City Narrowing Its View of Carroll Gardens Streets
The Department of City Planning sent out an email yesterday saying it has commenced a 45-day public review for a zoning text amendment that’ll mean new developments on a number of streets in Carroll Gardens can only rise a maximum of 55 feet. The text amendment, which comes out of concerns raised by Community Board…
The Department of City Planning sent out an email yesterday saying it has commenced a 45-day public review for a zoning text amendment that’ll mean new developments on a number of streets in Carroll Gardens can only rise a maximum of 55 feet. The text amendment, which comes out of concerns raised by Community Board 6, Councilman Bill de Blasio’s office, ever-vocal neighborhood groups and Borough President Markowitz’s office about out-of-scale development in Carroll Gardens, will affect 1st through 4th Place, Second Street, Carroll Street and President Street between Smith and Hoyt Streets. The streets are currently classified as “wide” for zoning purposes, which means developers can build 75 feet or more on many of them, but, following the amendment, will instead be considered “narrow,” like much of the rest of the neighborhood. “This is the first of many steps to help preserve the streets of Caroll Gardens,” said Councilman de Blasio in a statement. “This is a good indication that City Planning is serious about protecting and preserving our low density neighborhoods and I continue to be hopeful that City Planning will begin the downzoning study shortly.” A map showing the area in question is on the jump.
Prelude to a Downzone in Carroll Gardens? [Brownstoner]
Carroll Gardens Narrow Street/Wide Street Zoning Text Amendment [nyc.gov]
“wide” Carroll Gardens Streets to Get Narrow [Gowanus Lounge]
aren’t carroll and president between smith and hoyt landmarked???
“… only rise a maximum of 55 feet”
Please stop embracing the mis-information being distributed by our Councilman and Community Board District Manager to pretend that they are doing something for Carroll Gardens!
This text change will not reduce buildable area on property within 100′ of Court, Smith, etc. Landmarked property is currently regulated so inclusion of those blocks is meaningless.
The text change will reduce maximum floor area for mid-block properties (beyond 100 feet) but not height. A 12-14 story building is still possible but assemblage of many properties will be needed.
To affect the entire block, the streets affected (shown as lines) would need to include the avenues as well as the side streets.
Note 3rd and 4th St. was excluded, which are likely to be upzoned / included with the forthcoming Gowanus rezoning.
City isn’t giving up anything, just reclassifying the width of these streets not to include the front yards. If anything, the city is taking away from the individual property owners, in that they cannot build as high as they once could.
City isn’t giving up anything, just reclassifying the width of these streets not to include the front yards. If anything, the city is taking away from the individual property owners, in that they cannot build as high as they once could.
just a hypothetical question … sorta …
isn’t the city basically giving this (our) public property to private owners? sort of a reverse eminent domain? will their property taxes increase?
Digging up those front yards would not be a good idea. There are many “sleeping with fishes” on dry land, capice?
Yes, the front yards and sidewalk belong to the city.
I’m fine with the rezoning, but they should bulldoze the front yards and widen the street just for fun.
doesn’t the city own those front yards, considered to be part of the sidewalk?