Billiards & Auto Parts To Apartments On McGuinness Blvd?

When I first heard of this project, I only thought about how it would affect me. I live on Eckford Street, behind the proposed project. After all, I’ve had a nice view all these years with no noisy neighbors to the back of me. My backyard faces the back wall of the billiards place. However, most blocks have homes that face other houses, so I told myself to get over it. I knew some day someone would build something, and here it was. However, after speaking to Mr. Pullo and attending the meeting, here are my concerns: 1. Questions I asked Mr. Pullo- a. Would the construction need to have beams hit into the ground, a process called piling, which might cause damage to my home? His reply- he didn’t know. b. Would there be terraces in the back? Noisy AC’s as in the building he built on Eckford Street which would add noise pollution to my home? He didn’t know about the terraces. The AC’s SHOULD be quieter. (We’ll see). c. We asked about something in the plans, what it was and he didn’t know. It’s disconcerting when a developer doesn’t know what is in his development. Does he not communicate with his architect? 2. My other concerns were mentioned in your commentary- traffic, sewer issues, school overcrowding (unless everyone in the new building agrees not to have children?), 3. What about the G train and our bus lines? How crowded will they become with all these new tenants? 4. And definitely, how much will be the rent for the “affordable housing”? Will it truly be affordable, say $1, 500 for a 1 bedroom apartment? 5. My neighbor’s home wall is attached to the back wall of one of his business’s on McGuiness Boulevard. She is fearful of what construction, rather demolition, of this wall might do to her home. Mr. Pullo said the wall will not be torn down, but what guarantee does she have? Unless it’s in writing, if he tears the wall down, what will happen to her home? P.S. He promised to fix something on her house because of whatever was done to it due to the construction of his building on Eckford Street and how it affected her house and he never did it. Promises, promises… 6. One of the community board members basically said we need affordable housing and progress must go forward. Great, but if my house comes down due to progress, will this board member put me and my tenants up in his house? Does progress mean we HAVE to have such tall building in Greenpoint? Last point: I was told the law allows 6-8 story buildings to be built on the McGuiness Boulevard side and on Manhattan Avenue because these streets are bigger and airy. Great! But, umm, what about the homes on the OTHER side? Why must my home on Eckford Street be towered over by this building? Time to move to the historical district where such things cannot be done, until of course the laws are changed in that area in the name of “progress”. Once these types of buildings go up, there goes the neighborhood in the sense that the small town feel of Greenpoint will just go by the wayside. And that may be the biggest shame of all. P.S. To the owner of Broadway Stages: his employees must not be looking hard enough since there are always apartments for rent in Greenpoint.