Four-story building will have 27 new dwellings. BSA approved a use variance, allowing the new construction of a four-story, 27-unit residential building with 14 underground parking spaces in an Ml-2 zoning district on the corner of North 7th and Berry Streets in Williamsburg. The building site, comprising two lots totaling 15,840 sq.ft., contains a former garage and a vacant one-story structure previously used as a food processing facility.

The original application, which sought a six-story 43-unit building, was reduced and redesigned to address Brooklyn Community Board 1’s concern that the proposed structure would be bulkier than neighboring buildings. Even with the reduction, the Community Board still opposed the development.

At the BSA , the applicant argued that the current building was outdated, its design was limited to food processing, and it would be too costly to make it functional for manufacturing since its foundation was less than 10 ft. from the L subway tunnel. BSA granted the variance, agreeing that the proximity to the subway tunnel created a hardship and, following a site visit, agreed that the existing character of the street was residential. BSA further noted that the reduced development complies with City Planning’s proposed rezoning of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, currently undergoing public review under ULURP.

BSA Cal. No. 183-03-BZ (October 19, 2004) (U8/120 Berry Street, BK: Mitchell S. Ross, Esq., Augusta & Ross, for North Berry Capital Group, LLC; Karl Fischer, Usa Cho w, Karl Fischer Architect; Lock wood Greene Engineering & Construction; Severud Associates Consulting Engineers, P.c.). CrTYADMIN