Residents close to Fortis Property Group’s controversial Long Island College Hospital project say the developer is waking them up with pre-dawn demolition noise.
Fortis is permitted to start work as early as 7 a.m, thanks to After Hours Variances issued by the Department of Buildings, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported. But neighbors near the construction site at 339 Hicks Street say demolition is actually starting as early as 5 a.m. They’ve complained to the Cobble Hill Association, accusing the developer of breaking the rules.
Last week, six officials representing the neighborhood wrote to the Department of Buildings to complain about the noise and to note other “unsafe conditions” at the site.
“We urge the Department of Buildings to reject any future AHV applications at the former LICH site and ensure Fortis, the developer, complies with safety and security requirements,” said the letter, which was signed by state Sen. Daniel Squadron, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Assembly member Jo Anne Simon and Council members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin.
As part of the megadevelopment, Fortis is planning to build a 110-unit apartment building at 339 Hicks Street, according to plans filed in December. The Dumbo-based developer is also planning a 17-story, 46-unit building at 350 Hicks Street and a 15 story, 30-unit property at 347 Henry Street.
Fortis revealed in November it would move ahead with the project as an as-of-right development, rather than request a rezoning and include affordable housing. [Brooklyn Daily Eagle] — Miriam Hall