List of articles in our series on Dunk Them Donuts’ mixed-use tower proposal:
- Proposed High-Rise “Donut Tower” Would Require Demolition of Historic Hotel
- Preservation Board “Preliminarily Denies” Dunk Them Donuts Permit to Demolish Hotel Stansbury
- Joint Planning Commission / Federal Council Committee Meets on Proposed Zoning Amendment
- Did Dunk Them Donuts Set Up a Dummy Company to Buy the Hotel Stansbury?
- Bricklyn’s Chief Prognosticator Advises Against Downtown Bricklyn Junction High-Rise Zoning
- Bricklyn Officials and Dunk Them Donuts Reach Landmark Agreement, Saving the Former Hotel Stansbury
- plus bonus feature: Dunk Them Donuts’ CEO Broffman Talks with The Bricklyn Eagle
February 27, 2024
Bricklyn Chief Prognosticator David Bricks with two members of the staff of the Office of Chief Prognosticator (OCP) reviewing data. Photos in this post are by Bricklyn Eagle staff with assistance from Dall-E 3 AI.
From the Editor: The following is the text of the just released Chief Prognosticator’s advisory opinion on Dunk Them Donuts’ proposed zoning amendment to increase the maximum allowable height of buildings in downtown Bricklyn Junction.
We suggest that Outlanders also read our article on the role of the Chief Prognosticator.
The Chief Prognosticator states that:
At the request of the Joint Committee of the Bricklyn Planning Commission and the Bricklyn Federal Council, in the matter of a proposed zoning amendment to increase the maximum allowable height of buildings in Bricklyn Junction’s downtown east historic district, the Chief Prognosticator finds that the matter at issue has a high likelihood of significantly affecting the future of the Realm of Bricklyn.
Having made this determination, and taking into account research data and predictive analysis provided by staff of the Office of the Chief Prognosticator, and following consultation with the Chief Historian of the Realm, the Chief Prognosticator offers the following advisory opinion:
Re: Downtown Bricklyn Junction Historic District Zoning Changes to Increase Allowable Building Heights
1. The proposed zoning change for Bricklyn Junction would allow for high-rises that would clearly be out-of-scale with the historic development pattern of the city’s downtown. Historic district provisions are meant to ensure the preservation of Bricklyn Junction’s heritage for future generations.
Dramatically raising the existing longstanding height limit would allow for development that would forever alter the character of Bricklyn Junction. Enactment of the zoning amendment, in turn, would likely compel Bricklyn and South Bricklyn to make comparable zoning changes, thus significantly affecting the future of the entire Realm.
2. In considering the zoning amendment, one must also necessarily consider the loss of the former Hotel Stansbury, as its demolition is a necessary part of Dunk Them Donuts’ plans, and integrally linked to the intent behind the zoning amendment.
The Stansbury has played a vital role in the lives of generations of residents not just of Bricklyn Junction, but of the entire Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn. It is a noteworthy architectural gem. Demolition of the Stansbury is unwarranted.
3. Based on our Office’s research, including use of our “wisdom of the crowds” data set, it would appear that the best course of action, though one that may be challenging to accomplish, would be to rehabilitate the Stansbury and use it for most of the same purposes that Dunk Them Donuts intended for its proposed mixed-use high-rise tower.
A restored Stansbury could serve as the company’s new headquarters, while also providing housing units for its employees, as well as hotel rooms for visitors to Bricklyn Junction. The principal sacrifice required would be the loss of the revolving, roof-top, donut-shaped restaurant, a restaurant that our staff has found has little likelihood of being feasible to construct except at truly exorbitant cost.
4. The Bricklyn Planning Department and the Realm’s Office of the Federal Chancellor, should provide assistance to Dunk Them Donuts with efforts to rehabilitate the Stansbury, bringing the historic building back to life in the heart of downtown Bricklyn Junction. ✥
We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com
