Civic President: Investigate The BSA Now!

Minutes after posting about the development on the Homecrest-Midwood border that’s pissing off neighbors – and the Board of Standards and Appeals’ ruling to let it go forward despite community objections – we received the following letter. In it, Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association president Ed Jaworski implores Councilman Mike Nelson and his colleagues to investigate the BSA and its divisive practices.

Here’s the letter:

Dear Councilman Nelson:

I trust that you have read today’s Brooklyn section of the Daily News–the story about the controversial building at 1882 East 12 St between Aves. R & S (here’s the link).  I also trust that you will visit the site and will issue a vehement complaint to the DOB Commissioner about the ruling, as noted in the News: DOB spokeswoman Carly Sullivan said the agency “determined that none of the objections were significant.”

This is outrageous; it’s little wonder citizens lack faith in the DOB, and have low  expectations of those who should be protecting us, including elected officials.  And, it’s little wonder we have such a high rate of illegal work and stop work orders in this community, and these properties become long-time eyesores.  I urge you to get on this case now.  Furthermore, please implore your City Council colleagues and call for an investigation and public hearing into the operation and actions of the BSA.

Thank you,

Ed Jaworski
President
Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association

We couldn’t agree more with Jaworski – the BSA never acts with the community’s interest in mind, instead working as a rubber stamp to developer interests.

Community Boards, who play an advisory role to the BSA in making recommendations, are often ignored when they oppose a project. When we asked Scavo earlier this week about the illegal garage on Jerome Avenue and East 21st – for which the Board voted against a variance to “legalize” it’s operation contrary to zoning laws last month – she implied their recommendation would be disregarded. “The BSA has a tendency of siding with business owners,” she wrote to us.

The message is clear: just as they allow monstrously out-of-character buildings to keep moving forward, they allow illegal businesses to continue operating on residential streets despite alleged malfeasance.

And the developers know it. Months ago, when we asked the developer behind the nine-story garage that will be wedged next to the Sheepshead Bay Road train station if he was concerned about the vocal – and heated – objections to his plans, his response was little more than a shrug.

He told me he wasn’t worried at all. After all, he said, he only needs BSA approval.

The implication was heard loud-and-clear.