http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/257940p-220914c.html
Drive to halt garage ends with judge
BY BILL FARRELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
A Brooklyn judge handed the Sanitation Department a major victory in a years-long dispute over the construction of a garage in Williamsburg.
Supreme Court Justice Abraham Gerges ruled that the owners of the property the city plans to take over for the garage had allowed the statute of limitations to expire before raising their objections.
"Accordingly, the challenges ... were not commenced within the applicable four-month statute of limitations and are time-barred," Gerges wrote last week.
The dispute dates to late 2001, when Community Board 3 and Borough President Marty Markowitz gave their approval to the garage plan. Under the proposal, the Department of Sanitation would close two outdated smaller facilities located within Community Board 1 on Rutledge St.
The new, larger facility would house 70 vehicles, provide off-street parking for 50 cars and would be the center of sanitation operations for CB 3.
However, the owners of the two lots, opposite the Marcy Houses and bounded by Warsoff Place, Park, Nostrand and Flushing Aves., had other plans.
The northernmost lot, located off Nostrand Ave., is owned by Monroe Bus Co., which purchased it several years ago as part of a multimillion-dollar expansion.
Last week's ruling clears the way for the city to take over the land under eminent domain. Israel Goldberg, attorney for Monroe Bus, said the decision plus "the city's unwillingness to sit down and discuss relocation of the sanitation garage or Monroe Bus is unfortunately going to result in the loss of 50 jobs in that neighborhood."
He said Monroe has not decided whether to appeal. If it does not, the Sanitation Department "will move forward toward vesting title to the two properties," said Daniel Klein, department director of real estate.
"And upon vesting of the titles, we award a design contract. Roughly a year after that, we will start construction, and then we will have our new garage," he said.
Originally published on December 1, 2004