This local civic has lawyered up!
Developer Alex Forkosh is trying to rezone a swath of Bergen Beach to build condos, but the Bergen Beach Civic Association — determined to stop the development — has enlisted Manhattan lawyer Jack Lester’s help in its opposition. The group, which meets monthly at the Hudson River Yacht Club to address local issues, knew it was out of its wheel house trying to fight the massive development, so members decided to bring in the big guns, its captain said.
“It is vital that we engage in this time-consuming and expensive process. The problem with any condo proposal, besides the essential fact that a huge condo development is out of character, is the devil is in the details. We need to know what we are getting into,” said civic president Michael Benjamin. “Because of the obscure and obtuse nature of land use, we decided — our best due diligence revealed — we should have a land use expert that represents communities.”
Forkosh owns the property on E. 69th Street between Avenues W and Y, which is now a neighborhood-despised bus depot, and plans to build two six-story condominium complexes there — but first he needs to convince the city to rezone the land from manufacturing to residential. Forkosh’s lawyer famously suggested to the civic in 2014 that all its bus problems would go away if it only supported the rezoning.
The developer first began trying to get the zoning change back in 2008, but his efforts failed because the housing market collapse forced many big projects — including his — to come tumbling down on their own, according to Councilman Alan Maisel (D–Marine Park). But securing legal aid now to make sure Forkosh’s second bite at the apple doesn’t go anywhere is a good idea, according to Maisel, who opposes the development.
“I think it’s wise to be represented by someone who really knows what they are talking about,” he said.
If the developer succeeds in getting the rezoning, there’s no guarantee he’ll build the condos — and the community doesn’t deserve a potential curve ball, Lester said.
“Once they achieve that zoning change, they can put in apartments, not-for-profit housing, can put in residential facilities, institutional facilities, they are not restrained by what they are saying now,” he said. “I visited the property and in my opinion, that area is not suitable for a high density residential development, it’s in an isolated dead-end area, there’s no access to roadways, no parking facilities. It’s surrounded by low-level homes, there’s never been a development of that density at that location.”
Lester is known for helping communities battle development —
He’s currently representing a group of Red Hookers trying to get their loft brought into rent stabilization and another community group in Gowanus fighting against a late-night club, though most of his clients are in Manhattan — and he’s optimistic about all three, he said.
“I’m confident because we have the community behind us,” Lester said.
