Architect will occupy Jan Pokorny’s seat. On September 4, 2008, the City Council Committee on Rules, Privileges & Elections approved Fred Bland as the newest member of Landmarks, filling a vacancy open since Jan Pokorny passed away on May 20th after serving on Landmarks for over a decade. Bland is an architect, currently a managing partner at Beyer Blinder Belle. Prominent projects by Bland include China’s Shanghai Cultural Plaza, the Mark Morris Dance Group … <Read More>
Search Results for: Brooklyn
Text change approved protecting Carroll Gardens
- Landscaped front yards in Carroll Gardens. Photo: Molly Brennan.
City Council approves “narrow streets” characterization. On July 23, 2008, the City Council approved a text amendment designed as a stopgap to curb out-of-character development in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The proposal amends the zoning text to identify six blocks of Carroll Gardens as having “narrow streets,” addressing a unique situation in that Brooklyn neighborhood. The affected blocks have deep, landscaped front yards that … <Read More>
City Comptroller faults EDC’s management of Army Terminal lease
EDC failed to charge $511,500 in allowable rent and used City water and sewer services without paying. On June 6, 2008, City Comptroller William C. Thompson issued an audit report on the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s lease of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, concluding that it failed to charge Turner Construction Company $211,500 in allowable rent and lost $300,000 by charging some sub-tenants less than market rate rent. Also, EDC has not paid the … <Read More>
Architect charged with false and misleading filings
Architect Robert Scarano faces the possible loss of his ability to file DOB permits. On June 12, 2008, Buildings announced that it filed administrative charges with the Department of Investigation against licensed architect Robert Scarano, alleging that he knowingly or negligently filed false and misleading documents along with building permit applications for two Williamsburg, Brooklyn apartment buildings.
According to Buildings, Scarano improperly divided a zoning lot located at 158 Freeman Street and 1037 Manhattan Avenue … <Read More>
Domino Sugar factory addition approved
Addition to landmark factory applauded by Commissioners. After a contentious hearing in February 2008 over a plan by Community Preservation Corporation to build a five-story glass addition to the Domino Sugar Refinery building, Landmarks asked Community Preservation to amend its proposal. 5 CityLand 29 (Mar. 15, 2008). The addition to the Domino factory is only one component of Community Preservation’s plan, which also includes five 40-story residential towers, 120,000 sq.ft. of retail space, and publicly … <Read More>
Accessory parking requirement waived
Developer claimed structural limitations made off-street parking economically infeasible. POKO Partners LLC, a property manager and developer of low-income housing, planned to convert a 50,000sq.ft. vacant theater at 1501 Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn into a seven-story mixed-use development with two floors of retail, commercial, and community facility space and five floors of residential use. If the 66-unit building were constructed as proposed, 33 off-street parking spaces would be required. POKO sought a variance from the … <Read More>