A Look at L&M's Big Plans for Columbia Street
A couple of weeks ago L&M Equities gave its first public presentation about its proposal to build more than 170 units of housing on three sites near Columbia and Warren streets. The biggest building L&M’s planning would be 80-feet tall, require a two-block zoning change, include around 40 affordable housing units, and rise on what…
A couple of weeks ago L&M Equities gave its first public presentation about its proposal to build more than 170 units of housing on three sites near Columbia and Warren streets. The biggest building L&M’s planning would be 80-feet tall, require a two-block zoning change, include around 40 affordable housing units, and rise on what is now city-owned land (104-116 Warren Street). (The other two sites in the plan are 75 Columbia Street and 86 Congress Street.) Many local residents are wary of the scale L&M’s proposing. A person who lives on Warren Street, for example, told the Carroll Gardens Courier that the 80-foot height is so high up—it’s not part of the community. Think most people who live around Columbia Street feel the same way?
Zoning Change Opposed [Carroll Gardens Courier] GMAP
3:34 – that building one block down on kane street is the ugliest eye sore in the whole neighborhood.
The school that this area feeds into is PS 29. My daughter went there — and it is one of the top schools in the entire borough (http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=430). The class sizes are generally around 30 or so per classroom now without an aide.
Second, I pass these buildings daily. They have been boarded up for as long as I can remember and are quite an eye sore. Something should be done about redeveloping the area where the buildings sit — but a huge building (I thought I had heard that it would 20+ stories) wouldn’t work here. The land itself sits about 1 block or so from the water — and is basically fill. To be structurally sound, the architect should plan something that will not cause the building to crack or settle strangely when it is completed (some people who live in the area will know what I am talking about). Further, current residents in the area should be concerns about disruptions to neighboring buildings, sewers, water, and other infrastructure.
I think there are other issues that go well beyond the criteria you have listed here. Perhaps someone else can fill in what they are…
I dont get it. Aren’t there 3-4 buildings this height (8-9 stories) on Tiffany Place? Sounds NIMBY to me.
8 stories is pretty low highrise. Midrise, maybe. I live a few blocks away and am thrilled someone is building here. I am totally confused by the anxiety over the height: like 3:34 said, on the next block is a 7 story building, and in next one after that there are a bunch of 8-9 story buildings…
Thanks for link to developers website.
Looking through their projects, I find your criticism totally unjustified. Compared to the development in the area done 20 years ago – L&M projects are masterpieces.
Perhaps the one glimmer of humor in that link, 10:10, is this bit of doofusism in the listing lingo:
“This seven story property is comprimised of 105 rental apartments and approximately 13,500 square feet of commercial retail space and basement space..”
“Comprimised”?
Nice.
I’m not against development. I live a block away from this site.
But, Look at the crap THIS DEVELOPER, L&M, builds:
http://www.lmequity.com/portfolio/index.php?pid=47
I just can’t sit here and watch some third rate developer with no desire to match surrounding architecture come in an destroy the place! Show us the plans. If it’s even MILDLY tasteful, OK. Otherwise, the city has got to be able to hold out for a worthwhile developer.
The developer is at war with the community. They were practically stoned at the land use meeting. They will never relesase the plans to some blog.
Maybe brownstoner should call L & M and get copies of the photos of the plans to post. Then we could see what everybody’s talking about. And how many stories is 80′ anyway? Also it would be great to see how the other stuff on the block looks. Is it nice or what? Must be run down on that block I’m guessing.