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Progress at New Hello Living Development
Work picked up at 618 Washington Avenue, the newest (and ninth) Hello Living building for the neighborhood, at the corner of Dean Street. Plans call for a a six-story, eleven-unit building. A sign on the fence promised a completion date of this summer, but that seems unlikely.
Hello There: Another Washington Avenue Condo Coming [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
05/24/2012 2:39 PM
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Hasidic Art Gallery Opens in Crown Heights
A Hasidic Art Gallery, called the Betzalel Gallery, just opened in Crown Heights at 567 Empire Boulevard. The opening reception featured drawings and watercolors by the Jewish artist Itshak Holtz. WNYC covered the new space, the first of its kind in the neighborhood, and said: “The throwback references here depict a simpler time, when families were large and lived in the Old World shtetls of Eastern Europe. It’s not quite Soho, but on Empire Blvd. and Kingston Ave., situated next to a laundromat.” The director and curator moved Betzalel from Borough Park to be closer to his clientele. The most expensive painting is asking $175,000, other paintings start from $3,000. Check out the Facebook page here.
Brooklyn’s Hasidic Art Scene Expands with New Gallery [WNYC] GMAP
05/24/2012 2:00 PM
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Rental of the Day: 243 St. James Place
Here’s what you get at 243 St. James, an apartment for rent in Clinton Hill: two bedrooms, some historical detail, a convenient location, and a good rent: $1,950/month. Probably won’t last on the market all that long.
243 St. James Place [Century 21] GMAP P*Shark
05/24/2012 12:30 PM
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Come Discuss Safety on Park Avenue
The Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) and Architecture for Humanity will hold one last community feedback meeting on the proposed Park Avenue streetscape improvements. Improvements include stop signs, neckdowns, increased lighting, left turn lanes at busy intersections, additional crosswalks, and some pedestrian space underneath the BQE. They will present draft recommendations to the community and use that feedback to finalize plans. Then it’s off to Community Board 2, local officials and the Department of Transportation. If you’re interested in attending, the meeting is Wednesday, May 30th from 6-8pm at the Navy Yard Houses community room, 45-55 North Elliot between Park Avenue and Flushing (across from Commodore Barry Park). RSVP or questions go to dan@myrtleavenue.org or 718-230-1689.
05/24/2012 12:00 PM
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Big Bay Ridge Sale at Kings County Auction
A big Brooklyn auction was held this Tuesday, and the surprising bid of the day was 463 86th Street, pictured above. Says a tipster: “463 86th Street starting bid was $1.6m. 4 sharks bid against each other and it went for the high price of $2,820,000. It’s 2006 all over again. I believe that the bidder was a front guy for Thor equities Joe Sitt.” A real estate blog confirms, and says it was the smallest purchase for Thor in NYC. The buyer was vague about development plans; right now it’s a modest building with a clothing store on the ground floor and an apartment on the second level. Of the 16 properties on the auction block, all but three were claimed. The minimum bid for the 13 purchased properties was $6.777 million, $7.225 million came in. 163A Halsey Street was picked up for $415,000, 244 Hawthorne Street for $475,000, and 151 Prospect Avenue for $340,000. See the full list of sales here.
True bidding war erupts at auction in Brooklyn [Malcolm Carter]
05/24/2012 9:30 AM
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Greenpoint’s Sweater Factory Lofts on Banker St Sells
We may be seeing an end to the saga of 239 Banker Street, the well-known Greenpoint commercial building allegedly used illegally as residencies: the former Sweater Factory just sold to “JL Take Two LLC” for $9.1 million. It’s unclear whether the buyer is a developer or not. New York Shitty has tracked the building’s history as an allegedly illegal residency and the multiple forced evictions for years now. (Regardless, 239 Banker has still actively been marketed as a rental very recently.) Not long ago, tenants applied for protection under the loft law. Wonder if this will put a kink in their plans or bolster their cause? Cuberd covered this yesterday, too.
Lofty Aspirations at a Notorious Greenpoint Building [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
05/24/2012 9:00 AM
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75 Columbia Street Development Gaining Height
A tipster sent along this photo of 75 Columbia Street, the new development on the corner of Columbia and Warren streets. The lot was once part of a larger development plan around Columbia and Warren but public records show the site sold since those plans. Current DOB plans call for six stories and 12 units. As our tipster says: “It will surely have nice views, until high-rises come at least.” A well-known Brooklyn developer is building the project. GMAP
05/23/2012 2:40 PM
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Natty Gardens Opens Bigger Store on Washington
The new, larger Natty Garden opened on the corner of Dean Street and Washington Avenue, very close to its old location. It was a very quick move! It looks like there’s a much larger interior space and a bigger plant selection. From the looks of the building, the lion mural (which graced the old building) is still to come.
Natty Gardens Moving to Bigger Digs Nearby [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/23/2012 2:00 PM
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Rental of the Day: 1 Grand Army Plaza, #16W
Sales are pretty impressive over at 1 GAP, so maybe this three bed/two bath for rent at $15,000/month isn’t too far off. This duplex penthouse looks pretty typical of the building: great views, big windows, a private balcony. According to Streeteasy, this is by far the highest rental price asked at the building in awhile. So, what do ya think?
1 Grand Army Plaza, #16W [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
05/23/2012 12:30 PM
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Open and Shut
Park Slope
Finally! After a long battle with the surrounding neighborhood, Woodland (aka Prime Six) opened on Flatbush Avenue, reports Here’s Park Slope. Says HPS: “This is a new type of restaurant for the neighborhood: sprawling, multi-level, glamorous, pricey.” There are two floors which include a bar, a large backyard with an open grill, a lounge, and a private dining room. The menu is very meat heavy… you can see a copy over at HPS. The image above comes from the website as well. Also open in Park Slope: English-style Monro Pub now serving English brews at 5th Avenue between 11th and 12th Street, Banyo, a fancy shmancy Turkish bathrobes/textiles store at 421 7th Avenue, and Yogurberry on the corner of 5th and Prospect. The New Happy Taco joint on Park Place shuttered for good after a DOH shutdown.
Elsewhere
Italian restaurant Arthur on Smith starts serving lunch tomorrow in Carroll Gardens. And in Cobble Hill, the Ethiopian restaurant planned for the old Quercy space on Court Street opened up yesterday for dinner. A burger joint – Mark’s Gourmet Burgers – will open this summer on the corner of Waverly and Myrtle Avenue (the former Bechamel space) in Clinton Hill. Also on Myrtle, we noticed that Wicked Good Franks, which opened one year ago, closed up shop. Racked checks out the new Brooklyn Industries in Greenpoint on Manhattan Avenue. The store is made almost entirely of recycled materials – even the electricity is totally generated from wind power. And in Bed Stuy, Scratchbread Bakery now serves breakfast.
05/23/2012 11:30 AM
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Brooklyn Crab Making Progress in Red Hook
Here’s a peek at the Brooklyn Crab construction happening in Red Hook. The owners are readying for a summer opening. So far we know there will be free shuttle service between the Carroll St subway station and Brookyln Crab, 18 holes of mini golf, corn hole, bocce, a giant deck overlooking the harbor, a seafood menu and a raw bar. Hard to go wrong with all that! No official opening date yet, but you can track the progress on Brooklyn Crab’s Facebook page. And check out a few more pictures after the jump.
Brooklyn Crab Construction Continues in Red Hook [Brownstoner]
Red Hook Getting Crabby [Brownstoner] GMAP (more…)
05/23/2012 10:00 AM
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Tuesday Blogwrap
(Scavenger) Hunt for a New Home [Brooklyn Brainery]
Man, 33, Is Killed in Brooklyn Hit and Run [City Room]
Zombies Invade Brooklyn (Again) This Sunday [Gothamist]
DOT’s Newest Bike/Ped Safety Campaign: “Heads Up” [Streetsblog]
Big Transit Boost for Barclays Center, But Costs are Unknown [The Local]
Help Clean Up the Neighborhood on Saturday, June 2 [Ditmas Park Corner]
After the Final Curtain: Loew’s Kings Theatre [Untapped New York]
Photo by side1track2
05/22/2012 4:30 PM
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Closing Bell: Bike to School Day Tomorrow
Tomorrow Park Slope school MS 51 is holding a Bike to School Day. The PTA and local bike store Bicycle Habitat are providing volunteers to escort students to and from school along three different routes, from Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens and Windsor Terrace starting points. The school is holding bicycling assemblies today on safety, etiquette, and bike locking. Parents from MS 51 ask drivers to remain alert to youth riding to and from school tomorrow, 7am to 4:00pm.
Photo by Dmitry Gudkov
05/22/2012 4:00 PM
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Associated Supermarket Addition Tops Off
Here’s the status of the Waverly Avenue supermarket addition, two months since construction began. And here’s the rendering back from 2010, which may or may not be outdated by now. It doesn’t look like any work is happening at the Associated itself, although the rendering would lead you to believe it’s getting a slightly fancier facade.
Addition to Clinton Hill’s Associated Rising Quickly [Brownstoner]
Waverly Associated Build-Out Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/22/2012 2:40 PM
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New Italian Spot Opens in Speakeasy Space
A tipster noticed the paper down at the former Speakeasy restaurant on Waverly and Greene in Clinton Hill. He wasn’t sure of the name or if the new spot is officially open. We peeked in this morning and it looks like a nice bar and restaurant set-up with a kind of “old Brooklyn” vibe that’s popular these days. However, there’s no name posted and the internet revealed very little. Who can fill us in? UPDATE: We should read our own blog! As a commenter points out, we already reported back in February that the chef from Fiore in Williamsburg is doing an Italian thing here. Judging from one commenter who’s already been, it’s quite good too.
Clinton Hill’s the Speakeasy Calls it Quits [Brownstoner] GMAP
Details on a Forthcoming Italian Joint in Clinton Hill [Brownstoner]
05/22/2012 2:00 PM
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Rental of the Day: 39 Pearl Street
Here’s a big, lofty Dumbo rental at 39 Pearl Street with a big, lofty price tag of $7,500/month. There are four bedrooms plus an office space. While the few pictures posted make the apartment seem pretty minimalist, the exposed beams and high ceilings have ample room for potential. What do you make of it?
39 Pearl Street [FRBO] GMAP P*Shark
05/22/2012 12:30 PM
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Aerial Shot of 29 Flatbush Construction Site
A reader sent in a photograph of the progress at 29 Flatbush Avenue. Not much to see, especially considering Dermot broke ground here very recently, in December 2010. One day this will be a 42-story tower with 327 rental units, 200 parking spaces, and 7,600 square feet of retail space on Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street. GMAP DOB
05/22/2012 12:00 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $5,450,000
26 Garden Place GMAP P*Shark
We covered this sale last week. It first asked $5,500,000 before a few price cuts. Entered into contract on 4/12/12; closed on 5/9/12; deed recorded on 5/16/2012.
2. MIDWOOD $3,400,500
1025 East 24th Street GMAP P*Shark
This one-family, two-story house is on a 5,000-square foot lot. Entered into contract on 2/29/12; closed on 4/30/12; deed recorded on 5/14/2012.
3. FORT GREENE $3,285,000
181 Washington Park GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD this September. Ask: $3,450,000. Entered into contract on 1/16/12; closed on 4/24/12; deed recorded on 5/14/2012.
4. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $2,293,000
1 Grand Army Plaza, #7B GMAP P*Shark
A three bed/three-and-a-half bath unit. First listed as $2,200,000, then $2,175,000, then $2,395,000. Entered into contract on 3/6/12; closed on 5/3/12; deed recorded on 5/18/2012.
5. PARK SLOPE $1,800,000
937 Union Street, #10 GMAP P*Shark
A three bed/three bath unit. Asking $1,850,000. Entered into contract on 3/12/12; closed on 5/1/12; deed recorded on 5/16/2012
05/22/2012 11:30 AM
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Brooklyn Sites Lead PIP Grant Awards
Looks like the top two winners of the much-hyped Partners in Preservation grants went to sites in Brooklyn. Though the official winners haven’t been announced yet (that will come later today), as of last night the #1 pick was the Brooklyn Public Library, which will receive its full grant request of $250,000 for the historic front doors. Second up was the Congregation Beth Elohim, which will get $250,000 for a comprehensive restoration of the roof, parapets, dome, and stained glass. (CBE really fought for its grant money, as evidenced here.) In third and fourth place were the restoration of the man-made cascade at the NY Botanical Garden and the restoration of landmarked gardens at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum & Gardens. The top four sites will receive the full grant requests, the other 36 historical sites will receive the leftovers of the $3 million. UPDATE: The four winners have been announced, click through for details!
Vote to Preserve NYC Historic Places [Brownstoner]
Photo by jordanguile (more…)
05/22/2012 10:00 AM
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artistgarden
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM