South Park Slope Community Group

By Melissa Grace
NY Daily News

The wave may be saved.

The city is opposing a move by a Brooklyn developer of a seven-story condo that locals fear will block the famed salute between Green-Wood Cemetery’s statue of Minerva and the Statue of Liberty.

After a review found “serious zoning violations” in the design by controversial architect Robert Scarano, the Department of Buildings said it may revoke a permit for the project at 614 Seventh Ave.

“They’re going to have to start from scratch,” predicted Aaron Brashear, of the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights which has protested the building.

Without the permit, developer Chaim Nussencweig could be permanently barred from building the 30,000 square foot tower as planned – which Scarano redesigned last fall to keep the view after community uproar.

Residents charged Scarano’s latest condo redesign still blocks the famous salute.

“It’s a peephole,” said Brashear, who charged the new plan offered only a sliver of the current view.

Scarano is under investigation for possible zoning and building code abuses.

Despite the highly-critical tone of DOB’s May 9 letter – including a list of 20 irregularities – Nussencweig’s lawyer expects the project will be approved.

“The Building Department reviewed it once and found it valid,” said Howard Hornstein.

“Hopefully, they’ll review it a second time and find it valid.”

Buildings officials conceded the redesign permit should never have been approved because of the violations.

“The permit was improperly issued,” said DOB spokeswoman Ilyse Fink said.

If DOB does reject the redesign permit, Nussencweig can appeal or revise his plans, officials said.

To read this article on-line, click here>

By Charles Hack
Park Slope Courier

A letter from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to the city

On May 9 the Dept. of Buildings sent the Board of Standards and Appeals what is perhaps the final “nail in the coffin” for 614 7th Ave.: a letter stating “the permit issued on August 31, 2005 was not valid…Therefore, the Department respectfully requests that the Board exclude any work performed under this permit when considering the vesting application.”

The DOB goes on further to reinforce their appraisal by stating “the Board may only consider construction and expenditures made in reliance on the permit reinstated on November 15, 2005 [at 2:41 pm].”

So according to the DOB, only 3 hours and 19 mins of work should be considered, if at all. Whamo!

The final decision, one we hope is a rejection of this vesting application, will be made by the BSA on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 (40 Rector St., 6th floor, 10:00 am).

Download the letter click here>

For more in-depth information, read the following Park Slope Courier and NY Daily News articles below:

Park Slope Courier: Minerva Gets a Leg Up On Developer

NY Daily News: Our Liberty belle gets a reprieve

Saturday, May 20. 4pm.
Methodist Church, 6th Ave. & 8th street.
Tickets $10.

Please come out to enjoy the weather, your neighbors and help raise some money to pay for legal fees. The main event is a concert by Billy B, “The Natural Science Song & Dance Man.” It’s a kid friendly event! Raffle, face painting and snacks too.

Download the flyer here.

The South Slope Coalition (a subdivision of the South Park Slope community group) has taken on a developer who is trying to build 12- and 14-story buildings on our 3-story blocks (specifically on 15th and 16th streets). They have hired a lawyer and took the developers by storm at the March 29 hearing at the Board of Standards and Appeals. The hearing is still pending, but we’ve got to pay our lawyer fees.

Continued hearings for two properties whose vesting we have been fighting is taking place next Tuesday at the Board of Standards and Appeals.

Tuesday, May 16, 10:00am.
40 Rector Street, 6th Floor, 6E-Conference Room, NYC

400 15th Street
639 Sixth Avenue

Both of these properties’ developers are seeking vesting based on financial hardship (not percentage of foundation in, which was nil in both cases). We ask anyone who has witnessed unsafe or questionable demolition, excavation and/or foundation construction, as well as unsafe or illegal work practices, work after hours or on weekends without variance permits, or anything else that would add further credence to our case that poorly behaving developers should not be rewarded. This is your absolute last chance to say anything about the vesting of these properties.

You will have three minutes to speak; please bring six copies of your testimony if you wish to turn it in to the Board. Photo ID is required to enter the building. See you there!