CB2 To Vote Tonight on Dock Street
Community Board 2’s land use committee failed by one vote to approve the mixed-use development in Dumbo known as Dock Street when it met last month. Since then, the opposition has held a protest (at right) to call attention to how the 18-story project would block views from and of the Brooklyn Bridge and the…
Community Board 2’s land use committee failed by one vote to approve the mixed-use development in Dumbo known as Dock Street when it met last month. Since then, the opposition has held a protest (at right) to call attention to how the 18-story project would block views from and of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Paper has written an article in which it says views wouldn’t be that obstructed by proposed building after all. Now, tonight, the full board of Community Board 2 will convene for a final vote on the project, which includes roughly 400 apartments (20% of which would be affordable) and a public middle school. And even though its decision carries no legal weight (merely advisory), breaths are bated on both sides. Jed Walentas even wrote a letter to the board earlier this week that included this rendering intended to address the criticism that Dock Street would be as big a blight on the Brooklyn side of the bridge as the Verizon building is on the Manhattan side. Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s vote, the matter will work its way through the ULURP food chain, from borough president to City Planning to City Council to the Mayor. Update: Opposition group Save the Brooklyn Bridge just posted this rendering of how it thinks the proposed development would impact views of the bridge.
CB2 Says Dock Street Design is “Too Tall” [Brooklyn Paper]
Dock Street Moves Forward — Second Vote on Saturday [Brooklyn Paper]
Full House, No Vote at Dock Street Hearing [Brownstoner] GMAP
How Does Dock Street Stack Up? [Brownstoner]
The Next Step for Dock Street [Brownstoner]
DOE: It’s Time to Examine Dock Street [Brownstoner]
Two Trees Plans Mixed Use Building Next to Bridge [Brownstoner]
Dock Street Plans (Marina and All) Go 3D [Brownstoner]
Dock Street Protesters: 20% There on Signatures [Brownstoner]
Protest photo from DumboNYC
The brand-new public school will be for all of District 13, not just for P.S.8 kids — who are attending a very diverse school right now, by the way. This is not going to be a “neighborhood school” — a phrase which, I might add, has been disingenuously used by the Walentas team as a coded language term.
You need not have to worry about your views to dislike this proposal. I, and many others, think the building, like the J and others, is too tall — but this is much closer to the Bridge, too.
You may remember that Walentas declined to renew the lease for The League School in DUMBO — what does that say about 2 Trees’ commitment to education? He may be a better developer than Gutman or Scarano. Does that then give 2 Trees the right to elbow in on a national (international) landmark for profit?
The buildings at Court & Atlantic improved on a raised parking lot. The current Dock Street proposal disparages the Brooklyn Bridge. There is no comparison.
People oppose this building for two, possibly three, reasons. The first as stated by Biff, is that many people who paid top dollar for their chi-chi lofts will have their views blocked. Of course everyone has known for years that this parcel would be developed eventually. The second reason is a sort of blood feud that certain locals have with David Wallentas. It is remarkable personal hatred. the third is that there are people, generally a wee-bit neurotic, who hate new buildings over five stories in height. I have talked with some of these people and they actually shake with fear. Odd. Imagine living in NYC and being afraid of tall buildings.
I think this project will be great for the area. Think about a brand-new public school and a large garage! How can city people be so closed minded and provintial when it comes to new development and modern architecture? You would think they lived in backwoods Vermont.
NIMBY out of control! Everyone who lives in NYC knows that their views are not protected, DUMBO is a canyon of shadows already, and only in NY where there is constant, constant school overcrowding can a developer offer to build a school for a community and have it shot down because it will block a view….
Better the devil you know – I’d rather see this building built then a bunch of 5 story Hot Karl or Scarano buildings.
Funny thing about that rendering linked to from opponents. Viewpoint over Watchtower parking lot, an as of right residential development site that will some day be built. So view going away anyway…..
Most important, Dock Street site as of right 290 feet nearly if developer put 2.8 FAR community facility under 2.0 hotel. Opponents info saying only 2.0 wrong….
So proposal best building likely on site…..
interesting how the opposition rendering happens to be from the vantage of 70 washington. pretty telling as to what this protest is really about.
Nice soundbite about NIMBYism but not true for me. I have no dog in the blocked view fight. I simply think a building of this size is not right for Dumbo, particularly in this spot. I think J Condo and the Beacon detract more from the neighborhood than they add, and I think the same will be true for Dock Street. I do give credit to Walentas for his past efforts on converting the existing buildings (all of which are at least somewhat smaller/shorter than the new towers, I might add).
walentas and Twelve Trees did 2 projects while I still lived on Schermerhorn st. I have to say, they went out of their way to make us feel comfortable with what would happen during construction. The head engineer and construction site manager even came to introduce themselves and answer any questions we had. They do care- otherwise why come visit jittery residents and make themselves available to keep good community relations? Brooklyn College never bothered- and among other things they collapsed a building right behind mine.
My building has serious issues when the Dorm went up- seriously terrifying issues, not just lost my sunlight issues.
Dock St. looks to be a great addition to the area. As someone else said- it could be a lot worse if someone else had the property.
“The only reason people oppose this building is because their views will be blocked by it. Period. NIMBYism at its finest.”
Bingo