Ben Shaoul’s illegal East 5th Street addition slammed by CB3

Developer Ben Shaoul continues to rack up enemies in the East Village. Community Board 3’s land use, zoning, public and private housing committee took another swat at his contentious sixth and seventh-floor additions at 515 East 5th Street Wednesday night.

The additions, built atop the building in 2006, drew community ire because of the city’s multiple dwelling law, which requires an elevator in buildings higher than six stories. Shaoul has since asked for a zoning variance which would allow the rogue floors to remain, and CB 3 voted to recommend that the Board of Standards and Appeals deny the request.

The vote now paves the way for objections to the variance to be heard at the BSA, members of the 515 East 5th Street Tenants Association told EV Grieve.

“It might take a month or two for all the necessary paperwork to change hands, but the decision probably won’t be made until the middle of next year,” one member told EV Grieve.

The blog did not include a comment from Shaoul. [EV Grieve] — Julie Strickland