Development Watch: WTF at 53 Bridge Street?

Joshua Guttman’s mess of a project at 53 Bridge Street continues to frustrate and confuse. A little history: Back in 2005, Guttman was able to gain approval for a six-story, Scarano-designed addition to the 130,000-square-foot original building, which lies just outside the existing Vinegar Hill Historic District and across the street from the soon-to-be Dumbo Historic District. (The LPC hearing is tomorrow.) However, his efforts to get a variance that would have allowed the building to be residential was rejected. Over the past 18 months, there’s been some start-and-stop work but overall little progress has been made; notice the incremental change in the two inset photos borrowed from Gowanus Lounge. There’s currently a partial Stop Work Order on the property because of $2,000 in unpaid fines. (Peanuts compared to the $4.7 million his company owes for failing to properly maintain the piers in front of the Greenpoint Terminal Market.) We’ve been asking around for a while an no one’s been able to give us a clue about timing or plans for this place. Any readers know?
Progress at 53 Bridge Street? [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
6-Story Extension Rises Above Vinegar Hill Building [Brooklyn Eagle]
Dumbo’s “Thing on Top” Making Good Progress [Gowanus Lounge]