Day of Reckoning for 163 Washington Avenue?
On the heels of Community Board 2’s unanimous thumbs-down, the developer trying to build a 16-story tower at 163 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill will face the Board of Standards and Appeals tomorrow for the only vote that really counts. In all likelihood, the developer, GLC Group, will argue that its foundation was “substantially complete”…
On the heels of Community Board 2’s unanimous thumbs-down, the developer trying to build a 16-story tower at 163 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill will face the Board of Standards and Appeals tomorrow for the only vote that really counts. In all likelihood, the developer, GLC Group, will argue that its foundation was “substantially complete” when the new zoning rules went info effect on July 25. GLC claims that the foundation was 78% finished. However, the Department of Buildings, which had representatives on site that day, calculates that the foundation was only 40% complete. Frustrated at the developer’s unwillingness to meet with her or consider including any affordable housing in the project, Council Member Tish James is urging residents to show their opposition to the project by showing up in person tomorrow for the BSA hearing at 10 a.m. at 40 Rector Street, 6th Floor.
CB2 Votes on Two BSA Recs [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
CB2: Thumbs Down on Washington, Thumbs Up on Grand [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Rezoning Rejects Pitch BSA Bail-Out To CB2 [Brownstoner]
Race Against Clock at 163 Washington [Brownstoner]
I agree, 4:36.
reduce this building by 7-10 floors and everyone will support it. that is the scale of their original plan, you know, the one with more units. the problem is that the developer won’t do that. we tried to have a discussion with them and compromise but they wouldn’t meet with us. and the reason is because they only want money. in fact this building, if it ever gets built, would probably end up being a piece of profit-maximizing crap. it’s not the kind of place that would be good for a neighborhood.
ok at the risk of being burned by the town mob…
i think this tower could be reduced by a few floors.. (or hello, what happened to setback laws?!)
*overall though – this should be a great addition to the housing stock of the area.
i prefer this cleaner look than a lot of the mish mash popping up in the vicinity of this building.
i guess this will be the ‘clinton-hill finger’…. (or fist)
fyi: scale will have little to do with the BSA determination. the only real question is, ‘was the foundation significantly complete when the zoning was changed?’
That is simply way out of scale. Ridiculous.Hope he is denied.
If only Michelle Williams would buy a unit here.