Development
January 31, 2008
Development Watch: 144 South 4th Street
Just down the block from our first apartment in Brooklyn, a ten-story residential building is in the early stages of development. Designed by Nataliya Donskoy, a Scarano protege responsible for the makeover of 140 Degraw Street, the structure is planned to include 75 units over 134,000 square feet. An adjacent existing building on the same zoning lot will be reborn as a commercial property with the off-street parking required by the apartments. This should be a doozy. GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Strong Place Church Construction Update
Over the weekend, Michael Ingui of Baxt Ingui Architects sent in a progress report on the Strong Place Church conversion that the firm is overseeing. Below is a condensed version.
The Strong Place Church is going very well, but a little slow. It has been incredibly challenging to keep the church standing. The contractor and engineer devised an elaborate structural steel system that spanned the entire width of the church so that they could complete structural concrete work below. After the concrete foundation work was competed at the side walls the permanent structural steel above was installed. This was an incredibly time-consuming task, adding many weeks to the timeline, because the steel workers needed to carefully thread the massive pieces of steel through the maze of shoring steel. Once the steel was in place at the sides they removed the shoring steel so that work could commence in the center portion of the church.
January 30, 2008
UPDATE: Scaffold Collapse To Blame at 525 Clinton Avenue
According to an eyewitness, the man who was killed this morning on site at 525 Clinton Avenue was working on the interior of the top floor when the high winds created a wind-tunnel effect that allegedly blew him through the glass window and to his death. This is all the more surprising given our report last summer that the development was using a new, unusually thick (four inches) type of glass called Visionwall. The eyewitness reminded us that the winds can get especially bad in Clinton Hill because it is, after all, on a hill. Unbelievable.
UPDATE: Here's an update we just received from DOB:
Upon inspection, Buildings engineers and inspectors determined a three-frame pipe scaffold installed on the roof of the new building under construction had collapsed. Sections of the pipe scaffold collapsed onto the 2nd floor and 12th floor setbacks of the new building under construction. Preliminary reports indicate three workers on the pipe scaffold were performing stucco work on the exterior of the rooftop bulkhead at the time of the incident. The workers were employed by a sub-contractor, Bell Tower Enterprises, retained by the general contractor overseeing construction of the new building, Clinton Court Development LLC.
Given this new information, we're redacting the earlier eyewitness account until we can get more information.
BREAKING: Worker Killed at 525 Clinton Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Photo by Gary Brubaker
BREAKING: Worker Killed at 525 Clinton Avenue
WNBC is reporting that a construction worker died this morning in a fall from a scaffolding at the 13-story work-in-progress at 525 Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill; a second worker is reportedly injured. The accident occurred at about 10 a.m., after the DOB had issued safety warnings about the high winds. Is anyone nearby with a camera?
Construction Worker Dies After Fall From Scaffolding [WNBC] GMAP<--> P*Shark
Development Watch: 525 Clinton Avenue Check-In [Brownstoner] DOB
Development Watch: 525 Clinton Avenue [Brownstoner]
525 Clinton Avenue Looking Good [Brownstoner]
525 Clinton Gets Its Glass On [Brownstoner]
Tower Rising at 525 Clinton Avenue [Brownstoner]
Photo by Tracy Collins
Condo Conversion for 283 Washington Avenue
The five-story brownstone at 283 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill, which last changed hands for $1,670,000 in 2005, will soon be reborn as the Cherry Tree Condos, according to a sign in the house's front yard. A peek at DOB filings suggests it will consist of five units. Brooklyn Properties will have the listing, but there's nothing on its website yet. Anyone know anything else? GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Brooklyn Bridge Park: It’s a Go!
After many years and countless delays, construction on Brooklyn Bridge Park began this week, according to a statement released by BBP Corporation President Regina Myer. Site prep for the first phase of the project—which includes the demolition of five pier shed buildings, the Purchase Building, and a few other buildings—started on Monday. The first phase is expected to last nine months. Update: As of 9:40 this morning, there was no action at the Purchase Building. Anyone have a view of the piers? We'd love a photo...
Brooklyn Bridge Park Construction Begins [NY Sun]
Amidst Lingering Controversy, BBP Construction to Begin [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting: The Morning After [Brownstoner]
Impact of BQE Reno on Brooklyn Bridge Park Unclear [Brownstoner]
BBP rendering from BrooklynBridgePark.org.
January 29, 2008
Development Watch: 31 Kosciusko Street
Despite being just down the block from 192 Spencer, this new 12-story building at 31 Kosciusko Street has managed to fly under our radar for the past several months. We don't know much about it (neither the architect nor the owner rang a bell) other than that it's slated to contain 23 units over a gross area of 27,000 square feet. Details anyone? GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Checking In With Magic's Green Street Condos
After some noise complaints and worries about damage to a neighboring building, Magic Johnson's 130-unit condo development at 100 Green Street in Greenpoint appears to be in high gear. A reader who lives nearby wrote in to report that the west side of the building is just about topped out (it's going to be six stories). We're curious to see what the market's going to be like for a luxury development in this corner of North Brooklyn when it's ready to go, presumably later this spring or summer. Waddya think?
Magic Johnson Planning Greenpoint Project [NY Post] GMAP<--> P*Shark
Magic's Greenpoint Bldg Gets Foul, Refuses to Go to Bench? [Curbed]
The Latest (g)Rumblings at 110 Green Street [NY Shitty]
January 28, 2008
Closing Bell: Myrtle Building Boom from Above
Two different readers happened to send in these cool shots of the development activity along Myrtle Avenue between Flatbush and Ashland Place in the last few days. In the upper right of the top photo, BFC's 37-story tower at 150 Myrtle Avenue is in the lead with five stories of steel under its belt. The race for second place is close. The 660-unit development from John Catsimatidis' Apple Group (upper left) is winning, though it had a big head start over upstart Avalon Bay, which has been in demolition overdrive for the past month in preparation for erecting 650 rental apartments. Can't wait to see what this view looks like a year from now! Below, the view from the southeast, with the Apple Group project in the foreground, BFC to the left and Avalon at top.
New Details on 150 Myrtle Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Catsimatidis on Myrtle Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
So That's What Avalon Myrtle Will Look Like! [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Development Watch: Hager Wasting No Time at 421 Kent
Just two blocks north of the 475 Kent mass eviction, developer Issac Hager has wasted little time getting to work on his latest project which takes up the entire block of South 8th Street between Kent and Wythe Avenues in South Williamsburg. Just a month ago we reported that the man who has just recently broken ground on another high-profile project—the Flatbush Flatiron—had paid $42.5 million for the site, where it's unclear whether he's planning on building a 7- or 20-story building. In the past couple of weeks, much of the former parking lot has been torn up and, judging from all those port-o-potties (on the jump) they're expecting quite a crew of workers.
Hager Re-Ups in Williamsburg Big-Time [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Continue reading "Development Watch: Hager Wasting No Time at 421 Kent"
New Charter School Underway in Clinton Hill
Work on the future home of Achievement First Endeavor Charter School, a 5th to 8th grade program launched in 2006, is now underway at 510 Waverly Avenue in Clinton Hill (current photo on the jump); the school, which has been lodged in temporary quarters at 850 Kent Avenue for the last two years, will ultimately accommodate 700 students. The rendering on the architect's website looks promising to us, a tasteful melding of a modern addition and the existing ice cream factory. As far as we know, it's supposed to be ready for the 2008-2009 academic year. Perhaps the arrival of a school on that block will turn up the pressure on the methadone clinic a few doors down to clean up its act. GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Continue reading "New Charter School Underway in Clinton Hill"
Downtown Brooklyn in Transition
The Brooklyn Eagle has a series of stories about the massive changes under way in Downtown Brooklyn, chief among them the area’s shift from a primarily commercial district to a residential area. The paper figures that if all the buildings (not counting AY) now planned for Downtown are built, there will be more than 15,000 new residents in the area, and it could become a vibrant 24-7 community further bolstered by an influx of college students in the wake of NYU and Polytechnic’s merger. In the meantime, however, large swaths of Downtown are primed to become “miniature ghost towns” for a few years as businesses are forced out and construction projects commence. Reporter Sarah Ryley found that many business owners are angry about getting evicted, and current residents are frustrated about the dwindling number of amenities as shops shutter. Ryley noted that none of the business owners she interviewed on Bridge and Willoughby streets has received government assistance to relocate, though a spokesperson for the EDC said the city plans to give them relocation funding “when and if appropriate.”
Much of Downtown Brooklyn Is Going Out of Business [Brooklyn Eagle]
Downtown Residential Growth Ready To Take Off [Brooklyn Eagle]
Downtown Brooklyn: A College Town [Brooklyn Eagle]
Rendering of Downtown in 2012 from The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.
January 25, 2008
Development Watch: 840 Bergen Street
A little later to the game than some other neighborhoods, Crown Heights has seen some new developments get underway recently. Last week, we took a look at the 8-unit building going up at 717 Prospect Place; this week, we stumbled upon a much larger project at 840 Bergen Street. After purchasing the one-story warehouse for $5,250,000 in 2005, the owners are in the middle of putting up a five-story, 67-unit building. The design, which isn't far enough along to get a feel for yet, is by Manhattan-based Kutnicki Bernstein Architects. Anyone know if this has an affordable component? If not, this would have to be the biggest market-rate project in the area yet, no? Any other big Crown Heights developments underway that we should check out? GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Video: Imagining Flatbush in 2030
Here's a clip put together by the Municipal Art Society about a workshop the organization conducted last month along with the Flatbush Development Corporation. The workshop was one of a series called Imagine Flatbush 2030 that "is piloting the idea that full implementation of the Mayor’s PlaNYC 2030 will depend on engaging neighborhoods more fully in the dialogue about sustainability in planning and development," according to the MAS. The most recent Imagine Flatbush meeting was held last night—did any readers attend?
Building a Consensus for Growth in Flatbush [Brownstoner]
Imagine Flatbush 2030 [Vimeo]
January 24, 2008
10 Jay Street to Get Another Five Stories
DumboNYC reported yesterday that the nine-story building at 10 Jay Street, currently full of "creative" commercial tenants, is slated to get a five-story addition. If they can ever get the Stop Work Order lifted, that is. The design for the addition is being done by TKA Studio, one of the building's tenants. Back in October, we speculated that rooftop cabanas were in the works; evidently, we underestimated the owner's ambitions: Curbed theorized yesterday that the addition could be a prelude to converting the entire building to residential. Think that's likely? Any long leases still in place?
5 Story Extension Planned For 10 Jay Street [Dumbo NYC] GMAP<--> DOB
Historic Dumbo Building to Have a New Growth Spurt? [Curbed]
Cabana Envy in Dumbo? Prepping at 10 Jay & One Main [Brownstoner]
Time Equities CEO Weighs In On Amity Plan
Time Equities head honcho Francis Greenburger has responded to blog posts on Brownstoner (last week), the Historic Districts Council Newsstand, Lost City, and Gowanus Lounge about all the hoo-ha surrounding the developer’s plans for 110 Amity Street. In the statement, which seems legit, Greenburger says Time Equities and its development partner Lucky Boy “do not want to present a project that does not have community support” and makes it sound like the “mews” design is toast: “At this point, we will re-conceive the project in a traditional street wall approach and try to present a plan that is responsive to the input received at the most recent Landmark hearing.” Last year the Real Deal interviewed Greenburger, and the following Q&A seems like it has bearing on the 110 Amity situation:
Q: How do you deal with antagonists?A: It depends on what kind of antagonists they are. If they're bullies, I'm extremely stubborn and I'll fight them tooth and nail. If they're crazy people, then I try to figure out how to work around them and not waste my time with them. If they are people who have a reasonable point of view that's different than mine, I try to understand it and work with it.
Sounds refreshingly logical for a developer.
Amity Street Development Turned Back By LPC [HDCN]
The Closing: Francis Greenburger [TRD]
Sometimes They Hear You [Lost City]
Amity Street Developers Go Back to the Drawing Board [GL]
110 Amity Proposal Takes a Drubbing at LPC Hearing [Brownstoner]
Cobble Hill Association: 110 Amity Plan ‘Unacceptable’ [Brownstoner] GMAP
Opposition to 110 Amity Plans Grows [Brownstoner]
CB6 Tries to Avoid Amity Street Horror [Brownstoner]
Inset photo of Greenburger from TimeEquities.com.
Gowanus Roundup: Public Pl. Bids Whittled, Builders Bullish
When will major new developments come to Gowanus and, when they do, what are they going to look like? Plans for the area—and an assessment of its prospects—are the subject of articles in both the Brooklyn Eagle and the New York Post this morning. First off, the Brooklyn Eagle reports that the city has narrowed the field of potential candidates to redevelop the 6-acre Public Place site, above. Between 500 and 1,000 housing units will be built on the land between Smith Street and the canal, which used to be the site of a manufactured gas plant. The two finalists are the Related Companies (partnering with Monadnock Construction Inc., Catholic Charities and Donna Walcavage Landscape Architect), and the Hudson Companies (partnering with the Fifth Avenue Committee, Jonathan Rose Companies and the Bluestone Organization). Both proposals include a significant amount of affordable housing, according to an HPD spokesman, and a representative from the Related Cos. has called the firm’s bid “really progressive and environmentally friendly.” The city is expected to announce which developer it has selected at the end of next month, and decontamination of the site is expected to take two years. The Post, meanwhile, has a long article about how developers are still keen on Gowanus as a whole, and it notes that City Planning is expected to release its official proposal for rezoning the neighborhood—which will allow for more residential development—soon. The builders waiting for the rezoning to go through include Leviev Boymelgreen, who is planning a development called "Gowanus Village" with several 10-story loft buildings along the canal between Carroll and Third streets; Toll Brothers, which is planning a townhouse-style condo development on Bond Street between Carroll and Second streets; and the Bayside Fuel Oil Depot Corp., owner of the Bayside Fuel Terminal, which wants to build 10- to 12-story towers along the canal at Sackett Street.
Go, Go Gowanus [NY Post]
Two Finalists Vie To Develop Toxic ‘Public Place’ [Brooklyn Eagle]
AvalonBay Stresses Affordable Housing in Public Place Bid [Brownstoner]
Gowanus Rezoning: Complete Chaos [Brownstoner]
January 23, 2008
Development Watch: 328 Grand Avenue
A couple of backhoes have shown up in the last few days at 328 Grand Avenue in Clinton Hill, but don't get your hopes up. First of all, there's no record of new building permits online. And even if there were, chances are we're in for another temple of mediocrity courtesy of the same guys who built the rental building across the street at 309 Grand Avenue (at right). As we said last March, we wish they'd kept the old two-story commercial building and built an interesting addition on top. Some Most people have no imagination.
328 Grand: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
January 22, 2008
Development Watch: 238 St. Marks Avenue
The digging had barely begun at 238 St. Marks Avenue in Prospect Heights when the project was hit with a Stop Work Order last week. The punishable offense? A lack of approved plans at the site for the "support of excavation and underpinnings." Sketch-o-rama. The Karl Fischer-designed building is slated to have 20 units over eight stories for a total of about 27,000 square feet. No renderings are available. GMAP<--> DOB
Navy Yard Watch: Men In Blue's Building All Yellow
As we reported back in September, the Navy Yard is building a new headquarters for the tow pound cops as part of a larger plan that will reclaim the Sands Street entrance as the main gateway to the Navy Yard itself. Apparently, two stories is all she wrote on this one. No word on whether the new digs will make the pound police any more pleasant to deal with.
Navy Yard Watch: New Tow Pound Building Rising [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
January 21, 2008
Development Watch: 681 Driggs Avenue
We were surprised not to see any work being done at 681 Driggs Avenue when we passed by last week. The site, along with another Karl Fischer-designed project across the street, is under the gun to get its foundation in before the surrounding area can be downzoned. The community board fast-tracked its approval of a proposal to limit building height in the area two weeks ago, putting the ball in City Planning's court. Located on the border of the north and south sides of Williamsburg, this design is for a 14-story, 41-unit structure that would come in at just under 100,000 square feet; the project across the street at 207 Grand Street is slated to by 10 stories.
Race to Stop Karl Fischer Grand St. Towers [Curbed] GMAP<--> DOB
January 18, 2008
Brooklyn House of Detention Plans Falter
Ideas for adding new uses to the Brooklyn House of Detention seem to be going nowhere. After the Observer reported that the city was giving up on its plan to allow for retail and condos jail because of a lack of developer interest, the Brooklyn Paper followed up last week with an article saying there’s been talk of putting a new middle school in the jail at Atlantic and Smith. This week, though, the paper files a story saying city has officially abandoned the school-jail proposal. The condo plan was originally floated because the city wants to make the jail's 2012 reopening and expansion (it's supposed to go from 749 to 1,469 inmates) more palatable to the surrounding community. Last week Marty Markowitz told the Daily News that he's still searching for "creative ideas for the site."
Sorry Bids Shove Shiv in City's Plans to Expand Brooklyn Jail [NY Observer] GMAP
Jail Middle School is Sentenced to Death [Brooklyn Paper]
Lock 'Em Up [Brooklyn Paper]
No go for new Condominium Complex [NY Daily News]
Officers’ Row Supermarket Not Happening Anytime Soon
The controversial plan to demolish ten 19th century houses owned by the federal government in order to build a supermarket at the Navy Yard has been "delayed indefinitely," according to an article in this week’s Brooklyn Paper. Federal officials say they need to determine if the Officers’ Row buildings can be preserved and hold a series of meetings about the buildings with the city and neighborhood residents. Those meetings wouldn’t begin until March, according to Kristin Leahy, the manager of the National Guard Bureau Cultural Resources Program, who said it was impossible to estimate how long the review process would take. The potentially lengthy review isn’t being greeted favorably by politicians who have been pushing for the feds to hand the properties over to the city so they can be torn down to build a supermarket that would serve residents of the nearby housing projects. “I’m disappointed,” said Councilwoman Letita James. “We’re trying to expedite the process.”
Navy Yard Supermarket on Hold as Feds Consider ‘Row’ [Brooklyn Paper]
Federal Goverment Not Rushing Admiral's Row Decision [GL]
Admiral's Row: Feds Must 'Consider' Preservation [Brownstoner]
Admiral's Row: "Extremely High Level of Historic Integrity" [Brownstoner]
Officers' Row: Let's Have Our Cake and Eat It Too [Brownstoner]
Officers' Row Preservation Coming to a Contentious Head [Brownstoner]
For Officer's Row, Supermarket All But Certain [Brownstoner]
Photo by j. vasco.
January 17, 2008
Fate of 163 Washington Still TBD
The Board of Standards and Appeals has yet to make a final decision on whether to let a controversial 16-story tower rise at 163 Washington Avenue. On Tuesday the BSA decided to leave the case open but end the public hearing portion of the proceedings; the board is asking the developer to make another submission backing up its claims about when, exactly, it completed work on the property’s foundation. GLC Developers’ documentation is an issue because critics of the project have repeatedly contested the firm’s claims about when and how contractors finished foundation work, a big sticking point since GLC is arguing it has the right to put up a 16-story building because its contractors completed enough of the foundation to be vested under the area’s old zoning, which changed in June. “There are basically huge problems with their concrete pouring timeline and their record of trucks, truck numbers, and even exact dates, and these problems exist not only in the developer’s own construction logs but also in the logs and official papers officially recorded by the concrete testing agency,” says Peter Eide of Building Too Tall, a community group that is opposing the project. “After making these submissions to the file the developer and his law team then made things even worse by submitting new logs and official papers from the concrete testing agency that are completely changed—new truck numbers, new pour times, new dates, new everything—and with no supporting documentation for these changes. It's all just made up as far as anyone can tell.” If the BSA is satisfied with the developer’s submission, it’ll rule on the project on March 4th.
BSA Considers 163 Washington Plans For a 3rd Time GMAP<--> DOB
Day of Reckoning for 163 Washington Avenue? [Brownstoner]
CB2 Votes on Two BSA Recommendations [Brownstoner]
CB2: Thumbs Down on Washington, Thumbs Up on Grand [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Rezoning Rejects Pitch BSA Bail-Out To CB2 [Brownstoner]
Race Against Clock at 163 Washington [Brownstoner]
January 16, 2008
Development Watch: Universal Church at 1091 Fulton
While we don't much like the looks of this new home for Universal Church at 1091 Fulton Street, if its presence on the block will help clean up the corner of Classon and Fulton, we'll be willing to forgive the blandness of the five-story design. In addition to fronting on Fulton Street, the structure appears to wrap around in an L-shape to include 40 Claver Place around the corner. Given the size, we assume there will be some residential component to the project, but can't tell for sure from the permits.
Another Church on Fulton (As If It Needs One) [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> DOB
Two Trees Rental on Atlantic Rises As TJ’s Treads Water
Two Trees isn’t wasting any time putting up its new rental next to the future home of Trader Joe’s on Atlantic Avenue. It's not clear whether the City Council has officially approved the building at 182 Atlantic Avenue, which is slated to rise 10 feet higher than what’s allowed in the Cobble Hill Historic District, but last week the DOB issued a permit for a six-story building. Even if Two Trees is waiting for the Council’s OK on those last 10 feet, though, the rest of the development (which is supposed to look like the rendering on the jump, per Curbed) is going up very quickly. At the same time, no work has been done on the Trader Joe’s building, a state of affairs that’s not sitting well with Lost City. The blog points out that Two Trees argued the new rental should be green-lighted because the developer was going to be a worthy custodian of the landmark former bank/future supermarket:
For the past couple weeks, the new structure has been a hive of activity, quickly rising floor by floor. Meanwhile, at the future home of Trader Joe's: tumbleweeds. No action since the interior was gutted months ago. Apparently, Two Trees has its priorities, and they're the exact opposite of the wants of the neighborhood, which doesn't crave the rental and is longing for the supermarket.
Of course, for all we know, the hold-up in renovating the bank building has to do with Trader Joe's and not Two Trees. Any insider perspectives?
Update: We've heard from Councilman de Blasio's office that the Council did not approve Two Trees' application to build 10 feet higher than what's allowed in the Cobble Hill Historic District. The Council sent the proposal back to the Planning Commission, and the plans were subsequently approved at 50 feet, conforming to the district's height limitations.
10 Feet for Trader Joe's Building Preservation: A Fair Trade? [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Will Two Trees Proposal for Atlantic Ave. Get Chopped? [Brownstoner]
Skewed Priorities [Lost City]
Does Walentas' Size Matter on Atlantic Ave.? [Curbed]
Continue reading "Two Trees Rental on Atlantic Rises As TJ’s Treads Water"
Union Pool Goes Spanish Colonial?
Everyone loves Union Pool—it’s a great local bar with a long established and huge backyard. The outdoor space went from the standard cracked pavement to a classy built out wood lined courtyard complete with a fire pit in just a few years. Passing by the bar this weekend, we noticed a temporary plywood wall partially hiding a permanent cement block wall topped with Spanish “terra cotta” tiles running nearly the span of the lot. We recall this space being fairly wide open, in the past used as an alternate entrance and more recently for garbage storage, etc. According to a DOB application, there's "no change in use, egress or occupancy" associated with the wall. one neighbor told us the wall has been erected to prevent bar goers from “sneaking in through the back door.” Any one know what’s up? GMAP<--> DOB
Update on Carroll Gardens Development Issues
Carroll Gardens is home to one of the most vocal community activist groups in all of Brooklyn, and it seems like the constant clamor about development issues in the neighborhood is starting to have an effect. For starters, Council Member Bill de Blasio is going to officially call for a downzoning of Carroll Gardens at a rally on January 29th. De Blasio will introduce a resolution to limit new building height in the neighborhood to 50 feet, a restriction that the he wants to see go into effect immediately while City Planning conducts a downzoning study. Meanwhile, as Gowanus Lounge reported, the Borough President wrote a letter to Planning Director Amanda Burden highlighting concerns about out-of-context development in Carroll Gardens. There has also been news recently about some of the more controversial developments in the area. Most interesting, perhaps, is the tidbit that Robert Scarano is no longer the architect of record for 333 Carroll Street. It’s unclear whether new plans for the building will retain the current hulking rooftop addition. And demolition is slated to begin soon on a property nearby that has also raised concerns, 340 Court Street. At that site, the Clarett Group (a Brownstoner advertiser) has pledged to cap building heights at six or seven stories, but many residents have fretted about what Clarett will actually build.
de Blasio Calls For Downzoning of Carroll Gardens [BSCG]
Borough President Writes Planning Director About Carroll Gardens Rezoning [GL]
333 Carroll Street Update: Scarano Out! [PMFA]
January 15, 2008
Development Watch: 717 Prospect Place
There aren't a ton of new buildings going up in Crown Heights, a function, we assume, of the relative lack of empty lots as compared to, say, neighboring Bed Stuy. One new effort is an eight-unit residential building at 717 Prospect Place just east of Rogers Avenue. When all's said and done, the new development will be about 9,000 square feet across five floors. It's too early to opine about the aesthetics but let's just say we don't have particularly high hopes. Maybe we'll be surprised. GMAP<--> DOB
Sunset Park's Federal #2 a Potential Lifeboat for Creatives
Work on one of Brooklyn’s biggest redevelopment projects probably won’t begin for about another year. Back in May, the the city's EDC announced that a joint venture between Time Equities and the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation had been selected to redevelop a 1.1-million-square-foot Sunset Park warehouse called Federal Building #2 into a mixed-use light manufacturing and retail complex. The 8-story building, next to the Gowanus Expressway on 3rd Avenue between 30th and 32nd streets, will be gut renovated. Two major hurdles need to be cleared before the rehab begins, however: The property still needs to be transferred from the federal government to the city (which will in turn transfer it to the developers), and the proposal has to go through ULURP. According to Margaret Nelson, director of real estate programs for the BEDC, the federal government will likely transfer the property to the city within the next few months. The proposal is also expected to enter ULURP very soon, said Nelson, and the review process is expected to take between six months and a year. The project will cost more than $200 million and eventually create more than 1,285 full-time jobs, according to the EDC. From what we hear, at least one of the end-uses for the space will be to provide artists and creative professionals with affordable, loft-like space for under $20 a foot. Given the rate at which these folks are being priced out of Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Dumbo, this sounds like welcome news to us.
Press Release on Federal Building #2 [NYCEDC] GMAP P*Shark
20-story Condo Coming to the Southside
It appears that developer Michael Zazza is moving forward with his long-held plans to build a 20-story condo on Bedford Avenue and South 8th Street. The DOB approved Zazza’s building a few months ago, and we found a rendering for the project on GreenbergFarrow’s website. In '06, neighborhood activists protested Zazza’s proposed development because it required the demolition of two of the oldest buildings in the neighborhood (see pic of 118 and 120 South 8th Street, pre demo, on jump). Now that the shovels are in the ground, though, it’s probably worth considering how this building is going to fit in with the rest of the structures in the neighborhood. It’ll certainly be taller and glassier than just about everything around it (with the exception of the nearby waterfront condos). Nevertheless, think it’ll play well?
Strange Bedfellows In Southside Landmark Fight [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Photo by Scott Bitner for Property Shark.
BSA Considers 163 Washington Plans For a 3rd Time
Today the Board of Standards and Appeals will once again consider GLC Developers’ plans to build a 16-story tower in Clinton Hill. The development has provoked a lot of ire from nearby residents who say GLC didn’t have enough of the building foundation complete before the area’s zoning changed in June; according to the project’s critics, the lack of sufficient foundation work means the plans can’t be vested under old zoning regulations and has to conform to the new zoning, which would limit the building’s height to seven stories. A neighborhood group called Building Too Tall has been leading the charge against the proposed tower, and they sent us a press release (see copy on jump) noting that “It is unusual for the BSA to go 3 rounds with the same opponent, but the developer has repeatedly failed to make his case.” Let's see what happens this time 'round, this morning at 10 o'clock at 40 Rector Street in Manhattan.
Fight Over Tall Washington St. Building Enters Third Round [Gowanus Lounge]
BSA Postpones 163 Washington Decision Until January [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
A Day at the BSA: GLC vs. Building Too Tall [Brownstoner] P*Shark
Day of Reckoning for 163 Washington Avenue? [Brownstoner] DOB
CB2 Votes on Two BSA Recommendations [Brownstoner]
CB2: Thumbs Down on Washington, Thumbs Up on Grand [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Rezoning Rejects Pitch BSA Bail-Out To CB2 [Brownstoner]
Race Against Clock at 163 Washington [Brownstoner]
Continue reading "BSA Considers 163 Washington Plans For a 3rd Time"
Council Members Look to Take on Eminent Domain
A number of City Council members say they’re going to try to get the state to change its eminent domain laws, according to an article in City Hall. Leading the charge is Council member Letitia James, who has been a vocal critic of Atlantic Yards. James says a Council drive to influence Albany is “a priority” and that “we are opening up the door wider and wider to the abuse of eminent domain by private businesses” after the Council voted to OK Columbia’s expansion plan, which involves the use of eminent domain, in December. James argues that the use of eminent domain means the city is diverted from following the 197-a process (which allows community boards to develop land-use plans for their districts) and that property owners should have more time to challenge seizures. Council Speaker Christine Quinn hasn’t made a commitment to pressing the issue in Albany, however, and a rep for Mayor Bloomberg said that “Changing state eminent domain laws is not currently on our Albany agenda.”
Council Members to Push for Imminent Change of State Eminent Domain Laws [City Hall]
Photo by Steve Soblick.
January 14, 2008
Fischer-palooza Continues: Warehouse Eleven Condos
Are you on the list? The coming out party for the Karl Fischer-designed Warehouse Eleven condos is January 31 and it's invitation only. With 120 units to move in a not-so-hot environment for new condos, you think they'd ditch the velvet rope on this one. While we like the proportions of those corner units, we're not convinced there's an endless supply of folks lookingto drop $845,000 for a one-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg these days. To be fair, though, there are some other one-bedrooms for under $500,000 and they have just as much use of the perks like full-time doorman, fitness center and, yes, yoga garden. This is another one that'll be interesting to watch.
Warehouse Eleven Listings [Apartments & Lofts] GMAP<-->
Development Watch: 122 Vanderbilt, Slowly but Surely
Construction at the Bricolage-designed project at 122 Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene hasn't exactly flown along since we checked in back in August. The 15-unit building doesn't look too bad from this angle (prefer the Darth Vader vibe to the usual Radusky fare) but it's a little more painful from the side view from Myrtle Avenue (on the jump) both in terms of aesthetics and context. Don't suppose anyone knows anything about whether this will be rentals or condos?
Development Watch: 122 Vanderbilt Avenue Revisited [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 118-122 Vanderbilt [Brownstoner] GMAP
Another Bricolage in the Wall [Brownstoner] P*Shark DOB
Continue reading "Development Watch: 122 Vanderbilt, Slowly but Surely"
More Details on Albee Square aka Citypoint
Details about the future of the old Albee Square Mall, whose parking garage has now been leveled in the first step to creating a massive mixed-use complex, continue to surface. A reader just steered us in the direction of the new website for the development, which is being called City Point. In addition to lots of pretty pictures, the site puts to rest some of the questions about how the project would be divided up in terms of usage. The plan is for 900,000 square feet of rental apartments, 500,000 square feet of retail and 125,000 square feet of Class A office space. It also turns out that Acadia Realty is not the only cook in the kitchen: MacFarlane Partners, Rose Associates, P/A Associates and Washington Square Partners are all involved in the development of various portions of the project. Lastly, the site has the best rendering we've seen of what the Willoughby Square Park is expected to look like. Not too shabby. (Update: We've been informed that the park rendering has actually been available on the DBP website for a few months.)
Albee Square Deal Closes, Fewer Apartments Planned [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Expansion, Skyscraper Planned for Albee Square Mall [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: RIP, Albee Square Mall (Garage) [Brownstoner]
15 Quincy Complete and Taking Applications
The affordable housing component of BFC's project 150 Myrtle Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn is actually located a couple of miles away at 15 Quincy Street in Clinton Hill. The six-story building appears to be finished and PACC, BFC's partner on the project, is currently accepting applications for 38 affordable units. (The DOB permits say that there are a total of 48 units in the building, so we can only guess that there are 10 market-rate units as well.) Four of the units are studios for those earning between $22,400 and $27,815; 34 one-bedrooms are for singles and couples making between $23,960 and $29,588. The deadline for applications is February 19; submission details available on the HPD link.
Quincy Street Applications [HPD] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Off-Site Affordable Housing Moving Along on Quincy [Brownstoner]
PACC Keeps Busy, Breaks Ground on Quincy [Brownstoner]
Theater Operator Said to be Eyeing Loew’s Kings
There’s potentially exciting news brewing about the Loew’s Kings theater in Flatbush. An unspecified “major theater operator” is considering answering the EDC’s longstanding call to redevelop the property, according to Brooklyn Junction. A city official told the blog that the company is holding focus groups to try to determine what sort of programming would work at the theater, which would probably cost between $20 and $40 million to renovate. The EDC issued an RFP for the former wonder theater in September ’06. Any guesses about who the operator is or what its plans may include?
Theater Operator Expresses Interest in Loew's Kings Theater [Brooklyn Junction]
Real Estate Round-Up [Brooklyn Eagle] GMAP
Wondering About the Loew’s Wonder Theater [Brownstoner]
A Chance to Bring Back an Old Brooklyn Gem [Brownstoner]
January 11, 2008
Closing Bell: Avalon Myrtle Demo, From Above
Earlier this week, a reader who works at Etsy.com at 325 Gold Street sent in this photo of the demolition going on at the Avalon Myrtle site next door. Nice shot!
Avalon Myrtle: A Lot Can Happen in a Week [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Avalon Myrtle Demo Beginning, Ever So Slowly [Brownstoner]
Dev Watch: Prepping for Demo at Avalon Myrtle [Brownstoner]
So That's What Avalon Myrtle Will Look Like! [Brownstoner]
Sunset Park’s Art Deco Condo Wave
The Sunset Park Blog is digging the samey-same look of the neighborhood’s new condos, like the new one going up on 48th Street and 8th Avenue. The rendering for the building shows it’s going to look an awful lot like other recent-vintage condos that have dotted 7th Avenue (see, for example, the one on 50th Street, on jump). SPB writes:
It seems that the Chinese architects building new condos on 7th avenue prefer the art deco/bauhaus style of design…at least these buildings are not the drab soviet style buildings that one would find in old Beijing or North Korea or even the square drab buildings that they built in the 40's and 50's which are typical of many of the co ops one finds in Sunset Park and Bay Ridge.
Agree that this look is an improvement over some of the area’s older housing stock?
Art Deco Condos of Sunset Park [Sunset Park Blog]
Sunset Park Snapshot, New Condo Edition [Brownstoner]
CB6 Looks to Ensure Responsible Development
Community Board 6—which covers Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Cobble Hill, Red Hook and Park Slope—is starting to work on a couple of initiatives meant to address the district’s “continued wave of development,” according to Chairperson Richard Bashner. The preliminary ideas, which were announced at this week’s general board meeting, include coming up with a process to make it easier for people to report construction violations and trying to ensure that all contractors working in the district follow a to-be-determined code of conduct. The power-to-the-people initiative may involve generating a standardized violation checklist that would be distributed to CB6 residents. The idea would allow the man/woman on the street to use the form to tick off violations they notice at construction sites and then submit the checklist to CB6 or the city. The initiative targeted at contractors, meanwhile, is likely to encourage (or possibly demand) that developers require work crews to follow certain practices, and it’s going to be fine-tuned by CB6 subcommittees in upcoming months. Think these ideas will help curb irresponsible development?
Calls for a CB6 Buildings Oversight Committee [Brownstoner]
Latest BBP Brouhaha: A Supermarket in the Park
The most recent controversy over Brooklyn Bridge Park has to do with plans to put a grocery store in the base of the public-private development's anchoring condo, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to an article in this week's Brooklyn Paper. Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says it's "not the most complimentary business for the park," while Ken Baer, chair of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club, argues that "all the land within the park should be devoted to recreational space." One Brooklyn Bridge Park's developer says he wants to put a (what else?) high-end market into the building as well as two restaurants and smaller shops. The taxes collected from the condo's retail would help cover the park's maintenance costs. Do you like the idea of a high-end market here?
Supermarket Could Come to 'Park' [Brooklyn Paper] GMAP<-->
Amidst Lingering Controversy, BBP Construction to Begin [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Meeting: The Morning After [Brownstoner]
DOB Rejects Latest Whole Foods Plan
The Gowanus Whole Foods plan seems to be alive and kicking, but it’s having a tough time passing muster with the DOB. On Wednesday the department rejected the grocer’s latest filing to proceed with construction. Although the rejection is undeniably a setback for WF (and it’s not the first time their plans have been given the thumbs-down), it seems to us like proof positive that the supermarket is going to keep pushing until it gets an OK to build. Agree it's only a matter of time?
Closing Bell: Whole Foods Fence Saga Continues [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Rumblings at Gowanus Whole Foods Site [Brownstoner] DOB
Poll: People Generally Psyched For Whole Foods [Brownstoner]
January 10, 2008
Condos of the Day: 424 Lafayette Avenue
Last we checked in with 424 Lafayette Avenue, the developer was trying to flip the site before starting construction. Now look at it: It's all grown up into a Scarano wannabe. The seven-unit building is described in the listings as being located in "the heart of Historic Clinton Hill," which is a bit of a stretch, given that it's east of Classon. (It is conveniently located across the street from the projects, though.) The interiors look fine in a mid-2005-Developers-Group kinda way. As for pricing, there are three smaller units priced between $272,000 and $359,000 and three 932-square-foot units priced between $615,000 and $625,000. Not crazy dough for the units themselves, but this location ain't exactly scenic. There's an open house this Sunday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
424 Lafayette Avenue, Multiple Listings [Corcoran] GMAP<--> P*Shark
Development Opp: Midstream on Lafayette [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue
Another chapter in the Greenwood Heights' longest-running soap opera: At 614 7th Avenue, the site that originally made headlines back in 2005 for the proposed Scarano design that would have blocked the line of sight from the Minerva statue in the adjacent Green-wood Cemetery to the Statue of Liberty, the current batch of developers have been muddling through plans to create a cluster of new townhouses on the site. They were originally hoping to squeeze 11 (!) houses onto the 100-by-100-foot lot but we hear that seven is more likely the number DOB will be comfortable with. In preparation for the new structures, the developers cleaned up the trash-ridden site before the holidays and were successful in getting the Stop Work Order lifted. Continued work at the site yesterday, however, did not go so well. While jack-hammering the block wall adjacent to 321 23rd Street, workers ignored the large section of fencing that collapsed early in the day, waiting til the late afternoon to use a front end loader to prop the gate back up, despite a 20-foot drop near the collapsed section. Business as usual in this neck of the woods.
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]
Big Rental Planned Near McCarren Park
A new development near McCarrren Park is going to buck the Williamsburg condo-construction trend. Last month Manhattan-based real estate firm LCOR partnered with Lehman Brothers and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System to buy 34 Berry Street, and they plan to build a 6-story, 140-unit rental on the site. The project’s apartment mix is going to be about 50 percent studios, 40 percent one-bedrooms, and 10 percent two-bedrooms, according to LCOR senior vice president David Sigman. Construction on the building is going to start this spring and it should be finished by summer ’09. GMAP P*Shark
Atlantic Avenue Development Site Going, Going…
Brooklyn Streets, Carroll Gardens reports that a sweet little chunk of real estate fronting Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street is set to be auctioned off on Valentine’s Day (the perfect gift for the developer in your life?). The auction consists of five contiguous parcels between Smith and Boerum Place; the largest of the parcels is the parking lot fronting Atlantic, above, which is right next door to the 66-unit development planned for 252 Atlantic. The parcels fronting Pacific Street, meanwhile, are directly across the street from the 12-story tower slated for 262 Pacific. All together, the package consists of about 80,000 square feet of developable space, and the zoning allows for a residential-retail mix. Anyone care to guess how much this might fetch?
Brooklyn Streets, Carroll Gardens [BSCG] GMAP
Valentine [Curbed]
Continue reading "Atlantic Avenue Development Site Going, Going…"
The Destruction of St. George's Church Continues Apace
It's been almost two months since we broke the bitter news that the Tocci family was preparing to demolish St. George's Church at the corner of Gold and York in Vinegar Hill. Since then, we've heard plenty of hammering and banging coming from inside, but it wasn't until yesterday morning that we saw workers beginning to dismantle the exterior, unhindered, apparently, by the Partial Stop Work Order that's been in effect since November 26.
Dumbo Historic District Designation Report [Dumbo NYC] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
January 9, 2008
Development Watch: The Edge
We haven't checked in with The Edge development on the Williamsburg waterfront since last April because, well, there really hasn't been that much to report. Things are starting to heat up, however. The foundation work for the first phase of the project, which will include 575 market rate and 350 affordable units, is underway; a second phase could include another 500 to 600 apartments. Interestingly, Greenbuildings NYC reports that the developer, Douglaston Development, is shooting for a Silver LEED certification, which is extra sweet considering that part of the project includes a brownfield remediation. As Curbed notes, the project's website now includes the best rendering to date of the two high-rise and two mid-rise buildings along with the news that the sales office will be opening in March 2008. This will be an important bellwether for the market. Should be interesting to watch.
The Edge Gets Edgier: Finally Shows Buildings [Curbed] GMAP<-->
Edge Stays on Silver Track, Seeks Retail Tenants [Greenbuildings NYC]
Development Watch: The Edge [Brownstoner]
Permit Issued For First President Street Hotel
There have been a couple developments on Gowanus’s nascent hotel row, President Street between 3rd and 4th avenues. First off, the DOB issued a new building permit for a four-story hotel on the corner of 3rd Avenue, above. This one is rumored to be an economy chain with 50-some-odd rooms. Second, SAI Hospitality closed on its purchase of 561 President for $6.2 million, according to public records. The warehouse is one of two on the block that SAI plans to demolish and replace with high-end hotels. If all the hotels get built, there’ll be almost 300 new rooms on a single Gowanus block. Sort of boggles the mind, no?
Developer Plans Two Hotels on One Gowanus Block [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Another Gowanus Hotel Takes Shape [Brownstoner]
PLG House Razed, 8-Story Building Planned
The charming, turn-of-the-century brick house at 185 Ocean Avenue (pre-demo, on right) is no longer. The building, which was the subject of an intense bidding war this spring, has been demolished, and in December the DOB approved plans for an eight-story, 20-unit property on the site. Across the Park, which has been covering 185 Ocean’s demise, says that “we have received very few details about what will be built in its place - as we've said before, it had better not be some ugly piece of shit.” It’s worth noting that an eight-story building will tower above most of the houses on the block, and we second the call for something that's not an ugly POS.
PLG Shocker! 185 Ocean Closes 33% Above Ask [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> DOB
185 Ocean Ave. One Step Closer to Biting the Dust [Across the Park]
January 8, 2008
Development Watch: 236 Livingston Street
Another biggie for the Livingston/Schermerhorn corridor. Developer Shlomo Karpen (who made the dailies when he was sued by, and subsequently had to settle with, purchasers of his development known as the Williamsburg Mews) has broken ground on a 271-unit residential rental project with two towers, a 26-story one on Livingston and a 10-story one on Schermerhorn. When the project was presented to the Community Board 2 Land Use Committee in December (where we snapped these blurry photos), members were shocked that a mere eight units (one unit per floor on floors 3 through 10 of the Livingston tower) of affordable housing were included in the plan, which comes out to about 3% instead of the standard 20%. Apparently, inclusion of those eight lower-floor units enables the developer to add an extra five floors to the tower. Good deal for him. GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
So Long Telecom: 470 Vanderbilt Gunning for Residential
After sitting almost-vacant for years, the Carlyle Group-owned Atlantic Telecom Center at 470 Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene will be going residential if negotiations with City Planning conclude without a hitch. Although details are sketchy at this point, we're hearing that the D.C.-based private equity firm has recently brought in a new partner to reposition the property, which currently has some 700,000 square feet of unleased space. We're also hearing that there could be some office, retail and possibly cultural space in the mix—in addition to several hundred rental apartments. No word on whether there will be an affordable housing component but we're betting there will have to be to make the deal politically palatable. This could be just the boost this beleaguered stretch of Fulton Street needs. GMAP<--> P*Shark
91 Carlton Avenue: Old Folks at Home
Some of the people who will get to enjoy views of the new Carlton Avenue planted median will be the residents of 22 new affordable housing units built for senior citizens. The application deadline for the $750-a-month apartments was last April but, from what we gather, there are still some empty units, a function of the rather narrow income band required ($31,920 to $38,304). Interestingly, this project was built under the inclusionary housing project, but done so on spec with the expectation of selling the building rights on the open market to a market-rate developer who wanted the extra kicker in his project. GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
January 7, 2008
Development Watch: Action at Flatbush Flatiron!
Since the new building permit was granted by the Department of Buildings just before Christmas, work has been getting down and dirty at Isaac Hager's Flatbush Flatiron. The excavation under way at the intersection of Flatbush Extension and Tillary will clear the way for a three-sided, 21-story tower with almost 150,000 square feet of residential space. If you build it, will they come?
Building Permit Granted for Flatbush Flatiron [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Flatbush Flatiron Gets Ready for Take-Off [Brownstoner] P*Shark
Development Watch: 75 Flatbush Extension [Brownstoner] DOB
Near the Bridges, Huge Towers For Flatbush [Brownstoner]
Small New Townhouse Condo Planned in Fort Greene
What you’re looking at above (at right) is a rendering of a four-story condo set to rise at 294 Cumberland Street. The contextual look has a lot to do with the fact that the project was put through its paces by the LPC (it’ll be built in the Fort Greene Historic District). The developers intend to break ground soon, and the condo will have four two-bedroom units, prices TBD. What kind of interiors do you think would work best here? More modern or traditional? GMAP P*Shark DOB
Cobble Hill Association: 110 Amity Plan ‘Unacceptable’
Time Equities’ proposal to build six new townhouses on the vacant land surrounding the landmark Lamm Institute building at 110 Amity Street is being opposed by an influential civic group. Last week the Cobble Hill Association voted to fight the developer’s plans because the new townhouses wouldn’t have the 35- to 50-foot rear yards usually found behind the historic district’s 19th century townhouses, an absence that the group feels will negatively affect other houses on the block. The design would cause “an unacceptable incursion” into the light and air that surrounding properties receive, according to a statement released by the association. The group also argued that the creation of a mews would be “inconsistent with the character of the Cobble Hill Historic District” since the houses wouldn’t front the street. The CHA says it would be preferable for Time Equities to build one new building fronting Amity Street and one or two buildings fronting Henry Street, all of which would ideally align with neighboring brownstones and allow space for the rear yards typical of the neighborhood. The Cobble Hill Association’s verdict on the 100 Amity design will likely influence whether Community Board 6 decides to support the proposal, which is being considered by the LPC at a public hearing tomorrow.
Opposition to 110 Amity Plans Grows [Brownstoner] GMAP
CB6 Tries to Avoid Amity Street Horror [Brownstoner]
Local Residents Oppose New Development at 110 Amity [Bergen Carroll]
January 4, 2008
Guttman Back in Business at 187 Plymouth Street
After trying to sneak one past the Dumbo community and the DOB back in November, Joshua Guttman got his project at 187 Plymouth Street back on track again shortly before Christmas. After an (insincere) act of contrition in his December 14 application to the DOB ("Respectfully Requesting a PAA to Submit Revised Plans with Proper Propsed [sic] Building Height") the unpopular developer had the Stop Work Order lifted on the 18th and has been back at work since. It's not entirely clear to us, though, what, if anything, he's done to address the charges that he had overbuilt the building. (It was supposed to only be 13 feet tall and he had gone up to at least 20 feet.) As far as we can see, all he's done up top is to lay some tar strips. Any neighbors with a view from above care to elaborate?
A SWO for Guttman at 187 Plymouth [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
The Mysterious Case of 187 Plymouth Street [Brownstoner]
January 3, 2008
Development Watch: Digger, Not Much Else at 107 Lawrence
When we last checked in with 107-111 Lawrence Street, the site where the Clarett Group plans to erect a 51-story residential tower, it was October and it had been four months since the original new building application had been disapproved. Since then, a couple of permits for tree protection and underpinning work have been granted (which may explain the digger in this photo), but still no green light on the tower. Anyone heard when this might get rolling?
Clarett's Big Plans on Lawrence Street [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Development Watch: 107 Lawrence Ready for Next Stage [Brownstoner]
Lottery for 420 Classon Avenue Kicks Off
The Pratt Area Community Council announced this morning that applications for the lottery for the 12 affordable condominium units it's developing at 420 Classon Avenue in Clinton Hill are now being accepted. Christened The Hawthorne, the development is a combination of three beautiful but formerly dilapidated turn-of-the-century houses. Here are the details: Four one-bedroom priced between $185,000 and $211,000 are available for households earning up to $73,700; four two-bedrooms priced from $258,000 to $270,000 are available for households earning up to $92,200; four two-bedrooms priced from $374,000 to $424,000 are available for households earning up to $116,900. There are three ways to get an application: 1) Pick one up in person at the PACC offices at 201 Dekalb Avenue or 1224 Bedford Avenue; 2) Download one from prattarea.org; 3) Send a SASE 41-cent business-sized envelope to PACC, Attn: The Hawthorne Condos, 1224 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11216. But you better get on the stick: The application deadline is January 18. Project completion is targeted for May.
Development Watch: Windows for 420 Classon Avenue [Brownstoner]
Present from PACC: 420 Classon Rendering [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: PACC on Classon [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
The Future of 418-422 Classon? [Brownstoner] P*Shark DOB
Olive Garden: South Slope Restaurant Rumor is BS
The rumored opening of an Olive Garden at Isaac Katan's humongous (135 units, according to DOB filings) under-construction building at 500 4th Avenue is just idle chatter, according to a rep for the restaurant chain. In fact, no neighborhood in our fair borough is likely to see unlimited pasta bowls any time soon. "We’re not currently looking in Brooklyn," says Mara Frazier, Olive Garden's media relations manager. Good news or bad?
Streetlevel: Olive Garden Coming to Lower Slope [Brownstoner] GMAP<--> DOB
January 2, 2008
Opposition to 110 Amity Plans Grows
The fight surrounding Time Equities’ planned development at 110 Amity Street is heating up. Cobble Hill residents who oppose the plans, which include the construction of a rooftop bulkhead on the landmark Lamm Institute building and, more controversially, six townhouses behind 110 Amity, sent out an email blast today that included renderings of the development, like the one above (see others on jump). The email said, in part, that “the local community is vehemently opposed to this development that changes the block structure around to create a gated community shoe-horned into the block only to maximize profit. They call it a ‘mews.’” The development plans are going to be submitted at a Community Board 6 meeting tomorrow night (250 Baltic Street at 6 p.m.) and are scheduled to be presented for approval at an LPC public hearing next week.
CB6 Tries to Avoid Amity Street Horror [Brownstoner] GMAP
Local Residents Oppose New Development at 110 Amity [Bergen Carroll]
Development Watch: RIP, Albee Square Mall (Garage)
The end of the year coincided with the end of the Albee Square Mall's 31-year life. Built in 1977 on the site of the former Albee Square Theater, the mall's popularity (“See, to me this mall is like number one, and any other shoppers that try to compare—there ain't no way they could hang out with Albee Square,” sang Biz Markie) was ultimately no match for the march of real estate progress down Flatbush Avenue. The new mixed-use development rising on the site (rendered at right) will have 650 units of residential space in addition to 475,000 square feet of retail and more than 100,000 square feet of Class A office space. Sounds like a party.
Development Watch: Acadia Starts Albee Demo [Brownstoner] GMAP<-->
Albee Square Deal Closes, Fewer Apartments Planned [Brownstoner]
Urban Green Still Bogged Down
For a project that's been in suspended animation for months, the Urban Green Condos at 142 North 6th Street in Williamsburg sure is selling well. According to the Douglas Elliman-helmed website, 28 of the development's 44 units are already in contract. Meanwhile, Curbed has taken note of some rather un-green happenings on the site, including around-the-clock exhaust fumes and murky waters in the excavation pit. If it ever gets built, this place should be pretty nice. Any contract holders care to share any more details about the hold-up?
Available Listings [Douglas Elliman] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Development Watch: Urban Green Still Stalled [Brownstoner]
262 Pacific Street: How's This Gonna Fly?
Our guess for the first non-contextual brouhaha of the new year? A 12-story tower slated for the 70-by-100-foot lot (pictured on the jump) at 262 Pacific Street. More than twice as tall as any of its neighbors, the Chien Dao-designed project incorporates a chunk of neighboring air rights. The resulting building, which was disapproved in its first submission to the buildings department, will incorporate a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedroom apartments. And how about the pesky proximity to the House of D? Fear not: The design of the building, according to the architect's website, takes special pains to "avoid views of the downtown correction facility." Natch.
Projects: 262 Pacific Street [Chien Dao] GMAP<--> P*Shark DOB
Continue reading "262 Pacific Street: How's This Gonna Fly?"
Thor Seeks Coney Cash From Downtown Garage Sale
The new year brings a new twist to the stalemate between Thor Equities and the city over the redevelopment of Coney Island. Thor may be looking to sell or lease a Downtown parking garage (above) it bought from the city in ’04 in order to shore up cash for its Coney Island plans, according to an article in the Post. City officials aren’t thrilled about the deal because they think Thor is trying to stockpile cash in order to wait out Mayor Bloomberg’s term in office. Thor purchased the five-story, 245,185-square-foot garage at Bond and Livingston for $6 million and pledged to invest $2.9 million in rehabilitating it; the firm can’t actually sell the site until April 2009 without city approval. (The possible deal is reminiscent of Thor’s $125 million sale of the lease for the Albee Square Mall last year to Acadia Realty Trust and P/A Associates.) Meanwhile, in non-Thor news, the Post also reports that Dianna Carlin, the owner of the Lola Staar Souvenir Boutique on the boardwalk, is looking to build a roller skating rink on an unspecified Coney Island parking lot. The last roller skating rink in Brooklyn, Crown Heights’ Empire Roller Skating Center, closed last April.
Coney Bizman's Parking $pace [NY Post]
Coney Is. Dares to Rink Big [NY Post]
Photo by Scott Bitner for Property Shark.