Borough Park, Brooklyn NY – A developer with a known history of building oversize and then biting the cost in sheer profits comes into your neighborhood and makes a play to build an oversize building there, what do you do? What if the property in question is an enormous pit? That’s exactly what has happened in Borough Park where Mendel Brach, a specialist at the ‘we’ll build extra and just say teachers will live here’ style of building development, is asking the city for a variance to build a 12-story building and 259-car parking garage at 886 Dahill Road in Borough Park, specifically over the area on the other side of the supermarket parking lot in the aerial shot above.
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Neighbors said the abandoned building had been a scourge for years, attracting the homeless and people who illegally dump trash. A violation issued by the Buildings Department last Tuesday was taped to the gate, citing hazardous conditions and ordering the owners to clean up the building, shore up a weak wall and secure the entrances. It was the second such violation since the developers bought the building.
Brach bought the property of for $8 million in 2003. Will he get the variance? “We look at each project thoroughly,” Rachaele Raynoff, a spokeswoman for the City Planning Department told the Times, “It’s not ‘Do you like this project or do you like the applicant?’ It’s ‘Does the project meet the requirements?’ ” And even if it does pass, the development still needs to go through public review. We suspect we’ll hear some more about this one. [nytimes]
Its amazing how you have given the developer a forum to play and respond anonymously on this blog.
As an outsider that comes to Boro Park often I fail to understand why property owners who live and own homes and are affected by this development are being put down for not letting build affordable housing for others. They live there!!! That gives them the right to protect their home, their investment in their future and the right to veto this plan if it affects them.
Affordable Housing???? Yea! I got a bridge to sell you.
This is nothing other than a greedy developer looking to maximyze profit with out any concern for the neighbors.
Meet with the neighbors, build something that dosent affect the quality of life for people who have invested in homes and live nearby. That is how its done everywhere else, and if you think for one minute that the developer is interested in helping the community and plans on doing the right thing, think again…
its very interesting all you people that say it helps housing this developer has built housing in williamsburgh and it was not for the community and they were sold for top dollar and even those people that bought them couldnt move in because it didnt get a c of o causing a big chilul hashem so all you people that are in dreamworld thinking this is for affordable housing wake up
I saw a pashkeville shabbos that “Felder has to go”.
Who ever printed this pashkeville should come out publicly and say or if its a bunch of people that wrote this pashkeville let them all sign it. The public should know who these people are.
“Felder has to go”? Yes up the ladder in politics. Since Felder became Councilman he has made a true kiddush hashem and helped everyone that contact him. Everywhere you go in the City today they have utmost respect for him. I was in a city office and mentioned that Felder is my Councilman, the response I got was a true kiddush hashem ( and let me tell you I got what ever I needed).
Councilman Simcha Felder, don’t fall to a couple of people that are trying to smear you Just keep up the good work leman haklall and I will always vote for you for what ever office you may run after your term limits.
I am a 26 year old with 4 children and live on 14th avenue in an apartment house. My income is approximately 75k per year. I have been trying to buy a house or an apartment for the last 3 years but was unable to get a house that will fit my budget. I cannot understand the selfishness of these individuals fighting this project.
This is what I would like to tell these individuals………..
Lets exchange for a week and come live in my house under the conditions I live in, and then if you still think that this project should be stopped I will have no complaints.
If this project adds even 30 homes I am all for it.
If anyone knows where I can call or whom I can contact so I can have an opportunity to look at any of these new apartments please post it here!
I agree with you and so does everyone I spoke to in Boro Park this shabbos!
And to this guy that is trying to scare us and explain that Williamsburg streets are wider, I would suggest he checks it again. McDonald and 20th are huge streets and much bigger then any of the Williamsburg streets he mentioned.
Even after this project we will still be in much better shape then any of the people living in Williamsburg.
Great job councilman! KEEP IT UP… Don’t listen to these irresponsible individuals that don’t care about housing.
The Councilman made very clear during all the booing that he is in faver of the project becuase of housing and thats why there was some type of an agreement that it should be approved for an “R” zoning only. PLAIN ENGLISH: Housing only, NO COMMERCIAL.
To resolve the parking issue, there was an added request to have a parking spot for each appartment.
But who cares about housing a few idiots don’t have what to do and are looking for some fun, fabricated a story and blaming our beloved Councilman that during the past 6 years did everything to help our community more then any elected offical ever did. Got funding for our organizations more then any elected offical ever did.
But who cares, this won’t help the idoits have some fun and become some voice in the community.
So to the few that are out there to shame our Councilman:
Felder won’t go and the community at large will stick up for him, big time against a few idiots on 50 street that are looking what to do with their time.
guess you havent been in williamsburg
tell me which street in is as congested and crucial and small like 50 street or as busy as mcdonald ave every street in williamsburg is bigger wether its lee or bedford or rutledge or marcy i could keep going and going go to the intersection of 50 and 20 ave mcdonald and ave i and see how busy and congested it is any time of the day I COULD TAKE YOU ON A TOUR IN WILLIAMSBURG ANY TIME YOU LIKE
I actually have a copy of the plans. I f someone would tell me how to post it, I will.
This is a huge project that has an enormous “commercial” part. Why is the councilman supporting the commercial part? It has nothing to do with housing. This is why so many people are questioning the intentions of the developers. Developers that have been suspicious for a long time, as per the leading NY Times article.
If this project would go ahead, a few major department stores would open, and compete with the local Hemish storekeepers. They will employ cheap labor from outside of the community. We all know who will loose, the community.
The project, the way it is now, is defiantly not about housing. It’s about profit for a few on the expense of the whole community.
hello b4 anyone talks who has seen the plan? those that were
the board meeting saw the plan you show me a building were there is no access to the complex for veichles from all four sides
Its obvious that by saying that the streets in Williamsburg are double the size you either are not from the city and misinformed or you are just trying to scare us with nonsense.
It is a fact and can be easily proven that BP streets are just as wide as the streets in Manhattan and Williamsburg if not wider on some streets. I also don’t know if you are aware that there are major arteries in those areas as well.
It is very irresponsible to post such a statement with researching the facts. By posting your comment some people will actually believe you and might want to block this project. You have a responsibility to all of those people in BP that need housing desperately.
REMEBER! If you want to live in a place where it’s less congested please move north to the Catskills.
you cant compare williamsburg to bp 50 street and mcdonald and 20 ave is a major artery williamsburg streets are double the size of bp this project is going to cause major gridlock the traffic on those streets are already very heavy and there will be 90 parking spots with another 100 and something on the street
I am sure we can find a solution to this “FABRICATED” problem.
How do emergency vehicles get to buildings in williamsburg and the rest of the five boros that are twice the size?
Stop the bologne and lets get more housing.
the application was voted down by every board member just one question how will any emergency vehicle,schoolbus get to an apartment complex if there is no access for vehicles?
We all need housing in this community.
To Councilman Felder
Please don’t buckle under pressure from a few and hve in mind the community at large. Get us housing so we could buy some appartments for our children.
Councilman you are doing a good job for the people that voted you in, so just keep on doing the job you were elected for and don’t listen to the few that are putting alot of pressure to block this project.
Resident of Boro Park
The application was not denied…….. It was approved for residential only.
Give credit to the community board members that realized the need for housing.
What a shame to post these lies!
Who is the local rabbi you are referring to?
Which investor are you talking about?
According to my information this is an absolute lie! The owner of this property promised our councilman Simchah Felder to build homes so that it eases the housing crunch in Boro Park. If we deny this project who knows what will be built on this property. You can be sure that this piece of land will be sold instantly for bidders that will not have the community in mind. Please don’t get intimidated by people that don’t care about other peoples housing problems.
the application was denied
the meeting b”h by the way the way the local rabbi met with the investor he DID NOT want to commit that it is going for our community
If you where at the meeting last night please post the main topics discussed.
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BOARD AND THE ZONING & VARIANCE COMMITTEE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT FOR FREE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. SHAME ON YOU TO CLAIM THAT THEY TAKE BRIBES OR THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. THEY LOOK OUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY – NOT JUST YOUR BLOCK (CHEDER vs. ELMWOOD) OR
886 DAHILL RD. SEE THE RESULT TONITE!!!!!!!!!
To the person of the previous comment.
SHAME ON YOU! for trying to drag our dear councilman into you crap. You must be one of the individuals with personal agendas that acted with such disgrace at the meeting.
It is obvious that you have a personal agenda against our dear councilman. You first say that you hope you are wrong and then you go on and say that it is “low” for our councilman to do something that some blogger posted.
First of all I hope you understand that our councilman doesn’t sit and write or responds to blogs. He has better things what to do with his busy day. And even if he were to agree with the previous post (which you have to be a nutcase to believe that he even knows about it)there isn’t a single hint of mesirah or even anything close to it.
The previous post simply states that the people such as yourself that have personal agendas need to be exposed. The blogger asked for the names of those individuals to be posted so the facts can be researched why they are against more housing for the community and what exactly their agenda is.
I hope that I am wrong, but the previous comment smells like threat, looks like a threat; so it is probably a threat!
A threat of MESIRAH!
How low low low. Too low for a councilman!
Lets find out why the individuals that are driving this campaign asked us to come to the meeting last night. They acted with such disgrace and it was obvious that they have private agendas and are only using the entire community for their own purposes. Does anyone have their names so we can research their history and see what their agenda is? Is it possible that they have a private house and don’t want this project next to them? Is it fair to take away housing from us?
I am sure these are the same individuals that went to these rabunim and told them that this project will not go to the community.
Anonymous said…
There is a ‘KOL KORE’ from the Rabanim that have the authority on Halacha, that we must say NO to the project.
October 23, 2007 5:12 AM
We need to be very careful and make sure that private individuals that already own homes and have no housing problem, don’t block this project. I understand they would like not to have this project next to their home but they need to realize that not all of us are able to afford what they already have.
The rents and houses on the market in our community are unreachable for alot of us hard working citizens. If we can guarantee that this project adds housing for the community we need to do whatever it takes to see this project approved.
I am sure the developer of this project will do whatever it is necessary to guarantee that all 12 floors are allocated for the community. Lets get the developer to sit down with our rabunim and askonim (that don’t have their own agenda and ambitions)and get all of these potential apartments added to our community.
One of the major reasons why the Williamsburg residents were able to get their homes all these years, was because of projects like this one.
I hope our dear councilman Simcha Felder will not buckle under the pressure from people that only have their own interest in mind.
We need to be very careful and make sure that private individuals that already own homes and have no housing problem, don’t block this project. I understand they would like not to have this project next to their home but they need to realize that not all of us are able to afford what they already have.
The rents and houses on the market in our community are unreachable for alot of us hard working citizens. If we can guarantee that this project adds housing for the community we need to do whatever it takes to see this project approved.
I am sure the developer of this project will do whatever it is necessary to guarantee that all 12 floors are allocated for the community. Lets get the developer to sit down with our rabunim and askonim (that don’t have their own agenda and ambitions)and get all of these potential apartments added to our community.
One of the major reasons why the Williamsburg residents were able to get their homes all these years, was because of projects like this one.
I hope our dear councilman Simcha Felder will not buckle under the pressure from people that only have their own interest in mind.
Anonymous said…
WHEN ONE HAS NO SHAME
———
Are you the one that made the chillul hashem last night?
You should be ashamed of how everyone acted at the meeting.
Thanx to Councilman Simcha Felder a great deal was worked out so everyone could be happy.
Come tonight to the community board meeting (7pm 5901 13 Avenue) and you will see how a Councilman thinks about his people he represents.
By booing, shouting, cursing you will never get anything done and I’m proud by the Kiddush Hashem the Councilman made last night.
Shame on all those who acted like Chayes at the meeting. I heard one of the people on the board saying like this is how you behave…….. and so on.
WHEN ONE HAS NO SHAME
At the community board meeting jammed with hundreds of people the Chairman asked whoever is opposed to this project should raise their hands, every single person raised their hand tall.
When he then asked that everyone who is For the project should raise their hands, Simach Felder blushed and would nor raise his hand!
Simcha why were you shy? You were supposed to represent us the constituents, how dare you are the only single sole in the community to support this project?
I was ashamed that you sank so low, I actually thought more of you. This was disgusting.
There is a ‘KOL KORE’ from the Rabanim that have the authority on Halacha, that we must say NO to the project.
bunch of babies…..al p halacha….if he paid for the lot he can build what ever he likes.
Mendy host dich noch nisht gelerent from ur spencer development that by selling for outsiders u can only loose.?
I was at the meeting and they are only building a 96 car parking garage that means that there is an extra 150 cars parking on the street the whole neighborhood will be gridlocked
mendy brach & affordable housing ??? 🙁
hope all of you who backed the Cheder when they paid off the board to get their variances will feel what the Elmwood neighborhood has felt for years.a bunch of corrupt money hungry chaiyos don’t care one bit about the neighborhood just care to line their pockets.hope they gety the best lawyer to argue their case because if not they lose .
Since when is this an affordable housing project? Do you want to live on the 12th floor? Who will live above the 6th floor? You will have to bring in people from out of the community to live there.
So you will ask me, why in Williamsburg can people live on the 12th floor? Simple, they get free housing there. This isn’t for free housing, they plan to charge a hefty price.
Let’s not forget that this is an entire block (from 19-20) behind the houses on 50th street. Why should these people have a 12 story building in their backyards.
>These are Not affordable housing, they take a minimum of 20% mezumen…
That’s illegal.
These developers first donate money to politicians then that get a free ride.
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/mendel-brach.asp?cycle=06 – 48k –
B., M. developer $1,100 on 06/30/2006 for DAVID YASSKY
B., M. developer $1,000 on 12/20/2005 for DAVID YASSKY
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=efs_sch_report+p_filer_id=A00258+p_e_year=2006+p_freport_id=K+p_transaction_code=A
03/09/06 M. B. $1,000.00 FRIENDS OF DOV HIKIND
05/15/03 M. B. $1,500.00 FRIENDS OF DOV HIKIND
These are Not affordable housing, they take a minimum of 20% mezumen… It is more expensive then other housing. At the end they will not offer any services or repairs to defective units. Nasty! And Tuff
A owner in Williamsburg
We scream and yell about the lack of affordable housing in our neighborhood, and when we have a developer willing to do it, we rant about that.
YES TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY HEARING
COMMUNITY BOARD 12 5910 13 AVE AT 6:45PM EVERYONE PLS ATTEND.CAN YOU IMAGINE THE TRAFFIC ON 48,49 50 STREET
Is that the former World Wide Plumbing warehouse bordering on the Shoprite lot?