The residents of 475 Kent have launched an online petition drive to gain more support for their efforts to be allowed to turn to the vacated building. In just a couple of days, the petition has apparently garnered 1,200 signatures. Here is some of the text of the letter directed to Mayor Bloomberg:
My attention has recently been drawn to the problem of the artist’s building at 475 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.
You are certainly aware by now that over 200 people are in danger of losing their homes and workplaces permanently – which usually spells financial ruin in a community already subjected to considerable risk.
In the spirit of the cultural tradition that has long prevailed in this great city, I urge you to do everything you can to help those who work and live at 475 Kent Avenue to return to their studios immediately and to foster our common creative capital.
The petition is available here.
[Photo courtesdy of adella/flickr]
4 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Feb 13, 2008 at 10:41 am
Thanks for posting this. I checked and signed the petition. (Seems like signatures are up to 1,696.) If most of the FDNY’s issues have been addressed, I think commercial tenants should be allowed limited access their businesses while the residential code work is being done.
2 Jeremiah Moss // Feb 13, 2008 at 1:11 pm
i was #1907…and counting
3 Anonymous // Feb 13, 2008 at 6:28 pm
It’s a nice gesture and all, but I’m sure the FDNY couldn’t care less. What happens? What number do you have to hit before all the problems magically go away? Plus, why hasn’t anyone done an investigation into the landlord. I assure you, he’s talking out of both sides of this mouth. That building will go luxury condos in less than 2 years.
4 Anonymous // Feb 14, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Touche, 8:28. The FDNY is the department that really matters here, since they are the ones that can lift the vacate order. As to the landlord, he does not have a good history, to put it mildly, which is one reason the FDNY is being so strict.