333-space parking garage to be located at the former Board of Education headquarters. The Planning Commission approved an application by Two Trees Management and EDC for a 333-space public parking garage to be located within the 300,000-square-foot, former Board of Education headquarters at 110 Livingston Street in Brooklyn. Two Trees plans to convert the 1925 building and construct an 88,000-square-foot addition for 308 residential units and a 6,000-square-foot community theater. Two Trees will maintain the building’s distinct facade, designed by McKim, Mead & White.
The property is bounded by Boerum Place, and Livingston, Court and Schermerhorn Streets. Access to the proposed 55,560- square-foot garage would be provided by a new curb cut on Livingston Street and the existing curb cut on Schermerhorn Street. To satisfy the parking requirement triggered by the addition, 42 of the 333 parking spaces would be dedicated to the new residential units and there would be 17 reservoir spaces.
No one opposed the project at the Commission’s February 16, 2005 public hearing. Speakers in favor included EDC’s Senior Vice-President, Hardy Adasko, and Jed Walentas from Two Trees. After several Commissioners expressed concerns regarding the amount of parking dedicated to building residents and its pricing, Walentas stated that although no parking spaces would be for sale, the condo residents would be the obvious customer base and would likely receive lower monthly rates. Adasko noted, when questioned by Commissioner Irwin Cantor, that historically the City did not place pricing mechanisms within special permit authorizations.
The Commission approved on March 16, 2005, finding that the garage would support the area’s future plans for development, reduce the need for open parking lots and not cause serious traffic congestion.
ULURP Process: The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding, as lead agency, issued a negative declaration on November 10, 2004. Brooklyn Community Board 2 recommended unanimous approval of the special permit on condition that Two Trees plant street trees wherever possible. Recommending approval, Borough President Marty Markowitz asked that the Commission condition approval on the use of non-illuminated exterior signs, minimization of the interior lights’ visual impact on the street and the addition of bicycle parking.
CPC: 110 Livingston Street Garage (C 050095 ZSK – special permit to allow public parking garage) (March 16, 2005). CITYADMIN