Still Wants Garage in Courtyard, Tenants’ Opposition Still Expected

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS -- Out of sight does not necessarily mean out of mind, at least to the owners of the historic Riverside Apartments at the foot of Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights.

In 1890, industrialist and philanthropist Alfred T. White built the Riverside Apartments as model tenements for workers. They were remarkable at the time in that they were fireproof, had cross ventilation, private toilets and balconies. They were modeled after an earlier complex still standing in Cobble Hill.

Almost two years ago, the Pinnacle Group, the current owner, created a plan to build a 134-car, two-level parking garage in the surviving courtyard behind the old building on Columbia Place. Half of the original courtyard was destroyed to make for the BQE.

The plan was met by strong opposition from the tenants of the 157-unit apartment, from several neighborhood associations in the area, from the Brooklyn Heights Association and Community Board 2. The Landmarks Preservation Commission raised several objections, and the applicant withdrew the plan.

A new plan has now been issued, still for 134 cars with 67 on each level, one of which is below ground, and a garden on the roof. Unlike the earlier plan, there is no mention of a school either in part of the garage or at the ground level of the main buildings. The owners have kept the retail spaces at the street level deliberately vacant.

A new architect was hired following major opposition to the scheme proposed by the first architect. Last week the revised plan was discussed with the Land Use and Landmarks Committee of Community Board 2, which as in previous meetings over the earlier plan, voted unanimously against the proposal. The new proposal is scheduled to go before the Landmarks Commission on Tuesday, April 8. Opponents are expected to attend in force.

The applicant insists that he is planning the garage both for tenants and for “supplemental parking.� The only need for supplemental parking in the area would be Brooklyn Bridge Park, which for this part of the park is still two years away at least.

Some of the tenants speculate that the owner is really intent on converting the apartments into market-rate condos. Because of its somewhat remote location in Brooklyn Heights, that plan would require a dedicated garage that tenants would probably pay for. The owner denies this speculation.

The Riverside units surrounded a large inner courtyard, also very unusual for its time. When the BQE was built, the large building section on Furman Street was destroyed, and with it about half of the courtyard. Over the decades, this space has been used by the tenants for a variety of purposes. There are several impressive trees in the yard.

The new plan calls for seven varieties of new trees, or a total of 21 trees including four in the 20-foot-wide entryway to the garage. The trees, however, would be smaller than those there now.

The plan is dependent on approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. It does not require city land use review because there are no zoning variances required and it is private property.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2008
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