A massive Carroll Gardens development will suddenly be the subject of public scrutiny next week, after city officials determined its construction to be contrary to the neighborhood’s new zoning.
A stop work order has been slapped on the Clarett Group’s cavernous property, 340 Court Street, where a seven-story condominium and 11 four-story town homes are planned. Before the rezoning passed in October, the project, called “The Collection at Court Street,” was allowed to proceed “as of right,” zoning parlance meaning no special approvals would be required, as it conformed to the existing zoning.
Following the rezoning, which was initiated to preserve the neighborhood’s low-rise character, the developers will now be required to present their plans to Community Board 6, whose vote is advisory in nature only.
Ultimately, it will be up to the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals to approve or disapprove of the developer’s request, which is essentially asking for the legalization of previously issued building permits, which would allow the completion of the project as planned.
At press time, neither the Clarett Group nor the city’s Department of Buildings, which stopped work at the site, responded to calls for comment.
Even under the new zoning, seven-story buildings are allowable on Court Street, leaving those with reservations about the project little hope that it will be significantly amended. “We are opposed to it, but we are also resigned [to its arrival],” said Vincent Joseph of the Union Sackett Street Block Association. “No one wanted tosee this go up, but it is as of right,” he said.
Joseph said he attended a briefing with other neighbors and Clarett officials in November, learning that the project is out of compliance, but not in a significant enough way to engender much opposition. “The fact is, if it is 73-feet tall with a setback, that’s a minor difference. They are in compliance, so there is not much we can do. But I don’t think people understand how big these buildings can be.”
The 106,000-square-foot property between Sackett and Union streets was sold in 2007 by Long Island College Hospital for $23.75 million. The site was once home to the headquarters of the International Longshoremen’s Association.
On Jan. 4, the Land Use/Landmarks Committee of Community Board 6 will weigh the proposal at a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Berkeley Carroll Athletic Center, 762 President St.
