Council Member de Blasio argued for modifications. On October 25, 2007, the City Council modified Two Trees Management Co.’s special permit application to construct a 6-story, 37-unit residential building adjacent to the South Brooklyn Savings Bank in Downtown Brooklyn. The proposal must now go back to the Planning Commission for approval.

Two Trees proposed to construct the building on the bank’s vacant parking lot and an adjacent lot. Located at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street, the two lots fall within both the Cobble Hill Historic District and a Special Limited Height District. In exchange for restoring the historic bank, Two Trees sought a waiver from the area’s height limit, along with relief from other zoning restrictions. 4 CityLand 136 (Oct. 15, 2007). (more…)

Opponents challenged 60-foot height. On September 17, 2007, the Planning Commission approved the special permit application of Two Trees Management Co. LLC, facilitating its controversial plan to build a six-story, 60-foot tall building adjacent to the South Brooklyn Savings Bank, a 1922 building located at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street within the Cobble Hill Historic District. Overall, the development would include 31,512 sq.ft. of residential space with 37 units, and 6,865 sq.ft. of ground-floor retail including a Trader Joe’s grocery store to be located within the now-vacant bank building.

Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, the new six-story building would occupy the bank’s parking lot and an adjacent lot containing a one-story office building, which Two Trees would demolish.

Two Trees’ plan required a waiver of the 50-foot height limit, and relief from rear yard, parking, and other zoning restrictions, which Two Trees sought in exchange for its plan to restore the historic bank. Landmarks approved the plan after Two Trees set back the sixth story to make it less visible from Atlantic Avenue and abandoned a plan for a stair and elevator tower linking the bank and residential building. (more…)

Signs requested by MetroTech BID and local businesses. Landmarks issued a binding report approving MetroTech BID’s proposal to install “way finding signage” throughout downtown Brooklyn. The proposal developed more than three years ago from a general consensus among MetroTech and downtown Brooklyn business groups that there was a lack of signage in downtown Brooklyn to assist pedestrians in finding key destinations. Initially using its own funds, and later obtaining capital funding from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the City Council, MetroTech is now working with the Economic Development Corporation to further its proposal.

MetroTech’s plan to install kiosks and pole-mounted signs throughout downtown Brooklyn impacted six historic districts: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, and Fulton Ferry. The kiosks will be approximately sevenfeet tall and two-feet wide and placed at major pedestrian traffic locations, such as subway and bus stops. They will display a map directory on one side and a detailed, area-wide map on the other. Directional signs, approximately two-feet square, will be mounted on poles approximately 11-feet tall and will complete the signage system by providing directions to specific locations. (more…)

Performing arts school to convert vacant three-story building. Montgomery Academy, a performing arts school located at 414 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, sought a special permit to convert a vacant three-story commercial building on nearby Lefferts Avenue into additional school space. Montgomery stated that the building was necessary to accommodate increased enrollment.

Prior to submitting its application, Montgomery sought alternate sites, but failed to find any buildings that allowed a school as-of-right suitable with respect to size, cost, or quality. Montgomery argued that the Lefferts Avenue building, which was only 50 feet from a zoning district that allowed school use, was in good condition, ready to use, and sufficient for its needs. Montgomery also emphasized its contribution to the community: teaching music and dance to students primarily from the Crown Heights neighborhood, many of whom were immigrants and benefited from a performing arts school environment. (more…)

Affordable housing incentives, as well as height, massing and manufacturing zones, revised before approval. Over the disapproval votes of Commissioners Karen Phillips and Dolly Williams, the remaining members of the Planning Commission approved the rezoning of a two-mile area along the East River waterfront in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods after modifications were crafted to address public officials and residents’ comments.

The six linked applications, including text, map and City map amendments to create park land, will rezone 183 diverse blocks of two Brooklyn neighborhoods that have seen significant population growth, development and numerous illegal conversions over the past decade that have increased the disparity between the existing uses and the current zoning. (more…)