Toll Brothers Spent $365,000 On Lobbying For Gowanus Rezoning

The Toll Suits

Toll VP David Von Spreckelsen

Von Spreckelsen with Land Use Chair Bob Levine

Computerized elevations of Toll Brother's behemoth Project

Oh, dear reader, the CB6 Landmark/Land Use Committee meeting was long and drawn out.
But I was determined to stay till the bitter end in order to report back to you.
The committee voted last night on the Toll Brothers' behemoth condo project along the shores of the very polluted Gowanus Canal.
Let me just say that no amount of testimony from concerned residents at last month's meeting, no concerns about pathogens in the waters of the canal, nor warnings that the land is in a flood zone were able to sway a majority of our board members from voting yes for Toll's spot rezoning.

Most may have felt like member Jeff Strabone, who stated that he had misgivings about voting for the project because of the risk factors involved, but that in the end, he wanted to see the canal cleaned. That, he felt, would happen quicker if condo buyers would move to its shores.
"These people will be guinea pigs next to the toxic canal, but it will get cleaned up quicker if a couple of fat cats live there."
Well, that's one way of looking at it, but what if those guinea pigs start growing tumors...
The only no vote came from Roy Sloane. (May I just say thanks, Roy! You are my new hero!)
So there it is, dear reader. The vote is a sad outcome for the community. However, it is hardly surprising. Toll Brothers has deep pockets and has spent upwards of $365,000 to lobby for the project.

But pardon me for asking, why was Bill De Blasio, our Councilman, lobbying the Land Use Committee members to convince them to vote for the project? At least four board members received calls from DeBlasio's office in the last two weeks.
I wonder how many more members received a call as well?
The councilman has always been gung-ho on the project, but having his office lobby the board members is not cool in my book.
I think there is a lot of lobbying going on and not enough time spent actually listening to constituents.

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Toll Brothers Spent $365,000 On Lobbying For Gowanus Rezoning

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