Community Board 2 this week rejected a plan by real estate developer David
Walentas to build a 16-story residential building in DUMBO that would
block views of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
At a community board committee meeting earlier this month, residents had
slammed the plan because the proposed building, which would rise at the
corner of Water and Dock streets, would obstruct views of the 121-year-old
span.
The committee voted to disapprove the application and this week the full
community board followed their lead, voting down the proposal 39-0 with
one member abstaining.
The proposed 178-foot-tall residential and commercial building, which
would rise at 38 Water St., which is now home to the single-story St.
Ann’s Warehouse, would include 200 apartments.
The plan also calls for 8,000 square feet of retail space along Water
Street, an 8,000-square-foot performance space that would be rented to
a non-profit arts group and a 327-space public parking garage with an
entrance and exit along Front Street.
As part of the proposal Walentas, principal owner of Two Trees Management,
is also seeking to knock down a four-story, red-brick building —
which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
That building currently houses the Smack Mellon Studios art gallery.
Because the area is currently zoned for manufacturing, Walentas needs
a variance from the city, which requires that it pass the city’s
rigorous Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
“We’re glad CB2 voted not to recommend it, but we still recognize
that we still have quite a fight ahead of us as the proposal winds its
way through ULURP,” said DUMBO Neighborhood Association President
Nancy Webster.
Jed Walentas, a principal of Two Trees Management, said they were not
planning on scaling back the project.
“We feel strongly that there is no impact on the bridge,” said
Walentas, who added that they have consulted extensively with the Department
of City Planning.
As part of the city’s ULURP, the application will go before the borough
president, City Planning Commission and City Council. Borough President
Marty Markowitz will hold a public hearing on the application at 6 pm
on Tuesday, June 1, in the ceremonial courtroom at Borough Hall, which
is on Joralemon Street at Court Street.