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May 1, 2006

Former Bronx Beep Pitches "Badildos" for Burg

buildingsApril 30, 2006 -- Former Congressman and Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo made a personal appeal to Brooklynites last week to support his building of a massive four-tower complex in a low-rise part of Williamsburg. Badillo and his partners from Quadriad Realty told participants at a Community Board 1 committee meeting Thursday they plan to pursue the biggest of four development options on Bedford Avenue between North Third and North Fourth streets. The developers asked the community to be their "partners," though many are wary of the project's size. The proposed 675,000- square-foot Williamsburgh Square would feature four towers of 38, 36, 20 and 12 stories. There would be 360 underground parking spaces, a charter school, a "semi-public" park, a day-care center, two floors of retail, and both market-rate and affordable housing. Plans call for a change in zoning, which now allows for a maximum of six stories. Activist Phil DePaolo said the plan is "is just too big." "The neighborhood is not meant to deal with something that size. It doesn't belong here.".
Badillo's Brooklyn Heights [NY Post] GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:24 AM | Comments (11)
Categories: Development

Comments

I can't wait for the 'semi-public' park...

Posted by: P at May 1, 2006 9:30 AM

what an effing joke. And depressing! Who knew the L train could get even more fun. Seriously, what's going to happen if even a quarter of these currently proposed monstrosities are built?

Posted by: willingd at May 1, 2006 2:17 PM

So this block wasn't included in the re-zoning? It seems too big to me by about 15-20 stories.

Posted by: Anon at May 1, 2006 3:20 PM

We will need to fight this tooth and nail, since the only reason Badillo is involved is that he can work the system and get it through. It is not part of the rezoning and will have to get variances for this kind of development. Start to organize NOW.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 1, 2006 3:22 PM

3:22- Would you be ok with a variance that wasn't this big? What if the plan included four buildings, none over 17 stories. Have you contacted local elected officials?

Posted by: Anon at May 1, 2006 3:33 PM

This makes a mockery of the rezoning creating lower inland heights. I guess Badillo and company have no idea of Williamsburg's geography. They must think that Bedford Ave is on the waterfront. Maybe they ought to come to the neighborhood and get on the L train at 8:30am some weekday morning. What community partnership are they talking about!!

Posted by: Jess I. Cansee at May 1, 2006 8:06 PM


If this goes through, Brooklyn is over.

Letting a sleaze bag politician CASH in on his connections and re-rezone such a large piece of land for his own selfish profit is absurd!

Wouldn't you folks rather move to Jersey?

Posted by: HAM or Cheese? at May 1, 2006 10:36 PM

This looks so fucking horrid - what the hell is wrong with people?? I'm glad I moved to Bushwick - next stop = BeDStuY

Posted by: matt at May 2, 2006 10:28 AM

re: Anon at 3:33 - We gave up huge building heights along the waterfront in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to avoid just this type of monstrosity. There is no way any building over the allowed zoning should ever go through, given the recent rezoning of the waterfront. People need to get going on this, or it could squeek through. I never trusted that Bronx pol. He doesn't give a da#$ about Brooklyn anyway . . .

Posted by: Anonymous at May 2, 2006 10:56 AM

You should embrace the change, this is great for the community, a semi public park, retail space for starbucks, gap, and barnes and nobles. This is what your movement started and you thought it was ok then, there is alway someone more powerful and richer that will conquer. Now you know what others felt, when luxary condos popped up all over the nabe. face it folks NYC is loosing its edge... the lose of subcultures artist, underground music, nightlife, you should fight just like many of us have been fighting for the past 6 years! LUCHA!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 2, 2006 11:56 AM

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/landuse/20060502/12/1837

Posted by: Anonymous at May 2, 2006 12:10 PM

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