Of all the issues revolving around the controversial development at 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, one of the most contentious–and confusing–has been that of the small plaza at the entrance to the Carroll Street subway station. Residents, who wait there for trains going to Manhattan, because they can see them coming, are attached to the space and to the ritual. Yet, the plaza’s situation is so odd that there is not even full agreement over who owns parts of it. The city says it it privately owned. Residents say it’s owned by the city. The matter has taken on new importance because construction of the former Heavy Metal Building would claim a portion of the plaza. How much? A rendering showing a street-level angle that developer Billy Stein sent to the Brooklyn Paper shows that about one-third of the plaza would be covered by the building (as has been previously illustrated and estimated) and that there would be a pathway of about 20 feet under the building to the station entrance (which the developer calls “a path” and residents call “a tunnel”).
Meanwhile, per an email from Carroll Gardens resident Barbara Brookhart, Mr. Stein has held what are described as “private meetings” with staffers for Council Member Bill de Blasio and Assembly Member Joan Millman “and some members of the community” on Thursday, March 27th and Sunday, March 30th. It is not known what is discussed other than general issues related to the plaza or whether any agreements were reached. Mr. Stein also attended the Clarett Group’s presentation of their own controversial building at 340 Court Street on April 3. There is no word on whether the developer will hold any further public meetings with residents about the contentious plaza issue.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 3:21 pm
god forbid these people give back to the community they are ripping off. What will it take for them to carve back that building? When bones were found downtown, the developer stopped building over the burial ground. It will NOT kill anyone or make anyone less rich to keep this plaza and the entrance to the subway the way it is. why is this so fcked up??? do we have to plant fake bones?
2 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I’ve lived in Cobble Hills and Carroll Gardens for 15 years, so I don’t know if that makes me an old-timer or yuppy scum but I cannot believe that people are so attached to an UGLY patch of concrete and a crappy news stand. I’m surprised that no one has complained that Hannah Senesh School is too bright and cheerful (the old District 15 office sure had charm).
I am convinced that there is no building that can be built at 360 Smith Street that will make the neighbors happy and can make a developer some money. It can’t be done, so let capitalism rule. If they don’t like the building they should pool their funds and buy the property and keep the ugly parking lot forever.
3 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 5:59 pm
The best part of this story is that Bill DeFakio is cutting a private deal with him to let everything stay as it was with the Scarano job, which by the way was a100 times better, and fool the poor little idiots in the neighbohood he is really helping them. Who is the real criminal here? that is the story!
4 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Isn’t this obvious? The “Gardens” of Carrol gardens belong to the city. I live on a Place block and my deed has an easement onto city property for my stoop. So if you consider that the plaza is set back farther than the line of Brownstones on the street, it would be make sense that only the front 2/3 is on public / city land.
5 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 7:55 pm
A lower building would have made the neighborhood happy and Stein is a thief and is stealing what is not his in the plaza. The building is a monstrous size for a tiny street and anyone who thinks it is the best thing that ever happened to Carroll Gardens needs his head examined. Cars will not even be able to enter the driveway on Second Place of the new building without us losing the parking spots on the other side of Second Place. That’s how narrow the street is. Is it any wonder the neighborhood has revolted? Good for them! It was a monstrosity from the beginning and still is. Ditto 340 Court St. Can CG “take” this height? Hell no! What a shame it is to ruin such a nice neighborhood. Someone sold out CG
A reasonably-sized building would have been embraced by the neighborhood.
6 Anonymous // Apr 9, 2008 at 7:56 pm
A lower building would have made the neighborhood happy and Stein is a thief and is stealing what is not his in the plaza. The building is a monstrous size for a tiny street and anyone who thinks it is the best thing that ever happened to Carroll Gardens needs his head examined. Cars will not even be able to enter the driveway on Second Place of the new building without us losing the parking spots on the other side of Second Place. That’s how narrow the street is. s it any wonder the neighborhood has revolted? It was a monstrosity from the beginning and still is. Ditto 340 Court St. Can CG “take” this height? Hell no! What a shame it is to ruin such a nice neighborhood. Someone sold out CG
A reasonably-sized building would have been embraced by the neighborhood.
7 Anonymous // Apr 10, 2008 at 5:01 am
Umm,837, it’s not the actual cement we are attatched to, it is the OPEN SPACE that makes waiting for a train pleasant. They can build whatever the f they want as long as they leave us that OPEN space and incorporate the news kioske. I wouldn’t say you are yuppy scum, just a bit retarded. I’ve lived here longer and I supposes anyone who has lived here over 20 yrs qualifies as “old” timers. Idiot.