Sunset Park real estate developer Tak Kwong Cheung has filed a plan with the city Buildings Department to construct a seven-story residential and commercial retail use building at 401 95th Street. The new edifice wraps around the northeast corner of 95th Street and Fourth Avenue and then swings up the north-side of 95th Street.
While Cheung’s plans call for 22 residential units, it’s not clear from the proposal whether they might be co-ops or condos. According to Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann, the developer can erect a seven-story building as of right and it doesn’t violate current zoning regulations covering the site. She told me the board’s zoning committee reviewed the building application to ensure it met with local compliance.
However, in this writer’s opinion, the building will be considerably out of character with most of the adjoining three or four-story buildings on Fifth Avenue, and at a height of 69 feet will impact the view of St. Patrick’s Church directly across the street at 9511 Fourth Avenue. (Fifth Avenue, once known as Stewart Avenue, morphs into Fourth Avenue here).
St. Patrick’s is the oldest Catholic church in Southwest Brooklyn. The parish was established in 1849 when this area was part of the Village of Fort Hamilton, and 95th Street back then was called Lafayette Street, and before the village was annexed by Brooklyn.
The city has approved a demolition permit and the developer’s contracted construction company has already demolished the former two-story convent that was built by St. Patrick’s Church back in 1966, less than 5 decades ago.
Kudos to elected officials State Senator Marty Golden and City Councilmember Vinnie Gentile who testified in person against the proposed MTA’s bus and subway hikes, and increased tolls at the bridges and tunnels. I’m sure others did too, but they were the only ones I saw at the Brooklyn hearing while I was testifying on behalf of the Brooklyn Consumer Federation, and the Bay Ridge AARP.
More bad news from Fort Hamilton. The Army just announced that it is closing the Ainsworth Medical Clinic that was established back in 1976 on the base. Suddenly, the high echelon brass found it “inefficient and cost prohibitive.” On-base personnel will now have to seek these beneficial and convenient services off site.
The Bay Ridge Chapter of AARP just completed its annual toy drive in which it collected three large plastic bags of games, dolls, toys and plush animals. The haul of gifts was then brought over to the Bay Ridge Corps of the Salvation Army for distribution to needy kids during the holiday season.
To all our Christian friends and readers we wish you a blessed and joyful Merry Christmas.
On the Avenue: Annual Kiwanis karaoke event raises funds for ailing children 
On the Avenue: Bay Ridge’s parade season in full swing