Allen Gross faces board rejection over Ace Hotel upzoning

Land use committee concerned about increased traffic in neighborhood

From left: 51-63 Bond Street in Brooklyn and Allen Gross
From left: 51-63 Bond Street in Brooklyn and Allen Gross

A Downtown Brooklyn community board voted against developer Allen Gross’ request for a variance to make way for a 156,300-square-foot, 285-room Ace Hotel in the neighborhood.

Gross, who heads GFI Capital Resources and affiliate GB Lodging, filed permits in July for a project that would exceed the current zoning limits. 

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The board’s land use committee expressed concerns over traffic and the hotel’s impact on the area. The developer said he conducted a traffic study regarding the hotel’s proposed entrance on Bond Street. If the hotel is developed as-of-right at 51-63 Bond Street, it could hold 169 rooms over nearly 108,000 square feet, Curbed reported.

Gross and Spruce Capital acquired the site in May with plans to bring the Ace Hotel brand to Brooklyn, as previously reported. [Curbed]Mark Maurer