Community Board 9 Meeting Tuesday, May 25 (corrected)

The monthly public meeting for Community Board 9 is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25, at 7 pm. Agenda items include a proposal for a six-story public housing facility, tentatively known as Providence House, at 329 Lincoln Road. And Aaron Bouska from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens will talk about the construction of the new Visitors' Center at the Garden and the upcoming BBG 100th Birthday party.

Middle School 61 Auditorium
400 Empire Boulevard
Brooklyn NY  11225
[Info]

Comments

[brn442]

Are you sure? as its the 18th tomorrow

[babs]

That building has been sealed up for years. I would love to see it rehabilitated and converted to affordable housing. I would not like to see it torn down and replaced with something ugly, a la the Fedders-style houses across the street. Interestingly enough, this building currently has a C of O for 16 families; the proposal is for a structure for approx. 26 families, yet it seems the petition is to allow the existing FAR restrictions to apply, and the existing building is already overbuilt according to current zoned FAR. Thanks for the heads-up; I'll definitely attend and try to get more information beforehand.

[babs]

Also, please note that there is a "Brainstorming" session tomorrow at the central library to discuss establishment of a Clove Road Plaza. Clove Road is that little cobblestone street behind the Associated grocery store on Nostrand Ave. just above Empire - there has been an archaelogical dig going on there as well.
http://02dee1f.netsolhost.com/docs/Brainstormingsession.pdf

[babs]

OK, got it: under Section 24-11, the maximum floor area here can be 4.80, or double what's currently authorized and the footprint can cover 65% of the lot area (or 2383+ sf). The current building is at 2400 sf, so it's already bigger there, meaning the only way to go is up (6 storeys vs. the current 4).

[lefferts]

The building at 329 Lincoln Rd., between Lefferts and Nostrand, is currently boarded up and owned by the city. The proposal is to approve an exemption to the existing zoning (FAR approx. 2.34) to allow construction of a building of up to 4.8 FAR. (6 storeys, 26 families)

Obviously, such a building would be out of scale on this block and its size would cause it to loom over the surrounding 3 and 4 story buildings on the street as well as the backyards of the homes on Lefferts Ave. (my backyard, to be precise, where sadly there is already so little sun that nothing grows but that's another matter)

The building to be constructed is classed as a "community facility," to be administered by Providence House, an organization operated by the sisters of the Congregation of Saint Joseph. Providence House provides short and longer-term housing for women who are recently released from prison (either having completed their sentence or on parole) and their children.

The existing building has a valid Certificate of Occupancy for 16 families. I see no reason that the existing structure could not be rehabilitated to use for the stated purpose, albeit on a smaller, more neighborhood-appropriate, size. If the building is found to be unsuitable for some reason, I would suggest that it be replaced with a similar-sized building.

People in our neighborhood need to speak against this zoning exception on Tuesday at the community board meeting.

My opposition to it has nothing to do with the purpose of the facility, although I would be lying if I didn't admit that I'm not thrilled about having ex-con's looking in my backyard and living near my children. They have to live somewhere, and it's my crap luck that it's behind me. But mostly I am offended by its size. I would also mention that there are MANY unfinished and/or vacant buildings of much larger size that would be much better-suited to a facility of this nature and would cost less for the city to rehabilitate and use (an example is the building on the corner of Lefferts Ave and New York Avenue), as well as many vacant lots with existing appropriate zoning already in place (Lenox Rd).

If you feel, like I do, that this proposal is being swept by the community without the people to be affected by it having been given access to any of the facts surrounding it, I urge you to attend the CB 9 meeting next Tuesday and to register to voice your opposition to this petition (must call CB 9 before 12 on Monday to register), and also to talk to your neighbors and make them aware of this plan.

Also, please sign the online petition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lincolnrdhousing/

[Alexis L. of One Grand Home]

Lefferts,
There are plenty of ex-cons living near you and your children already. You may want to check the sex offender registry for this zip code.

[Wayne B. King]

We as residents of this community, should have been asked if this is what we believe we needed in the community. Another Porvidence House is not needed across the street from the one that is behind the Catholic Church on Nostrand Ave. We need a Youth Center or Senior Center with Housing, A park or some other edifice that will enhance our community and help those that dwell in it.