614-7th-Avenue-Brooklyn-0609.jpg
After years of struggle, the development site at 614 7th Avenue that caught media attention for its potential to block the views from the Minerva statue in nearby Green-Wood Heights Cemetery to the Statue of Liberty finally ended up with a design that both DOB and the community could live with—eleven 14-foot-wide townhouses. Though not completed yet, they’ve been on the market since January, now for $999,000. A tipster walked by last week and was not particularly impressed: Along with this photo of the townhouse at the corner of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue, here’s what he had to say. “No rebar in this wall, many holes cut, many filled in and now, wacky windows.” Update: In the name of fair and balanced coverage, we’ve posted a photo below from Denton of the front of this development.
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva ‘Coming Soon’! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll ‘Em. [Brownstoner]
minerva-front-shot-0609.jpg


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Streetwise 123, your name suggests you’re smart, but so am I. Last comment for prospective buyers of these poorly built units, NOT for the blogging brokers: check out the PUDDLES the basement.

  2. HouseHunt: You say that “The workmanship is utter crap, and the model already shows it” yet in your next post you say “I bet there are excellent appliances in every unit and beautiful, expensive handles on the doors” which shows that you havent been in the homes or the model unit. So my question is how can you make such statements about a place that you have never walked through before? Why dont you go see the places before you make such stupid statements.

  3. How many 20-25 ft buildings exist in SS/GH?

    The majority on the side streets from Prospect Ave to 25th Street. 18-25 X 100 ft. Single or multi-family. Look at the existing multi-family , circa 1900 next to the site on 22nd St.

    yes, quite a few “slimmer” houses, but not the majority by any means.

  4. True, Denton, not many 20 ft wide buildings in this part of town, but how many of the current owners paid even 1/2 the price of these Corcoran cardboard boxes? NONE! I bet there are excellent appliances in every unit and beautiful, expensive handles on the doors, but buyer beware — it’s what lies beneath the decorative cover!

  5. “Had they done 6 20-25 ft. wide buildings, then maybe one could give this some small praise.”

    How many 20-25 ft buildings exist in SS/GH? Most of the frames are 16′ wide, at best. Or less. Double the 13′ wide houses to 26′ and now they sell for $2 million, not $1 million. There is no market for $2 million dollar houses in SS/GH. And the developer knows this.

  6. I’m with Action Jackson. The workmanship is utter crap, and the model already shows it. The New York Times Real Estate section this week spoke about the deals to be had in this failing market. They warned buyers not to be fooled by price cuts — like Corcoran cutting from 1.2 to 999. These buildings were not built to last, which is why the cutting will continue until some sucker bites.

  7. Um, has anyone looked at older posts on this blog as to what exists behind these white stucco exteriors? Nothing to do with “look here,” Denton and everyone else.

    Incorporating the old foundation being “green?” (it was from 2005, a Scarano and far from green…or safe, or legal for that matter).

    And I will add I admire the thought of new single family home development in the neighborhood, just not at 14 ft. wide, with 7 shared curb-cuts (parking on the sidewalk anyone?) and the “crapsmanship” that was clearly shown in earlier brownstoner posts.

    The only reason to invest in one of these properties is if you need a tax shelter.

    My post is late to the game, but having walked and driven by these POS’s (ie. how they were built) for the past year and a half to visit friends in the ‘hood, one would be foolish to purchase one of these bad boys, considering the poor construction and bad omen the entire site has caused since 2004.

    And at 14 ft wide, while silly, had they been built to some level of craftsmanship (add another tick on the chart of bad building in Bklyn), perhaps we could look at a lower density solution to the original multi-family option from Bobby. But gargage in is garbage out.

    And I have been told of no dry wells in the rear yard…water table issue anyone? Highest point in Bklyn has the biggest sloose of water on our ever present rainy days. My friends on 22nd St. can hear the pumps going before every open house!

    When the white stucco goes green with moss, blighting the scenic views from the cemetery, and the wood joists begin to fail, we’ll see who made a wise investment.

    Such a shame. Such a prime location. 478 acres of beauty and history across the street, such poor design and construction on the other. Had they done 6 20-25 ft. wide buildings, then maybe one could give this some small praise.

    None from this man. I’m sure Lenny is rolling in his grave up on the hill.

  8. Sorry…typos galore…

    One I’m shocked at: “over dell”. I meant “over dale”. Oh, wale…

    Typos too numerous
    To tickle my humorous,
    A rainy day, amorous
    And supper not so glamorous