The big Toll Brothers condo project on the shores of the Gowanus Canal, the odds of which seem to be diminishing daily as the firm's finances deteriorate rapdily, advanced last night with approval from the local Community Board. The vote was 24-10 in favor with six abstentions. The developers are looking for special zoning approval for the parcel in advance of the overall Gowanus rezoning, which will take longer. The two-acre project will include 447 units of housing and pretty much be in keeping with the height and density allowed by the bigger Gowanus rezoning. Speaking of which, Planning Director Amanda Burden will be coming to Gowanus to talk up the rezoning on Monday night, no doubt facing what will be a crowd of friendly locals already upset by the Toll project. Local blogger PMFA noted that the most serious concerns about the Toll development were raised by community board members who aren't even local residents and that a "clique" of local backers voted in unison to support it. (One local source says that the odds are the developer will flip the rezoned property or leave it undeveloped until its finances recover.) The image above, by the way, offers competing visions of the actual size of the building, with the version on the left being from the Toll Brothers and the one on the right from opponents. Next up, a hearing at Borough Hall on Nov. 19.
· Not a Big Surprise: Full CB6 Votes Yes for Toll Brothers Project [PMFA]
· Toll Brothers Project That May Not Happen Advances Slightly [Curbed]
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Possibly Doomed Toll Gowanus Project Advances
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