[Photo courtesy of PMFA]
The Land Use Committee of Community Board Six voted overwhelmingly in favor of the zoning changes requested by Toll Brothers to build their big condo project on the shores of the Gowanus Canal. Only one committee member voted “no.” The firm has spent more than $375,000 lobbying for the zoning change so far. While the committee vote is advisory as is the full board vote, it does carry some weight in the Land Use Review process and in getting final city approval. Local blogger PMFA was deeply unhappy with the pro-Toll outcome, writing:
The committee voted last night on the Toll Brothers’ behemoth condo project along the shores of the very polluted Gowanus Canal. Let me just say that no amount of testimony from concerned residents at last night’s meeting, no concerns about pathogens in the waters of the canal, nor warnings that the land is in a flood zone were able to sway a majority of our board members from voting yes for Toll’s spot rezoning. Most may have felt like member Jeff Strabone, who stated that he had misgivings about voting for the project because of the risk factors involved, but that in the end, he wanted to see the canal cleaned. That, he felt, would happen quicker if condo buyers would move to its shores.
The odds of the project being approved are massively in its favor. Local City Council Member Bill de Blasio was reportedly making phone calls to Community Board members urging them to vote “yes” on the project, according to PMFA. There are deep concerns about the toxicity of the site and the impact of the project on local infrastructure, including an already overburdened sewer system that routinely features geysers of crap erupting from the streets during severe rain storms. There is also deep opposition to the scale of the project, although it is in keeping with the overall rezoning proposed by the city for the neighborhood.
The interesting question is that, even with zoning approvals, the deep financial problems faced by the Toll firm and the credit market meltdown could make it hard to get the development out of the ground.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Sadness v // Oct 24, 2008 at 9:53 am
I missed this meeting but see now that no amount of people disapproving this gargantuan freak hotel would have saved my neighborhood. Who is greasing palms? And like Oliver sang, “Is there anyone who will BUY?” ( No relation to Oliver House)
2 The Gonorrhea Oyster // Oct 24, 2008 at 10:35 am
People who think that spending $375k on lobbying a multi-million dollar development (which is far less than just one studio will go for) is shocking/scandalous or even unusual really need to take a business 101 or urban design course…or read a newspaper. It is how the world works. And good God, wouldn’t it be horrible is some big company came in and cleaned up the incredibly toxic soil around the Gowanus. Let’s rush out and print up “save the toxic soil now” t-shirts and organize a bunch of pointless community meetings made up of frustrated bitter housewives/househusbands who are stuck at home and nothing better to do than complain all day about anything that is different. And thank goodness it looks like the there is hope that Whole Foods will not be able to finish cleaning up the soil on their site. Another heavy metal superfund site preserved!Woohoo!
3 jerryfarina // Oct 24, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Anyone know what’s going on at Public Place specifically? Earlier this year they came and removed the brush, some oil barrels, concrete and more. And they did some work to the roof on the warehouse next to it. Other than that I haven’t seen any work done since. I’ve tried to find some news on GL and Curbed but haven’t been able to. Does this Toll Brothers project include that area?
4 Hope // Oct 24, 2008 at 2:10 pm
And what is the real reason that Toll is going for the MX zoning class for their stand-alone zoning, rather than an “R-resedential” zoning class; they are after all building a residential developement with community facility uses allowed under resedential zoning.
Could it be that the MX classification may offer protections to both the city and the developer from law suits should there be health issues associated with living on this site, should this turn into the next Love Canal?
5 nu nu // Oct 24, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Toll is NOT part of that Public Space. Just Google it and the answers will flow, unlike the canal.
6 Eric // Oct 25, 2008 at 10:05 am
Oyster, Whole Foods intends to do the minimum amount of remediation necessary to get approval to build, yet you make it sound like they’re the NRDC. They could actually cap the site, but then they wouldn’t be able to circumvent the M2 zoning by building 90% of the store below grade.
Anyone who thinks that the Canal will be cleaned up faster by letting Toll Brothers build is a fool.
7 Kevin Duffy // Oct 28, 2008 at 2:20 pm
re: The Gonorrhea Oyster
When you put a as strong a comment out there you should be prepared to put your name on it.
You probably are well intentioned but naive. Go ahead and trust others for your well being and see what happens.
You are correct that $375,000 is not much in the scheme of a large project such as this, but there is a flag on the field once a political representative betrays the social trust..even it’s only $1.00.
There are many issues associated with this project and I would challenge you to identify just a couple which likely effect the safety and health of the community which I presume you are a part of. Those “pointless meetings” serve that purpose.
Your argument w/b defensible if you attempted to join those public discussions (meetings)..but to refer to business 101 as your life guide to all things considered is a bad idea.
I am not a stay home dad (unfortunately) and I respect everyone who puts time out to atttend meetings and force the debate. It’s hard to do your own research and not rely on others who skew your judgment. This is taking responsibility and not giving up that right to others.
The financial crisis is exactly this example.