The continuing saga of the old PPLG HQ

As our much more conscientious blog-mates over at Across the Park recently pointed out, a developer's plan to turn the former PPLG HQ over at 185 Ocean Ave into an eight-story apartment building has been turned down...at least for now. The city's Department of Building's nixed every single application -- for a new building, construction, plumbing, etc. (although we'd bet that this is one of those all or nothing deals).

Poking around online turned up some more info: the submitted plans included seven residential floors, six of which would have three units; the top floor would be divided into two penthouses. The proposed structure was slated to be 80-feet tall and total 23,000 square feet, which, by my calculations, means the floors with three apartments would have about 850-sq ft units (assuming they were all slotted to be the same size), and the penthouses would be a healthy 1700 sq feet.* (I'm allowing for stairwells, etc, here). Just as interesting is the fact that the plans included a floor of commercial space, although it was hard (for me) to tell if that was meant to be for a retail business, office space, or a "community facility" -- which is what is listed on one of the applications filed with the DoB.

All this seems standard enough -- plans get turned down all the time, and there's no way to tell what caused these ones to be rejected. What's more interesting is the fact that less than a week after the city told him to stand down, the building was cited -- twice, actually -- for illegal excavation without a permit and demolition without approved plans. It goes without saying that we're not fully versed in the arcana of building in New York...but that does seem interesting.

* On one of the documents there's an indication that the structure would actually be nine stories, which would obviously change all these calculations.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Dan -- also known as the father of the father of the original and much heralded Planet PLG -- has, alas, left the building (and by building I mean, of course, his lovely paradise by the park, which, lest anyone forget, prompted a crazy, 2002-esque bidding war). He's headed for points north...where they have winning baseball teams. But I digress.

Dan's (and his clan's) departure does not mean that PPLG is done for: Dan has generously agreed to let the PPLG name live on, and it will do so here, at the brand-spanking new Son of Planet PLG. We're going to leave the original Planet PLG site up for reference's sake; there are also some of the most beloved PPLG links posted here, stage right.

Over the next several days, we'll be slowly dipping our toes into the wading pool of the PLG on-line universe, so check back early and often. In the meantime, suggestions, advice, thoughts, ruminations on spring, and constructive criticism is welcome...in fact, we're going to need it.