Seven New Townhouses May Be Coming to Former LICH Site

The controversial redevelopment of Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill is chugging along: Just a few months after securing Community Board approval for its condos at the Polhemus Building, Fortis Property Group has filed plans to build seven (!) luxury townhouses on the plot of land from 90-98 Amity Street, according to The Real Deal. The planned development would be just down the street from the units at the Polhemus Building.

According to the permits filed, the new development will include six four-story townhouses, and one five-story townhouse. The homes will be designed by Romines Architecture (which has worked on projects like the German House and Building E of Snug Harbor Cultural Center), and each one will have a rooftop terrace and an off-street parking space. And according to TRD, "the developer's as-of right permits the construction of the townhouses"—that same reasoning is what would allow for Fortis's proposal for a 14-story building, 19-story building, and 44-story building with parks, retail, and community space. (That's one of two proposals on the table right now; the other, which would require going through ULURP, would include a 16-story tower, 20-story tower, 30-story, and 40-story tower.) No word on heights for these townhouses, but an initial proposal put them at 55 feet high—which angered neighborhood residents, who wanted them to adhere to the standard 50-foot-high limit in the area.

Neighborhood residents haven't been thrilled with the changes coming to the neighborhood, nor with the closure of the hospital. (At a recent CB6 meeting, an audience member yelled, "Why do you want to do this to our neighborhood?") But they'll have another chance to sound off about the proposed changes (including, presumably, this new development): A CB6 meeting that's on the calendar for next Tuesday, October 13, has a "discussion with representatives for the Fortis Property Group on the redevelopment of the Long Island College Hospital properties in Cobble Hill" on the agenda.
· Fortis files plans for seven townhouses at former LICH site [The Real Deal]
· Controversial Conversion of Cobble Hill Hospital Chugs Along [Curbed]
· All Long Island College Hospital Coverage [Curbed]