Sunday, May 6, 2018

IMPACT OF THE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS PROPOSED FOR CATON PLACE


Public Hearing about Rezoning 57 Caton Place
Wednesday, May 9th, 6:30 p.m.

An anonymous developer purchased the small warehouse at 57 Caton Place (right next to Kensington Stables) and wants city agencies to rezone the land. The result would be the imposition of more high-rises and retail shopping on the little side street between E. 8th Street and Coney Island Avenue.

Two towers, each ten stories tall and containing 107 residential units, plus 13,000 square feet of commercial retail space on the ground floor, plus a parking garage for 74 vehicles would be constructed. 

For comparison's sake, Foodtown at 382 McDonald Avenue and Walgreens at 114 Beverley Road are each 12,000 square feet. 

Area residents are invited to a public hearing on the developer's rezoning application on Wednesday, May 9th, at 6:30 p.m. Inform Community Board 7 about what you believe the impact will be if these buildings are constructed, hundreds of people move in, and an unpredictable number of people start shopping there.

Possible unintended consequences of added residences and the introduction of a large retail space would be 
  • an increase in class size in the nearby schools, 
  • more passengers waiting on the narrow platforms at the Fort Hamilton Parkway subway station,
  • additional car traffic (residents and shoppers),
  • large, heavy trucks making deliveries to the retail space,
  • reduction in street safety,
  • traffic noise,
  • air pollution from vehicles,
  • further competition for existing parking spaces, and
  • extra strain on the sewer system.

Immediately after the public hearing, the community board's Land Use/Landmarks Committee will meet to discuss the application. Committee meetings are open to the public. 

The public hearing and the committee meeting will take place in the P.S. 130 Upper School auditorium, 713 Caton Avenue, between E. 7th and E. 8th streets, in Windsor Terrace.