BY JESSICA PARKS
Sheepshead Bay civic gurus
blasted a developer’s scheme to
build a 14-story elder-care facility
on Avenue Z, with one local
claiming the would-be builder’s
are nuts to assume community
members would support such a
massive senior center.
“These people throw things
that are totally out of the realm
of reality,” said Cliff Bruckenstein,
a Community Board 15
member. “It would create a traffi
c jam that this neighborhood
has never seen before!”
Developer SB1 Holdings LLC
wants to build an eco-friendly,
mixed-use long-term-care facility
at 1508 Avenue Z near E.
15th Street, which would features
commercial space on its
ground fl oor and 88 living units
with 110 beds on fl oors four and
up. The second and third fl oors
ofthe property are planned to
incorporate community space
for residents and additional
space needed to operate the facility.
But the developers need the
city to rezone the property before
they can build their cutting
edge medical tower up to
14 stories, and locals serving
on Community Board 15 voted
unanimously against the measure
COURIER L 6 IFE, NOVEMBER 8-14, 2019
at a meeting on Oct. 30,
recommending the city shoot
down the application to raise
the 6,642-square-foot lot’s building
envelope.
In addition to the size, locals
questioned the wisdom of housing
seniors spitting distance
from a subway line — the property
is right next to the B and Q
lines — saying some of facility’s
less mentally fi t residents may
be disturbed by the noise.
“What you are doing is just
plain wrong to people that are
not only in a long-term facility
but also may have cognitive disorders
and are more susceptible
to sounds and need more attention,”
said Maurice Kolodin.
An attorney for the developer,
David Rosenberg, justifi
ed the applicant’s request for
heavy variances by claiming
that no developer could profi t
off the lot building as-of-right,
noting contractors would have
to install a pricey retaining
wall to prop up the nearby subway
tracks until construction
had fi nished, along with other
diffi culties associated with the
parcel’s meager size.
“We calculated it would result
in a net loss of negative 6.6
percent if constructed to code,”
the attorney said.
And erecting an eco-friendly
building — outfi tted with trees,
a water retention system and
a carbon dioxide-absorbing facade
— would enhance the surrounding
area, while ridding
the area of the eyesore that is in
place, according to Rosenberg.
“It will take out what is really
an eyesore and bring in
Community Board 15 members shot down an eco-friendly long-term care
facility proposed for Sheepshead Bay. Citiscape Architectural Consultants
some productive development,”
Rosenberg said.
Just because the community
shot it down doesn’t mean
SB1’s rezoning application is
dead in the water. The board’s
recommendation is purely advisory,
and Borough President
Eric Adams and the City Planning
Commission will get to
weigh in on the proposal, before
Councilman Chaim Deutsch ultimately
approves, or kills it
amid a council vote next year.
ECO-TERROR
Sheepshead Bay residents reject 14-story senior center
featuring high-tech, green facilities
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Dr. Jeffrey Miller, podiatrist
and surgeon of A Call
Away Foot Care, says seniors
are especially prone to foot
problems. Yet, they are the
ones that often cannot get to
the office – so he will come to
them.
He says feet lose cushioning
as we age. Skin and nails
can grow dry and brittle. As
many seniors have poor circulation,
this can slow the
healing of foot sores. “Finding
comfortable shoes that fit
is the best thing you can do
for your feet,” says the doctor.
“It’s especially important
to avoid tight or highheeled
shoes that put undue
pressure on the foot.” The
constant rubbing and pinching
from this “fashionable”
footwear are a major cause of
corns, calluses, and bunions,
he says, and not surprisingly,
these conditions occur
four times as often in women
as in men. He notes that feet
can become wider as we age,
so always have feet measured
before buying new shoes.
Another way to protect
feet is to keep the blood flowing
freely. Improve circulation
by stretching, walking,
and exercising, says the doctor
– especially if prone to sitting
all day. Avoid wearing
tight socks or sitting too long
with legs crossed. Do not
smoke. “It narrows the arteries
and can hamper blood
flow,” says Dr. Miller.
Fungus thrives in warm,
dark, moist areas, which
makes the foot an inviting
target. “You don’t need to
be an athlete to develop this
fungal infection,” says the
doctor, and drying in between
the toes will help ward
it off “If you notice redness,
blisters, peeling, and itching
- especially between the toes
- quickly blast the fungus
with an athlete’s foot powder
or spray.”
Burning and itching of
dry skin can be helped with
moisturizers, preferably
ones that contain petroleum
jelly or lanolin. If you do develop
corns and calluses, rub
them with a pumice stone or
callus file. Protect them from
further irritation with nonmedicated
pads. Be aware
that the medicated cornremoving
solutions sold in
drugstores may be tempting,
but use extreme caution as
they can eat away at healthy
skin and cause even more
pain, says the doctor. “These
products are particularly
dangerous for people with
diabetes or other circulation
problems,” he says. “Best to
call a doctor if one has these
conditions.”
Hammertoes are especially
troublesome for seniors
because they can affect
balance and increase
the risk of falls. “The remedy
is simple,” says the doctor.
“Wear shoes and socks
that give your toes ample
space.” Ingrown toenails can
be painful. If it looks red and
infected, call the doctor, especially
if you have diabetes.
Seemingly minor foot problems
can pose serious threats
to those who suffer from diabetes.
That’s because the disease
often damages the blood
vessels that feed the feet. As
a result, small wounds will
heal slowly and can develop
gangrene. “People with diabetes
have to be extra vigilant
about foot care,” says Dr.
Miller, and should make appointments
to see the doctor
every 3-4 months.
The office accepts most
insurance plans.
Dr. Miller was born and
raised in Brooklyn, and still
resides here.
A Call Away Foot Care
5723 Ave. N, corner of 58
Street and Avenue N in
Mill Basin, (718) 968-3338.
Open Mondays, 10 am – 2
pm; Tuesdays, 9-noon, then
house calls from noon – 4
pm, and office hours resume
4-7 pm; Fridays, house calls
from 9 – noon, and office
hours from noon – 6 pm.
BUS INES S , B ROOKLYN S T Y LE
This doctor makes house calls.
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