By Gersh Kuntzman <\/p>\n
The Brooklyn Papers<\/p>\n
Horses will still get spooked \u0097 but a lot less \u0097 thanks to a compromise
\nproposed by the city to reduce the size and bulk of a controversial
\ndevelopment across the street from a historic stable in Windsor
\nTerrace. <\/p>\n
The city Planning Commission rejected a zoning change that would have
\nallowed a developer to build an additional 20 units in a multi-story
\nbuilding under consideration at 22 Caton Pl., directly across the
\nstreet from the Kensington Stables, where three-dozen horses hang their
\nsaddles. <\/p>\n
The extra units, opponents said, would spook the horses. Now, as a
\nresult of the compromise, the building will max out at 55 units instead
\nof the 68 units the developer sought. <\/p>\n
\u0093The proposed rezoning was not appropriate, but neither is the existing
\nzoning, so we have come up with another plan,\u0094 said Planning Commission
\nChair Amanda Burden. \u0093Our modification seeks both to provide housing at
\nan appropriate scale to protect the neighborhood character.\u0094 <\/p>\n
Community activists cheered the decision, but added that it\u0092stoo
\nlittle, too late for a neighborhood that is being rapidly re- (some
\nwould say over-) developed. At 23 Caton Pl., an eight story building is
\ngoing up. And down the street, a nine-story building is rising.
\nTogether, they\u0092ll add 166 apartments, and a corresponding number of
\ncars, to the narrow streets that the horses trod on their way to
\nProspect Park. <\/p>\n
\u0093We need a promise from the developer to build underground parking at
\n22 Caton Pl.,\u0094 said Mandy Harris, whose Web site, stablebrooklyn.com,
\nmonitors development. \u0093At the end of the day, he got permission to
\nbuild a few more apartments than the current zoning would have allowed.
\nIt\u0092s time for him to give something back.\u0094 <\/p>\n
A lawyer for the developer did not return a call. <\/p>\n
Harris said the \u0093real negotiation\u0094 would now take place at the City
\nCouncil, where the neighborhood is represented by Bill DeBlasio (D-Park
\nSlope). <\/p>\n
The neighborhood is clearly on the councilman\u0092s radar screen. Recently,
\na shining green garbage can was installed in front of the stables that
\nreads, \u0093Sponsored by Councilmember Bill DeBlasio.\u0094 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Gersh Kuntzman The Brooklyn Papers Horses will still get spooked \u0097 but a lot less \u0097 thanks to a compromise proposed by the city to reduce the size and bulk of a controversial development across the street from a … Continue reading