The petition
Petition for Responsible & Lawful Development in Park Slope, South Park Slope, Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
To Our Elected and Appointed Officials:
We the undersigned request that you bring to bear all resources available at your disposal to help ensure the safety and security of our community in the face of the disregard demonstrated by real estate developers for our concerns.
Many of the developments that have sprouted up in our neighborhood are of questionable stature and have been built with no regard for the community or even the new owners. We would like to make sure that any remaining work to be done abides by all laws, complies with NYC building code and respectful of community concerns and needs.
Specifically, we are asking that:
- any retaining walls that adjoin other properties meet or exceed existing code so that they do not give way or cause drainage problems to the abutting properties.
- Guarantee that access to parking areas are strictly controlled, with a gate and security guards between the street and the lot. Access to many of these parking lots is de facto access to our back yards.
- Prevent light pollution by installing tightly-focused lights of limited height in the parking lots or any portion of the newly developed property that could contribute to light pollution and disturb neighbors.
-Build up the retaining walls to a height (at least 3 foot above the parking lot grade) that is more likely to prevent a car from accidentally, going into the adjoining yards, and possibly hurting or killing any children playing in said yards.
-Allow access (which up until now has been limited) to all utilities so that they may provide and maintain the services which are required for the neighbors’ day to day living.
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AS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE: 162 16th Street, Brooklyn, NY
Please help ensure the safety and security of our community in the face of the disregard demonstrated by the developer, Barry Katz/Issac Katan of 162 16th Street, Brooklyn, NY aka "VUE." Our points outline above in this multi-neighborhood petition are outlined as specific examples of the illegal activity that Mr. Katz and Mr. Katan have violated, destroying the quality of life of our community at 162 16th Street, Brooklyn, NY. (92 311 complaints / 18 DOB violations / 14 ECB violations / Countless "stop work orders" / DOB BIS page: tinyurl.com/3cgkff
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For almost 4 years many developers has been allowed to totally disregard our lives, our homes and many laws. The community has filed hundreds of complaints with little to no satisfactory results. We ask that these meager requests be addressed, before any Certificate of Occupancy (temporary or otherwise) is given to any new buildings.
Your immediate consideration and response is appreciated and needed.
This on-line petition will be submitted to the following:
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez
Borough President Marty Markowitz
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
Councilmember Sara M. Gonzalez
Councilmember Bill de Blasio
Councilmember Tony Avella
Assemblymember Joan Millman
Assemblymember James Brennan
State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Patricia Lancaster, Commissioner Department of Buildings
Amanda Burden, Chair City Planning Commission
Randy Peers, Chair, Brooklyn Community Board 7
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