Rezoning Plans Could Save Kensington Stables, Brooklyn BP Says

WINDSOR TERRACE, BROOKLYN — Developers’ plans to rezone a neighborhood block could help the Kensington Stables stay in business, but the City Planning Commission might say “Neigh.”

Plans to rezone the block bordered by Caton Place, East Eighth Street and Ocean Parkway will be considered at an CPC meeting next Wednesday, and Brooklyn President Eric Adams says they could help the Kensington Stable address structural problems without bringing classes to a halt.

Adams addressed the horse home situation in his Uniform Land Use Review Procedure recommendation of a new proposal — brought by developers 57 Caton Place, LLC to rezone for a nine-story, mixed-use building — which was released Thursday.

Adams called on the Caton Place developers to work with new stables owner — Red Hook concrete mogul John Quadrozzi, Jr. — to provide an alternate stable space to temporarily house the horses during the original building's renovations.

“If the Kensington Stables were to be developed within the 57 Caton through-lot, it would be possible to construct the replacement stables on the development site while maintaining the existing stables until the replacement facility is able to accommodate such operations,” Adams wrote.

“This would allow the stables to maintain programming without a multi-year break in service.”

Adams also suggested the rezoning could solve a horses-in-traffic situation near the Ocean Parkway. Moving the stables closer to Prospect Park would giver drivers turning off the adjacent service road more time to spot equestrians crossing, he said.

The fate of the Kensington Stables has hung in the balance since former owners announced in 2017 they could no longer afford upkeep on the now 88-year-old barn.

Quadrozzi bought the equine academy at auction in December, and promised to maintain the stables for at least five years, but noted he might consider building an apartment building above the stables.

Adams’ recommendations, and the developers' plans, will be considered by the CPC in a public hearing on Wednesday, July 11.

Photo by John V. Santore