By Stephen Witt
While the developer is set on demolishing the site, one elected official is contemplating a protest rally while Community Board 2 remains on pins and needles as to what’s going to happen there. That’s the situation for the low-rise buildings at 655 through 671 Fulton Street between Ashland Place and Rockwell Place. The Manhattan-based Clarett Group bought the properties for a reported $12 million last year, but has kept mum on what they plan for the site. They did send a letter last week to CB 2 stating that demolition of the current building would commence on January 12. However, as of press time [on the same day], the wrecking ball had not arrived. The Clarett group refuses to meet with me,” said City Councilmember Letitia James. “I have no idea what’s going on and at this point of time we’re organizing the community and we can plan a protest against the Clarett Group,” she added. James remains vexed that several small businesses and a storefront church have been shuttered since the Clarett Group bought the properties. Among James’ concerns is that the properties in question enjoy as-of-right zoning that could see a residential and commercial building going up as high as 30 stories. James, State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblymember Roger Green also wrote a letter to the company asking their intentions. They have not received a response. James maintains the addition of a large number of luxury units will affect all of Fort Greene and the surrounding area. “A church lost its lease and other businesses were displaced along Fulton Street. This is not a good foot for Clarett to start on in their first Brooklyn project,” she stated in a story on the issue last week. The block also houses the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) Harvey Theatre Building at 651 Fulton Street and the building at 647 Fulton Street from which BCAT (Brooklyn Cable Access Television) operates. The City of New York owns those two buildings and leases them back to the cultural non-profits for $1 a year. CB 2 District Manager Robert Perris said the community board has also tried on several occasions to get the Clarett Group to come to a meeting and make a presentation. “When a spokesperson for the developer called to advise us that the buildings would be demolished on January 12, we discussed their coming to the community board again to present the project as soon as the design is finalized,” said Perris. “The spokesperson said that might be as early as mid-February,” he added. Despite all the hubbub, Clarett Group spokesperson Joyce Baumgarten asked for a little patience on the community’s part. “The plans for the building are still being developed and we will be happy to meet with any elected official who asks as well as Community Board 2 as soon as those plans are ready,” said Baumgarten.
