District 33 – Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, parts of Williamsburg, Park Slope, Boerum Hill
Council Member Stephen Levin grew up just outside of New York City, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He knew he wanted to be in Brooklyn even while he was attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. To get there though, he dabbled with various jobs including working as a waiter (he was fired), a book store clerk, and an artist’s assistant. About a … <Read More>
The Commission expressed concerns over proposal but approved reconstruction of building’s long-stuccoed brick facade. On February 26, 2013 the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve a proposal to reconstruct the facade of an 1880s carriage house at 165 Columbia Heights in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. The two-story structure, converted to residential use in the early 20th century, had its original brick facade covered with stucco in the 1930s. The building is owned by … <Read More>
Demolition of bowling alley will lead to construction of 112 dwelling units and a two-story synagogue. On October 20, 2008, an application for a zoning map amendment was filed to rezone property located at 1560 60th Street in Brooklyn. The location has been occupied by Maple Lanes Bowling Alley for more than 50 years. The application calls for the demolition of the one-story, 35,000-square-foot bowling alley.
The application, filed by Fairmont Lanes LLC, would … <Read More>
Presumptive mayoral candidate focuses on solutions to the “middle class squeeze” in speech. On February 11, 2013, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn gave her final State of the City Address. Speaker Quinn, who is term limited at the end of this year, is expected to announce her candidacy for mayor in September’s Democratic primary.
Quinn’s speech focused primarily on helping the middle class. The Speaker highlighted The Middle Class Squeeze, a report … <Read More>
Commissioners praised design of project composed of five residential townhouses, but asked to see further refinements before voting to approve. On February 5, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on a proposal to demolish a one-story garage building, and construct a new residential development at 55 Pearl Street. The site is at the corner of Water Street in Brooklyn’s DUMBO Historic District. The heavily modified garage building is thought to have … <Read More>
The country’s very first zoning resolution was adopted in New York City in 1916. Called the “Building Zone Plan,” the new regulations dictated building use and physical characteristics, such as set-backs, to organize development of a burgeoning City. In 1961, the zoning resolution was overhauled to what is today the primary land use document of the City. The new plan addressed the realities of population growth and encouraged public amenities, such as public plazas as … <Read More>