From left: 910 Union Street, Perry Finkelman, and Brian Lockner

A new developer has taken over a beleaguered condominium project in Park Slope, with plans to add a four-story addition to the squat Depression-era building just outside the tony neighborhood’s landmark district.

Brian Lockner, head of acquisitions for American Development Group, the developer behind Little Italy’s 123 Baxter and its robotic parking garage, said his firm inked the deal early last month to take over construction of the 18-unit Park Slope project at 910 Union Street from Yachad Enterprises. Lockner said his company is having “very productive conversations with a few banks” and expects to secure financing by mid-summer.

The three-story brick building, most recently a church and schoolhouse, is one of roughly two dozen properties in Park Slope across from Prospect Park that are not protected by city landmark laws. Owners seeking to alter the exterior of a building within a landmark district must get approval from the city Landmarks Preservation Commission, which can add years to a project as transformative as the one Lockner’s firm is planning. [more]

The Park Slope Civic Council is looking to triple the size of the Park
Slope historic district, already the largest historic district in the
borough. The proposed expansion would cover nearly all of the Park
Slope neighborhood, which is bound by Prospect Park West, Flatbush
Avenue, Fifth Avenue and 15th Street. The New York Methodist Hospital
was not included in the historic district proposal because the hospital
opposes landmark designation due to the possible need for future
development. Living in a historic district requires property owners to
obtain special permits from the Landmarks Preservation Commission if
they want to alter building facades.
[more]