Owner sought to convert industrial building to residential units. 202 Meserole LLC, owner of a three-story building located at the corner of Jewel Street and Meserole Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, sought a variance to convert the 15,960-squarefoot building into 17 residential units.

In its BSA application, Meserole represented that the building was structurally incapable of supporting as-of-right manufacturing because the building was originally intended for residential use, and consequently had low ceilings and no freight elevator.

Brooklyn Community Board 1, by a vote of 37-0-0, urged BSA to reject the variance, noting that Greenpoint’s remaining manufacturing district was being invaded by market rate housing and loft conversions.

Following a hearing, BSA asked 202 Meserole to explain the discrepancy in the load bearing capacity given in an engineering report versus the certificate of occupancy and, if structural weakness could be shown, for figures showing the additional expense of reinforcing the building to allow as-of-right uses.

At a subsequent hearing, BSA requested that Meserole corroborate its claim of insufficient load bearing capacity with documentation from Buildings. Following a meeting with Buildings, Meserole sought an adjournment to allow Buildings time to complete its assessment of the building. When BSA denied the adjournment, Meserole withdrew its application.

BSA: 100 Jewel Street (202-04-BZ) (Einbinder & Dunn, for 202 Meserole LLC).