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…)

Ikea to build a 346,000-square-foot waterfront store in Red Hook. The City Planning Commission approved an application by Ikea Property, Inc., for the development of a 346,000-square-foot furniture store and three ancillary buildings on a 22-acre site along the Red Hook, Brooklyn waterfront. The store, Ikea’s first in New York City, will be its largest store in the United States. The Commission also approved 70,000 sq.ft. of retail and restaurant space and a 6.3-acre public esplanade/bikeway.

Red Hook is primarily zoned M3-1 for heavy manufacturing. Recently, the neighborhood has begun a slow revitalization with the opening of the Community Justice Center in 2000 and with increasing private renovations to its residential and neighborhood retail buildings. (more…)

City Council approves “narrow streets” characterization. On July 23, 2008, the City Council approved a text amendment designed as a stopgap to curb out-of-character development in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The proposal amends the zoning text to identify six blocks of Carroll Gardens as having “narrow streets,” addressing a unique situation in that Brooklyn neighborhood. The affected blocks have deep, landscaped front yards that the City Map includes within the street width. Despite actual street widths of 50 feet, developers can treat these blocks as “wide streets” or streets larger than 100 feet, allowing for an increase in permitted floor area and height.

The City Planning Commission approved the amendment without change despite developer William Stein’s request that it exempt his project at 360 Smith Street from any new restrictions on floor area and height. 5 CityLand 90 (July 15, 2008). (more…)