Developer Proposes Plan For Million Dollar Homes In Mill Basin
By D. Rybstein

Land use attorney Howard Hornstein, left, shows architect’s rendering of area where expensive home would be built. That’s Jeff Rodus, chairperson of CB 18’s Planning & Zoning Committee. D. Rybstein

A developer’s plans to build fifty-two homes on a mostly vacant lot at 6097 Strickland Avenue in the Mill Basin section sent attendees at a recent meeting of Community Board 18 into a tizzy.

Board members and others at last week’s meeting in the Kings Plaza Community Room sought answers from Howard Hornstein, a land use attorney representing developer Kenneth Hart, who unveiled an architect’s rendering of the luxury one-family homes. The homes, some of which will be built on the waterfront of Mill Basin inlet, are to be built with less density than their R3 zoning permits.

"These will be million dollar homes and streets in the development will be private," said Hornstein. "There will be a home owners association established to collect monthly maintenance for the upkeep of the project."

The main thoroughfare through the development will allow for a view of the water (but with no access) from the main city street, Strickland Ave., as per current building regulations.

City Councilman Lew Fidler spoke of a recent meeting about Phase 1 of the budgeted Park Department improvements to Canarsie Beach Park along Seaview Avenue.

He also spoke of working to ensure that a development project on a plot of land located on the border of Bergen Beach and Georgetown, is designed for one and two family homes, rather than what could be built with its R5 zoning.

"It’s no secret that Giuliani Partners (the former mayor’s company) is involved with lobbying the city to remove a restrictive covenant which would force St. Vincent’s Hospital, the owner of the property, to build a medical facility," said the councilman. "While we don’t want to see a medical facility either, we certainly don’t want the density of R5 condos. Every patch of land does not have to be built on."

Supposedly the city was willing to bargain away its restrictive covenant on the land for a mere $1 million payment from St. Vincent’s.

A public meeting with the Mayor’s Office of Contracts dealing with this restriction was held last December. The only mention of the "hush-hush" meeting, however, was in the City Record buried with other city "administrivia," according to Fidler.