There are many letter being written to Marty Markowitz about the Toll Brothers proposal to build a big condo development on the Gowanus. (There’s a letter writing campaign underway both on this project and about asking for an 8-story height limit in the Gowanus rezoning.) The fact that Carroll Gardens residents are now leading the charge against a Gowanus project adds an interesting political dynamic to the process, although the word on the street has long been that the Toll firm would win approval for the zoning changes it wants for the luxe development. CB6 has already given the project the thumbs up. (For more on the hearing at Borough Hall the other night, check out PMFA.) This is one that came to our attention because it’s being circulated by the CORD group in Carroll Gardens:
Dear Marty:
As 15-year residents and property owners in Carroll Gardens, we are strongly opposed to any kind of development that alters the historic and cultural character of this great Brooklyn neighborhood. This includes the Toll Brothers project that is the current subject of discussion by your office and the city. Already, there is deep concern, which we share, over high-rise and other residential and commercial projects that adversely impact the character of Brownstone Brooklyn, which as I am sure you know, is an area of distinctive urban architecture quite unlike any other in the world.
The idea that absentee developers with no stake in a neighborhood other than financial would be allowed to erect inappropriate structures that do damage to its quality and architectural integrity is an affront – indeed, an insult – both to the citizens who have lived here for decades and those who came more recently because of what it promises as a place to live and raise families.
One need only visit 2nd Place between Clinton and Henry to see how a single, jarringly out-of-place building destroys the asethetic nature of an otherwise beautiful block. How this monstrosity snuck past the gate of common sense is a mystery to everyone in the area. No argument for increased tax base, or any other politicians’ rationale, is valid against the damage that would be inflicted by the building of structures that exceed traditional heightlimits or otherwise violate the intrinsic quality of Carroll Gardens’ graceful streets, yards and houses.
Even if a new building does not directly abut or impinge on historic or otherwise exceptional structures, it can set a dangerous precedent that opens the door to future unwanted development. That of course is a strategy used by developers and is the greatest concern expressed by people in Carroll Gardens.
If you care about Brooklyn, and we are certain of that, you should do whatever is necessary to put a stop to this project and any others that would also undermine or overwhelm this neighborhood. This applies to any scheme that would crassly violate the nature of Carroll Gardens and its historical ties to early Brooklyn and to New York Harbor.
Thank you for your consideration.
Clinton Street Residents
(Names Withheld by Request)
Carroll Gardens
7 responses so far ↓
1 TWC // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:27 am
This is ridiculous, who else is going to dump a ton of money into redeveloping a toxic canal? Let this plan move forward!!! Gowanus and Carroll Gardens are two very different neighborhoods. Are they seriously saying a bunch of industrial crap shacks are better than the development plans?
I don’t love Toll Brothers anymore than the next Brooklynite but if anyone thinks that another developer would ever build esthectially pleasing modern townhouses on this site you are out of your mind.
If you live on Clinton Street and the worst thing that could happen is a couple new buildings barely breach the skyline you need to find better things to complain about.
2 Anonymous // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:45 am
still, are those photos mixed up??
3 s // Nov 21, 2008 at 10:11 am
I say build, but keep it in scale with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Twelve stories is too tall .
MAKE IT SMALLER . Keep the light & sun .
They will build no matter what the $ize . We don’t have give away the $tore just to get them to build .
Send an email to Marty @ askmarty@Brooklynbp.nyc.gov
4 anon // Nov 21, 2008 at 10:16 am
Thank you Clinton Street homeowners. I live along the canal between Hoyt and Bond and I don’t want this project. Neither do many of neighbors. Who is going to pay market rates to live next to an open sewer that has an STD? Toll isn’t going to put pressure on the government to do that. They “expect” the residents will lobby for clean up and this is the bill of goods that they and their CB6 supporters are trying to sell the community. Guess what? We have been lobbying for many years. Maybe Toll will wield their political might when the apartments sit empty.
If this goes forward the alternate plan provides just as much FAR as the Toll plan without 12 stories. The affordable apartments won’t be in the twelve story buildings. The only reason for a building of that height is because there is more profit on higher floors. As a matter of fact, Toll isn’t going to be building the affordable housing. That will be another developer.
5 From Dollars to Doughnuts - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:45 am
[…] the size of the Toll Brother’s condo development. One concerned citizen wrote, “How this monstrosity snuck past the gate of common sense is a mystery to everyone in the area.” [Gowanus […]
6 woodendesigner // Nov 21, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Maybe if the people on Clinton lived closer to the canal they would care more. There is already some pretty bad development down there (which is only a block and a half away by the way) and a large development like this would destroy this neighborhood. I’m all for development but keep the feeling of the neighborhood.
Also I would like to point out that the Whole Foods site is another Gowanus Canal site and because of the contamination to the ground they still have not started building. They are a big business and can’t afford the clean up. Does the developer really understand how big of a cleanup this is? One thing we don’t need is for all of the demo to happen and then an empty site just sits there for years after. I really don’t think that this is a very realistic project.
7 Mr. Court St // Nov 21, 2008 at 6:18 pm
If they build, I’ll try to buy. this may be the best chance I have for buying a house in the area since I don’t have much money and affordable housing around the neighborhood is what I want for my family.
Cleaning the canal is a great idea and I wonder if it is possible. it smells when it rains- or when the water is stagnant…