Seven-story development coming to Ridge

Out with the old and in with the new.

Sunset Park real estate developer Tak Kwong Cheung has filed a plan with the city Buildings Department to construct a seven-story mixed-use residential and commercial retail building at 401 95^th Street.

The site, formerly home to a two-story convent built in 1966 by St. Patrick’s Church across the street, wraps around the northeast corner of 95^th Street and Fourth Avenue and directly faces the sanctuary, which some residents say will leave the new development looking a little out of place.

“My concern is with the structure and what it’s going to look like,” said Victoria Hofmo, founder of the Bay Ridge Conservancy and a lifelong Bay Ridge resident. “Will it fit in, and what will be its impact on adjoining neighbors?”

Either way, she said, going from a low rise to a high rise building will cast a shadow literally and figuratively over the area.

“It’s going to be a huge impact,” she said, “in regards to the block, in regards to light and density and also the population.”

As it stands, Cheung’s plan calls for 22 residential units and, while it remains unclear if it will include condos or co-ops, Hofmo estimated anywhere from a 30 to 50 percent population increase for the immediate area, seeing as the site has never housed more than a handful of people.

“There’s going to be a lot of traffic,” she went on, “and I don’t know if we’re prepared for all that.”

According to Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann, who spoke about the development at the board’s December 15 meeting at Shore Hill, the proposal is as-of-right and the developer can – and is likely to – go ahead with a 70-foot structure as the site’s split zoning legally allows for it. The site is zoned predominately R6A, permitting apartment buildings, with a C2-3 commercial overlay, allowing businesses on the first and second floors below the residences.

“I’ve reached out to both the Department of Buildings and city planning and requested that the DOB review the plans so that zoning regulations are met,” explained Beckmann at the meeting, promising to keep board members abreast as building begins. “We’re going to stay on top of this.”

By press time, the developer had not responded to requests for comment.