buildingTwo weeks ago, while we were asleep at the wheel, the Clarett Group unveiled the plans for its 28-story residential tower at 230 Ashland Place that some are calling the Flatiron Building of Brooklyn. The 288-footer can be built as-of-right, meaning no special variances are needed. FXFowle, the architecture firm behind the project, said that the building will incorporate limestone-looking bands between the largely glass-encased floors to help it fit into the brownstone neighborhood. If this is done right, we think it could work aesthetically. Given its close proximity to Flatbush, we’re less worried about sheer size than the aesthetics of the finished product and its impact (population, traffic, etc.) on the Fort Greene community. After the whole Frank Gehry experience last summer, we’re pretty jaded about buying into the early drawings which are often no more than marketing tools to win over the local community. We’ll see though. Do people think this is too big no matter what or do you think there’s a chance it can work contextually. We’re not writing it off yet.
Another Towering Condo [FG Courier] GMAP
Flatiron Building in Brooklyn [Curbed]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. I love the modern buildings that are coming into Brooklyn. We need some high modern to mix-up with the brownstones, a la Richard Meier in the West Village. It works, I think – quite fabulously.

    I will say this, however, we need to LANDMARK brownstone blocks so that they aren’t destroyed! Save the modern stuff for the empty lots.

    The real crime in Brooklyn are the “Feder’s” buildings and Atlantic Center/PCRichards structures.