Traffic, Noise Concerns Aired at Bossert Hotel Hearing

Last night representatives for the Bossert Hotel returned to Community Board 2’s Land Use Committee for a second public hearing to address, among other things, concerns about increased traffic and noise from the rooftop lounge voiced in May. Reps already filed their application for a variance to convert the building back to a hotel; the sale won’t close until October and the owners hope to open the hotel before the end of 2013. Hotelier Jeff Klein said the hotel will be “elegant and subtle,” comparing it to the Carlyle in the Upper East Side. He stressed that this will not be a Marriott or a “hip party hotel” like the Gansevoort; room rates are expected to be around $225 to $250 a night. One of the developers, Marty Taub, addressed the traffic concerns: “Our studies show there will be fewer than 50 vehicles coming through during a peak hour, so we didn’t find there to be any significant traffic impacts.” They will also use the nearby Quick Park garage and have two employees on site for parking.

Community members voiced a mix of support and concern at the public hearing. Michelle Friedman, of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, expressed support and brought up the “positive economic impact.” Brigit Pinnell of the Montague Street BID and Tom Conoscenti of the Court-Livingston Schermerhorn BID also praised the potential economic boost. On the heels of a recent NY Post story calling one of the owners (David Bistricer of Flatbush Gardens fame) a “reputed slumlord”, neighborhood residents focused on the potential noise, safety, and traffic problems. Residents from co-op building 200 Hicks sent a letter to CB2 stating, “The developer’s statistics and arguments seriously underestimate and minimize the degree of change its proposed conversion of the Bossert to a commercial hotel would entail from its present use by the Jehovah’s Witnesses,” especially considering that the number of rooms will be upped from 224 to 302. (Another developer, Atif Youssef, said they expected 80-85 percent occupancy.) Judy Stanton of the Brooklyn Heights Association asked what the owners planned to do to make sure the hotel remained “first-rate.” Bossert reps did not mention plans to sound proof or control noise, but they will have to return to the community board for a liquor license before opening the rooftop lounge anyway. For additional coverage, see this morning’s Brooklyn Bugle.
More Rooms and a Restaurant for the Bossert Hotel [Brownstoner]
Bistricer to Buy Bossert Hotel, Kaufman to Renovate [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Heights’ The Bossert Will Be a Hotel Again [Brownstoner]