163 Washington Avenue

Posted At : August 1, 2007 11:49 AM | Posted By : vaidila
Related Categories: Real Estate & Development, Urban Planning & Streetscape

The GLC Group recently posted a rendering of their plan for 163 Washington. The 17 story building would house 50 condos in a tower behind the well-known restaurant Kum Kau (Myrtle - Hall/Washington).

Considering the recent rezoning of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, which requires new buildings in the project area to be no higher than 50 feet, the ultimate design of the building is uncertain at this point, as was highlighted by Brownstoner last week.

In order to continue as planned, the developer would be required to get authorization from the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) to renew ("vest") their building permits, which under Section 11-331 of the Zoning Resolution means that the project has to have completed excavation and has to have made substantial progress on the foundations, and the BSA determines whether or not these qualifications have been met.

To learn more about the BSA, click here.

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Comments

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This 11 or 14 or 17-story building has no business being where it is, surrounded by block after block of 3/4-story woodframe houses. The neighborhood does not want this building built and we have been leading an effort prevent this monstrosity from totally changing the dynamic of a very townhouse-styled corner of Clinton Hill.

The developer missed the deadline (earlier this month) to have the foundation built and thus avoid the new zoning laws that just went into effect. Hopefully the DOB and BSA will deny any appeal for "hardship" and the developer will be forced to play by the rules. They had their chance to build this monster and they missed it.

# Posted By Boygabe | 8/1/07 12:22 PM

An 11, or rumored to be, 14 story tower is planned for 120/122 Adelphi Street, directly west of the Washington project. The foundations are substantially complete, and air-rights from adjacent property secured. This will be a tougher battle, but worth fighting as this is even more out of proportion in relation to its site-two 25' X 100' deep parcels. The Washington property, while too tall, benefits from a large through lot and I believe the area was all generated on this original parcel, just stacked up high to allow city views at the expense of others. There is open space, though mostly private, around it.

The use of air-rights on the Adelphi property really distorts the context, and I really fault the city for allowing the abuse of the zoning ordinance. Neighbors are resisting this building and we welcome any legal or tactical advice on how to proceed. There are other projects at this stage and scale around Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to keep an eye on.

# Posted By noroof | 8/1/07 1:24 PM

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