Fighting to Preserve Height Limits on Atlantic Avenue
From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Hills & Gardens Fighting to Protect Height Limit
By Trudy Whitman
published online 08-16-2007
The advent of Trader Joe’s to Cobble Hill was announced last month by Brooklyn Borough Hall with much fanfare. The popular food emporium chain will take up residence at the former Independence Saving Bank building, at the corner of Clinton Street and Atlantic Avenue. What was unknown to most spectators of the ballyhooing, parading, and speechifying was the role played by local community groups in the fate of the landmarked building purchased by Two Trees Management.
In 2005 Two Trees submitted a plan to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in which it asked for approval to convert most of the stately flagship bank building to residential units. Community Board 6 and the Cobble Hill Association strongly opposed the concept and testified against it whenever public comment was allowed.
However, a revised design for a 60-foot structure — ten feet higher than is permitted in the Cobble Hill Historic District — was greenlighted by the LPC.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007