Battle of 360 Smith Street: Strategy Session Tonight

Carroll Gardens residents will be talking about the Battle of 360 Smith Street at a meeting of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association tonight. It should be a spirited discussion, with residents trying to work out their expectations for the building, particularly its height along both Second Street and Second Place, and the future of the plaza at the entrance to the Carroll Street subway station. It would have originally been eliminated by the new building, but the developer has apparently agreed to preserve it. Some residents would also like existing trees (which are large and provide a great deal of shade) to be saved, rather than cut down and replaced by new trees that will take decades to grow. While the height of the building along Second Place has been reduced somewhat, residents of Second Street are concerned that they don't bear the brunt of the full building height. Plans for the building have been rejected by the Department of Buildings, but one resident that wrote GL said many in the neighborhood fear that DOB will reject the plans until they suddenly approve them when the developer needs to break ground. The meeting starts at 7:30PM. It will take place at the Scotto Funeral Home at 106 First Place. In case you wish to attend a different local meeting tomorrow night, the Friends of Bond will be having their monthly meeting at 6PM. That meeting takes place at Proteus Gowanus, which is located at 543 Union Street.