Normally when YIMBY sees filings in south Brooklyn, they’re for projects in Madison, Brighton Beach or Coney Island. But last week, new building applications surfaced for a small market-rate development at 1837 Benson Avenue in Bath Beach, only a few blocks from the shores of Gravesend Bay.
The three-story building will hold 21 apartments divided across 22,656 square feet of residential space, yielding spacious apartments averaging 1,078 square feet. Each floor will have seven apartments. A subterranean parking garage will have room for 21 cars, and a surface lot will include another 8 parking spots, which satisfies the parking requirements for the low-density, car-heavy zoning in this part of Brooklyn.
Douglas Pulaski’s Bricolage Designs applied for the permit, and Sebastian Piccininni of Finbar Development, headquartered only a few blocks away in Bath Beach, is the developer.
Finbar Development scooped up the 15,975-square-foot property from a trust for $1,250,000 in 2010. Since the previous owner died, it’s not surprising that the property appears to have been abandoned for several years. A two-family home still occupies the lot between Bay 19th and Bay 20th Streets, but overgrown plants and trees in the front yard have completely hidden it from view.
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This 21 apartment dwelling will completely change the character of this community. I believe this will have a toxic impact on our community. This community has already gone through some major changes and unfortunately, due to construction of a Community Center that will increase the amount of traffic, noise and emissions and it will definitely demolish any hope of having any quality of life in this community. Brooklyn Community Board 11 and especially Bill Guarinello (chairman of Community Board 11 and also CEO and President for the Heartshare Program which has a residence and school for Auststic Children right around the corner from this future dwelling) should be ashamed for allowing this and the many new businesses to this community. I believe this is environmental racism and injustice!