BROOKLYN HEIGHTS LOOPHOLEBy RICH CALDER, NY Post
"Two Trees" is growing in Brooklyn, thanks to a legal loophole that has historic-district residents scared of the shadows.
Father-and-son developers David and Jed Walentas, of Two Trees Management, are seeking city approval to build a 60-foot, 37-unit luxury rental building on Atlantic Avenue off Court Street in Cobble Hill that would exceed that historic district's 50-foot height limit.
They are taking advantage of a little-known regulation that lets property owners in a historic district exceed height limits if they can show that doing so would enhance the neighborhood.
The developers got the green light from the Planning Commission last month after arguing the project would help preserve a landmarked bank building next door.
The City Council will vote on the plan later this month.
Photo of Jed Walentas from isttd.org
11 comments:
They are taking advantage of a little-known regulation that lets property owners in a historic district exceed height limits if they can show that doing so would enhance the neighborhood.
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Ever notice after a community exhausts itself financially and emotionally fighting developers/campaign donors for the clubhouse in either down zoning or getting legislation passed or moving court cases beyond machine backed judges, there are these little loopholes that pop up making everything pointless?
This guy looks like he got beat up in school a lot.
True Dumbo story: Jed Walentas used this pickup line (on a girl to be fair) a few years back in 66 Water Street Bar - "My father owns this building".
It's Howdy Doody time!
Oh please. The community needs a Trader Joe's. An extra 10 feet is nothing. I hope the city council approves.
It's not Trader Joe's that would be an extra 10 feet. It's the new apt bldg Walentas is building next door. Why not have Trader Joe's in the old bank building AND a new apt blding that is in line with local height regulations? It's these regs that have allowed the neighborhood to maintain its nice, non-Mantattan feel.
How come there's no photo visible but just the box with the red X in the upper left corner?
The city's developers fought like hell to keep
the landmarks law from passing to begin with.
It has been touted as "the strongest municipal landmark law in the country"
(imagine how weak the others must be).
But we know better about its "strength" in Queens
as it has never applied much in our favor.
This "strong law" law, in fact,
is actually riddled with loopholes.
What makes matters far worse is
it is administered by a chairman, commissioners,
and a staff of lethargic bumblers
that are constantly being "pussy whipped"
by the NYC real estate/building industry.
The LPC often cries "uncle" and gives in
to many of their demands before putting up a fight.
Their legal counsel, Mark Silberman,
is frankly.... afraid to litigate!
Can you imagine a mamma's boy lawyer
who's afraid to go to court?
Well that's what they've got !
Thus, the landmarks law has, pretty much,
become a useless law
and could just as well be non existent.
Thus, the landmarks law has, pretty much,
become a useless law
and could just as well be non existent.
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THEN OVERTURN IT ALREADY!
Mr. S. (???)
I think you're the one that I told once before
in our phone conversation......
Put your lawyer where your mouth is
and my organization will sign onto the lawsuit.....
to "OVERTURN IT ALREADY" .
Until then.....
stop blowing smoke up my ass !
He looks more like a "flying Walenta".
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