Irresponsible Developers Try to Dump New-Build
This building on the corner of Grand and Greene, the poster child for the wave of cheap, ugly developments that are selling short the futures of many Brooklyn neighborhoods, is finally on the market. While it was being built slapped up, we documented the poor craftsmanship while one reader called it a shit sandwich. Earlier…
This building on the corner of Grand and Greene, the poster child for the wave of cheap, ugly developments that are selling short the futures of many Brooklyn neighborhoods, is finally on the market. While it was being built slapped up, we documented the poor craftsmanship while one reader called it a shit sandwich. Earlier in its construction, the developer had received a Stop Work Order for shoddy excavation. Basically, he’d dug the foundation without an engineer using unlicensed labor, so big surprise that the structural integrity of the adjacent building was compromised. Now these jerks are trying to cash in and dump the place off on some unsuspecting soul. Hopefully, the gas lines and electrical meters that adorn the facade will be a red flag but maybe someone will fall for the sales pitch touting “original stone from Jerusalem.” And that front door: They must have spent, what, $25 on it? What a load of crap.
4-Story 2-Family [Craigslist] GMAP
A couple points.
1)I’m a different Kevin.
2) They are gas meters, and if they were inside they would have to be in a fire rated room, which would cost uhh . hundreds.
3) Architects are not trained to do novel things for the sake of novelty. They are trained to think creatively and solve problems. The problem is defined by the owner. If the problem was to build a shelter for as little as possible, I guess he succeeded. Of course if he had any morals at all he should have said no thanks. But architects are people, some good and some bad.
4) Not agree with the other Kevin, but this site does seem to dwell on real estate issues an awful lot. Personally I would like more posts on finding a good doctor, dentist, etc. and local events. But It’s still a great blog overall.
Brownstoner,
In your previous article, March 21, 2006
Sketchiness Continues at Greene and Grand, there is evidence that this building has a serious violation no one mentioned.
The exposed joists have not been fire cut at the ends. This is serious and you should bring these images to the city’s attention.
Maybe they’ll ask them to take it down
If Kevin prfers to be a big cock-roach in Manhattan let him!
LPC should come to its senses and preserve all of Brownstone Brooklyn. It’s the only way. Period.
this building hurts me, physically. the basement will be begin leaking next winter b/c the genius poured it in the dead of winter. sigh.
sorry to be so uncivicly minded, but any tips on how to prevent such ugliness in the future? any way to protest before building begins to ensure builders are more responsible at least if not also force taste on them?
I’m a local Brooklyn Architect and am looking for a few investors to buy this building with, tear it down and attempt to deign/ build something to replace it.
Anyone interested and have a few investment dollars to spare please leave contact information and I will gladly call you.
PS Kevin, I encourage you to be less productive at work and donate some of it to less fortunate circumstances (See building above)
BrownBomber – definitely ConEd – electric.
I already had the remote KeySpan gas reader. Only exterior reader now is for water.
As for not being a “brownstone block”, Greene between grand and st. james is a brownstone block. This wreck is across the street on the opposite corner. This block, between grand and classon, is mixed, but does have several lovely, in need of restoration, row houses.
Stick some dented sheet metal on the outside at weird angles and say it was inspired by Frank Gehry.
It will sell for double the asking price in no time at all.
although this is surely an ugly building, I feel obligated to say it is not on a “brownstone block.” There is an empty lot on one side, on the other a one-story commercial space followed by a short row of modest bow-fronts. Across the street is a nicely renovated apartment building (and boy, I remember when this was a boarded up wreck)and a short row of brownstones ending with a derelict building. The remainder of the block on both sides is empty lots, parking lots, commercial buildings, apartments buildings…a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the ugly. Just sayin.