Stop work orders slapped on a number of controversial construction projects around Carroll Gardens remain in effect this week after the City Council recently passed new zoning regulations.
As many as nine sites around the neighborhood were originally impacted by passage of the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment — five of them were slapped with stop work orders from the Department of Buildings (DOB).
Two of the five quickly had their stop work orders lifted, allowing work to progress, but three others — including the massive Oliver House project at 360 Smith Street — remain on hold.
Developer William Stein’s “Oliver House” Web site now reads as follows: “As a result of the recent change in the zoning laws effecting Carroll Gardens, work at Oliver House has been temporarily suspended. This delay will, unfortunately, extend the time in which the subway plaza will be closed, and the overall time in which the project will be under construction.”
The DOB partially rolled back stop work orders at 360 Smith Street and 126 1st Place, but only to allow construction crews the opportunity to do some safety-related work.
In the case of 360 Smith Street that means building a railing around the excavation site. According to the DOB, the partial stop work order will allow workers at 126 1st Place to seal up windows.
Stein will reportedly try to claim hardship with the Board of Standards & Appeals in an effort to get his Oliver House project exempted from new zoning regulations.
The developer is seeking to build a 48-unit condominium complex at the corner of 2nd Place and Smith Street in excess of 70 feet high.
Revised zoning regulations enacted on July 23 limit the height of new buildings at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places, as well as 2nd, Carroll and Presidents streets between Smith and Hoyt streets at 55 feet.
The Oliver House website goes on to say, “We apologize for any inconvenience this causes to the community of Carroll Gardens and the numerous residents who have been so supportive, but, unfortunately, the delay is the result of the manner in which the zoning change was effectuated and was out of our control. As soon as we are able to resume construction and bring this exciting new subway plaza and building to completion, we will do so.”
Community residents opposed to out-of-scale development applaud the closing of the “wide streets” loophole and hope it is the first step to rezoning the entire neighborhood.
