Local neighbors are upset that a beautiful limestone at 194 Ocean Pkwy was converted to a commercial space without warning. Below is the mail we received from a long time resident of a nearby limestone. (And yes, it was all in caps when we got it!)THE DOCTOR MOVING IN PUT UP AN ATROCIOUS SIGN! ADDITIONALLY HE HAD THE HOUSE CONVERTED FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT THE NEIGHBORS BEING NOTIFIED? HOW COULD PERMITS BE GIVEN WITHOUT HEARINGS SO THE COMMUNITY CAN VOICE AN OPINION. THE ENTIRE BLOCK IS NOW RUINED. FURTHERMORE NOW THE BLOCK IS OPEN TO ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS. I ASKED HIM WHY HE COULDN'T JUST PUT UP A SIMPLE SIGN? HE SAID HE HAS 2000 PATIENTS NOW AND HOPES TO DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT! WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BEAUTIFUL RESIDENTIAL BLOCK?
We feel for this guy! It's a beautiful part of Kensington and further down Ocean Pkwy a similar set of limestones have landmark/ historic status that ensures 'renovations' like this do not occur. One of the changes we can see at 194 OP was a window was removed replacing it with a fine stock door. We don't even want to think about what he ripped out inside! Unfortunately, we're told this location is a R5B with a C1-3 commercial overlay in the Ocean Parkway special district. Here's the OP special district document in hopes someone can tear through it and find a clause that'll save other historic residential OP limestones.
