Neighbors Join Forces To Voice Concerns About $126 Million, Nine-Story Development On Caton Place

After area residents received the news in February that a nine-story residential and retail project could be built in Calvary Cathedral of Praise’s parking lot at 72 Caton Place, between Coney Island Avenue and E. 8th Street, a group of neighbors have formed to voice their concerns about the development — and to urge the city to conduct an environmental study of the property before allowing the $126 million proposal to become a reality.

Neighbors Tami Spackman and Sarah Habibi let us know that a group of residents at 346 Coney Island Avenue, located near the proposed development site, have joined forces to ensure their concerns regarding the project will be addressed. Among a litany of issues, residents said they worry the project will negatively affect an already overtaxed sewer system and transform Caton Place into a major thoroughfare that will be unable to handle such in influx of traffic.

The Calvary Cathedral of Praise, Suzuki Capital and the Gothic Development Group have teamed up to develop the multi-million dollar project that, according to the city Department of Buildings, has not yet been submitted to the DOB for approval. As reported in February, the project is slated to include a 100,000-square-foot building in the church’s parking lot. Additionally, a portion of the development might also be built atop the cathedral itself, the Commercial Observer reported.

This development is one of many large scale projects in the area, including the already open 126-unit Kestrel Place at 33 Caton Place and the 86,100-square-foot project being built at 22 Caton Place, which is expected to have 73 residential units upon completion.

All of this building has ignited concerns among neighbors, particularly among residents worried about the impact the developments could have on an already troubled sewer system in the area.

In addition to concerns about the sewer system, Tami wrote to us that neighbors are “very concerned about Caton Place becoming a major thoroughfare when it is already too narrow a road (from what we observe as local residents) to handle the trucks, deliveries, Kensington Stables’ horses, and church traffic for both Calvary Cathedral and the International Baptist Church and School, not to mention the influx of schoolchildren when PS/IS 437 opens this fall on Caton Avenue.”

The group of concerned neighbors plan to attend the next Community Board 7 meeting, scheduled for May 20, at which time they hope to present the board with a petition asking for an environmental study prior to any building for the project.

If anyone would like to join our neighbors’ efforts, or if you have other questions, you can email friendsofcatonplace@gmail.com.