<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/neighborhoodwalk_small.gif\" "\\"Image\\"")
On Sunday, May 22, approximately 65 East Windsor Terrace neighbors
\nand friends of Kensington Stables met with Jeremy Laufer, Randy Peers,
\nand Joseph Longobardi, members of Community Board 7, City Councilmember
\nBill de Blasio, and Richard Bearak, Deputy Director of Zoning &
\nHousing Development at Borough President Marty Markowitz’s offiice, for
\na walking tour of proposed building sites in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/nick_demands.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nOur meeting kicked off with Nick Bedell reading a list of community
\n“demands” that were warmly received. Starting with the maxim, “smaller
\nis better,” the demands are a working list for the EWTCG to discuss and
\nfurther refine as we work with city government to protect and shape our
\nneighborhood. (Nick–send a copy so we can put it up on the site!)<\/p>\n
The walking tour moved from site to site and discussed
\nzoning and other issues at each stop. Here is a summary of the
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/bearak_tour.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nSite 1: 23 Caton Place, north side
\nThe north side of Caton Place between E 8 St and Ocean Pky, former
\nLittle Grey Barn stable and tire warehouse building, is slated to
\nbecome a high rise apartment with 107 units to be built by architect
\nKarl Fischer. The building site is zoned R7A, which allows for this
\ntype of construction. As the builders did not need to seek a variance,
\nthere was no hearing related to the proposed construction. However, as
\na group, we must act as watchdogs to make sure that the developers act
\nresponsibly. CALL 311 for any and all infractions and get a complaint
\nnumber. We can hold developers to the letter of the law if we are
\nvigilant and, hopefully, we can influence them to work with us rather
\nthan against us in the process. As it happens, one of the site owners,
\nwho is often on Caton Place in his SUV, was parked nearby as we met.
\nMr. de Blasio spoke with him and invited him to speak with the group,
\nbut he declined and made a call to his partner who he said might join
\nus to speak later (he did not). He did show the architectural plans to
\nsome of the people standing around. It is unknown whether these plans
\nare finalized or whether there is some time for the community to seek
\nconcessions from the developer. As of this writing the plans were not
\navailable at the DOB. <\/p>\n
Residents who live near construction sites, take note: document the
\ncondition of your apartment or house now. Photograph current cracks,
\netc. If damage occurs during demolition and construction, you will need
\nto be able to prove it.<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/levine_deblasio.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nSite 2: 22 Caton Place, south side
\nThe south side of Caton Place, site of the former chalkboard factory
\nacross the street from Site 1, has been bought by developers who are
\nseeking a zoning variance to build a high rise residence larger than
\ncurrent zoning allows. Because of this, we have the opportunity to get
\ninvolved in the review process from the CB level through the City
\nCouncil. The process is long and difficult; zoning rulings often favor
\ndevelopers–who are experienced with the system–over community groups
\nwho are learning as they go. However, we can have a voice if we are
\norganized. Richard Bearak, from Markowitz’s office, suggested that we
\nopen dialogues with developers. It is possible that developers would
\nrespect our wishes for the neighborhood and expedite govenment process
\nas well. But in order to do this, we need to be clear about what we
\nwant for the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/kermit_ci.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nSite 3: 364 Coney Island Avenue, corner of Kermit Place
\nThe corner lot, currently empty save for some trucks, and including the
\nformer ice cream and bbq stands, is owned by Kermit Square LLC, who
\nsought a variance from CB 7 to build a high rise residential building
\nsimilar to the one going up at 350 CIA (site 4, discussed below). The
\nvariance was denied by CB 7,which suggested to the builders that they
\ncome up with a commercial plan in line with the current C8-2 zoning of
\nthe site. Randy Peers, chair of CB 7’s land use committee, suggested
\nthat contextual residential buildings–two- or three-story
\nbuildings–would be acceptable to CB 7, as well. Again, we need to
\ndecide as a community group what kind of development we want in the
\nneighborhood. This would be a good site for discussion with the
\ndevelopers, as they have not proposed another plan yet.<\/p>\n
Site 4: 350 Coney Island Ave, between Caton Place and Kermit Place
\nCurrently under construction, this will be an 9-story apartment
\nbuilding. The developer had originally applied for a variance to build
\na 12-story building, which was denied by CB 7. They suggested that the
\ndevelopers return with a revised 7-story building. Instead, the City
\nCouncil approved their plan for the 9-story building going up.<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/kermit_ci2.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nSite 5: 701-711 Caton Ave, north side
\nWhat is happening on the large empty lot currently holding construction
\nequipment and garden supplies? Nobody seems to know for sure! CB 7 has
\nnot been apprised of any plans yet and has agreed to look up the
\ncurrent owners for us. The site is currently zoned R6, which most of us
\nat the meeting think is wrong for the street and the neighborhood. If
\nwe favor a change, we need to decide what we want and talk to the
\nowners. If they have no concrete plans for the site, perhaps they will
\nbe open to our ideas.<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/catonave2.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\nNEXT STEPS
\nThe walking tour was educational and invigorating for those who
\nattended. There is alot for us to do cooperatively if we are to succeed
\nin keeping our neighborhood safe, cute, and quiet. Here are some next
\nsteps:<\/p>\n
* Join the Yahoo! Group, StableBrooklyn. Though not everyone uses
\nemail, it is an extraordinarily effective way to communicate and
\norganize. The more of us who are on the list, the more informed we’ll
\nall be. Start an email thread!<\/p>\n
* Organize a leadership meeting. Lots of discussion was generated
\nabout committees that would concentrate on monitoring the different
\nbuilding sites and the stable itself; on resident issues for renters,
\nco-op and condo owners, and homeowners; on functions like publicity,
\ndevelopment oversight and review, rezoning process, safety and
\nneighborhood beautification, etc. We propose to hold a meeting in early
\nJune for people willing to define and lead a committee. Come prepared
\nto organize and volunteer to take something on! Details on the meeting
\nforthcoming.* Coordinate monthly EWTCG meetings. Among other things, we need to
\norganize “telephone trees” on a block or building level, with
\nindividuals responsible for putting up flyers and letting their
\nneighbors know about meetings, events, etc. Next meeting TBA!<\/p>\n
* Attend other meetings.
\n–Marty Markowitz’s “town hall” meeting is May 31 at Marine Park Middle School.
\n–CB 7 land use committee meeting is June 6–time \/ place TBA.<\/p>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/www.stablebrooklyn.com\/images\/stories\/sam_emmet.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
<\/p>\n* Deliver our petition to officials. To date, we have over 100 Thanks to everyone for a very important and successful walking tour Respectfully submitted,
\nsignatures to our petition. We will deliver copies of the petitions to
\nCB 7, Mayor Bloomberg, Marty Markowitz, Amanda Burden of the Dept. of
\nCity Planning, Bill de Blasio, and State Assemblyman Jim Brennan soon.
\nYou can read the petition at www.stablebrooklyn.com<\/a>.
\nIf you are still collecting signatures, please drop off your petitions
\nat 51 Kermit Place by 5\/31\/05 so we can bring them to Mr. Markowitz
\npersonally.<\/p>\n
\nof East Windsor Terrace. Please use the Yahoo Group for corrections and
\ncomments or email ewtcg@stablebrooklyn.com.<\/p>\n
\nJune Reich<\/p>\n