CLINTON HILL — How's that for short notice?
Silverstone Development Group informed residents during a last-minute meeting that ground would break on a seven-story, 232-unit, mixed-use building early next week.
The speedy start date left locals feeling alienated from the process.
"It is perceived in our community that you sneaked into the neighborhood," nearby Willoughby Walk co-op resident Katie Davis told developers. "I don’t know why you're not transparent."
Davis added, "the community would have liked to work with the developer on this project."
Residents were shown a rendering of the new development for the first time at the Monday night meeting. The building will span two blocks on Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Ryerson streets. It will be built on top of the existing structure that once housed Associated Supermarket, directly in front of the Willoughby Walk co-ops.
The main floor and cellar of the existing structure will be gut renovated and the market will return to its space once construction is complete. TD Bank will occupy the other ground-floor commercial space.
Twenty percent of units will be affordable. A lottery will determine who will occupy those 48 units six months prior to opening.
Residents were also told that environmental contamination was found at the site. David Freeman of Real Property and Environmental Law said contamination was caused by numerous dry cleaners that once occupied the space. He said it would be cleaned prior to construction.
Construction on 490 Myrtle Ave. is expected to take one and a half years with a completion date of early 2015.
Another apartment building is slated for construction next door at 504 Myrtle Ave. A start date for work on that building has not yet been determined and Silverstone's Managing Director, David Schwartz, told the community he would have better communication during the planning of that project.
Silverstone Development Group declined to comment on this story.
