It seems the "complete weatherproof" piece of it applies to the exposed wall of the adjacent building. Maybe this will induce some work to get done. Vacant lots are rarely a good thing. Especially during the summer. There are too many curious kids with time on their hands and looking for places to hang out.

Graffiti Houses turned Empty Lots Served Notice

I'll readily admit that I am slightly obsessed with the spaces left behind when the two residential homes at 713/715 43rd Street were demolished. It's been almost three weeks now, and nothing. No work, no activity, no action. Just a few half-hearted graffiti markings on the plywood and on the outer wall of the neighboring apartment building.

There isn't any work permit up other than the demo permits and sidewalk barrier permits either. However, this morning I noticed a note stapled onto the plywood. It looks fresh, but I couldn't see what the heck was on it. I also don't have the chutzpah to open it...that would be wrong. Do you know what it is?


Maybe it's a START work order?

Anyway, my curiosity got the better of me and I looked the (former) buildings up. The two lots have mortgages attached for 2 million. And they are slotted to become (surprise, surprise) commercial real estate. Now, they were last assessed at just over 600k each, so I guess the new owner (at 4205 8th Avenue?) figures sales will make a tidy profit. I doubt rentals would make-up for the cost any time soon. With the coops still selling for around 300k, will these do well enough to make it worth it?

I can't wait to find out what is going on at my favorite empty lot.