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Plastic, Concrete for the Boardwalk?
The Times has a story checking in on the city’s plans to replace sections of the iconic wooden Boardwalk in Coney Island and Brighton Beach: “After a yearlong fight over the city’s proposal to use concrete to replace the wooden boards along stretches of the aging, 2.7-mile Boardwalk, the city’s parks department is offering a compromise of sorts — but wood is not part of the plan. Instead, the department is promising to use a combination of concrete and a type of recycled plastic that looks like wood. They want a 12-foot concrete section for emergency vehicles, with 19-foot-wide sections of the plastic polymer on either side for pedestrians.” The city plans to first install the plastic sections on a 5-block stretch of the Boardwalk in Brighton Beach, and says that investigations into using wood as a replacement just didn’t pencil out. The plastic material is supposed to last 75 years, whereas some of the wood the city looked into using would only last around 8 years. While some preservationists are upset about the plans, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said “economic considerations outweighed the historical importance of the wood. ‘Suggesting that you can only have wooden Boardwalks because that’s what they were originally built of is like saying you should only have cobblestone streets,’ he said.”
Wood May Give Way to Plastic on Coney Island Boardwalk [NY Times]
Photo by berniepicso
02/21/2012 9:00 AM
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House of the Day: 230 Corbin Place
This modern-day palazzo at 230 Corbin Place in Brighton Beach has been on the market on-and-off for the past year. The price has bounced around but recently settled at $2,995,000. It won’t come as much of a surprise that the aesthetics of this place don’t quite do it for us but, given that it’s a 6,434-square-foot house on less than a block from the beach and that this look tends to play well in this part of town, we’re actually surprised that it hasn’t already sold.
230 Corbin Place [Maximillion Realty] GMAP P*Shark
11/14/2011 1:28 PM
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Brighton Condo Site on the Market
Massey Knakal has a listing for a development site at 271 Sea Breeze Avenue in Brighton Beach where a condo that looks like the rendering above could, in theory, rise. The original developers planned a 114-unit project and, according to the listing, did $4.5 million in foundation and prep work. (The project has been counted on stalled site lists for at least a couple of years.) Yours for $14.9 million.
GMAP
11/14/2011 11:30 AM
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Condo of the Day: 125 Oceana Drive East, #PH2A
This listing at 125 Oceana Drive East in Brighton Beach is admittedly a little out of the Brownstoner sweet spot geographically (and aesthetically) speaking but, hey, it is summer time, right? The views from this place are hard to beat, especially when you step out onto the large private terrace. As for the rest of it, well, it’s big and it’s tacky as all hell. It’s also not cheap: $4,999,000 for what, as far as we can figure (no numbers are given), isn’t much more than about 2,500 square feet of living space. Must be nice this time of year though!
125 Oceana Drive East, #PH2A [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
07/28/2011 12:53 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. MIDWOOD $3,750,000
2202 Avenue J GMAP
All we know about this house is that it is huge: 6,434 square feet on a 10,000 square foot lot. Entered into contract on 1/12/10; closed on 3/3/11; deed recorded on 3/14/2011.
2. FORT GREENE $1,915,000
131 Fort Greene Place GMAP
This two-family brick townhouse has been on the market since 2009. It’s an owners triplex with “self contained guest quarters” and a two-bedroom rental. There aren’t a ton of pictures of the listed interior details. It was first priced at $2,500,000 and cut a few times before selling. Entered into contract on 12/18/10; closed on 2/25/2011; deed recorded on 3/17/11.
3. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $1,900,000
126 St. Marks Avenue GMAP
This home at 126 St. Marks had a swift life on the market. It was listed in October 2010 for $2,100,000, entered contract in January and sold this month. From the listing: “this restored four family brownstone provides close to 4000 square feet of living space offering a host of options for the new owner(s).” Entered into contract on 1/12/2011; closed on 3/4/2011; deed recorded on 3/16/11.
4. CARROLL GARDENS $1,875,000
100 2nd Place, #1 GMAP
This brownstone unit was a Condo of the Day last September. We thought the duplex, complete with a master suite and two more bedrooms, was “immaculately renovated.” Couple that with an appealing layout and we were sold, although we thought the ask of $1,890,000 was somewhat ambitious. Guess we were wrong! Entered into contract on 1/5/2011; closed on 2/22/11; deed recorded on 3/18/11.
5. BRIGHTON BEACH $1,600,000
125 Oceana Drive East, #5C GMAP
This condo unit is from the Oceana, a gated community in Brighton Beach. #5C isn’t a penthouse unit but is priced on the higher end for the development. The unit also comes with a parking space. Entered into contract on 7/20/2010; closed on 3/2/2011; deed recorded on 3/14/11.
Photos via PropertyShark.
03/22/2011 11:30 AM
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Closing Bell: Leaking from the Tracks
In today’s second installment of machinery gone awry, Sheepshead Bites shares this picture of the raining El in Brighton Beach. As their tipster says, “A pipe broke under the EL on Brighton 5th, it rained down on the street and started flooding the intersection, took a few min before the water was shut off!”
12/21/2010 4:00 PM
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Last Week’s Biggest Sales
1. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $2,851,000
1 Grand Army Plaza, #14D GMAP
According to StreetEasy, this 2,608-sf condo with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in the Richard Meier on Prospect Park was priced at $4,400,000 last month. The condo was previously listed at $1,750,000 in 2007, and that old listing said that it has a “large wraparound balcony off the living/dining room offering dramatic views of Grand Army Plaza and the Manhattan Harbor… floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall glass, custom designed Meier millwork, [and] rift cut Oak floors.” Entered into contract on 3/17/10; closed on 4/9/10; deed recorded on 5/19/10.
2. DUMBO $2,291,062.50
360 Furman Street, #819 GMAP
There isn’t a listing associated with this condo on StreetEasy, but it’s located in One Brooklyn Bridge Park and it’s probably safe to assume that the space is comparable to its upstairs neighbor, unit 919, a 2,295-sf, 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom condo that sold for $3,075,000 last month. Entered into contract on 1/13/10; closed on 5/14/10; deed recorded on 5/20/10.
3. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $1,600,000, #PHH
303 Henry Street GMAP
According to PropertyShark, this 4,400-sf 3-family building has 1,200-sf of commercial space. The retail unit is occupied by Heights Cleaners. Entered into contract on 2/23/10; closed on 5/10/10; deed recorded on 5/18/10
4. BOERUM HILL $1,675,000
123 Boerum Place, #G2 + parking space GMAP
This 2,142-sf duplex condo has a 500-sf private south-facing garden, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, a laundry room, a home office, and its own parking garage. It was listed at $1,795,000, according to StreetEasy. Entered into contract on 3/2/10; closed on 5/4/10; deed recorded on 5/20/10.
5. BRIGHTON BEACH $1,320,000
65 Oceana Drive East, #4D + parking space GMAP
This 1,756-sf condo and parking space is located in the Oceana on Brighton Beach. There isn’t too much info on StreetEasy, but the model apartment photos on the Oceana website offer a glimpse of what the interior and ocean views might look like. Entered into contract on 4/7/10; closed on 5/20/10; deed recorded on 5/21/10.
Photos from Richard Meier on Prospect Park and One Brooklyn Bridge Park.
05/25/2010 11:37 AM
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The Ongoing Amphitheater Battle
Today the Times checks in on the plans to build an amphitheater in Coney Island as part of a complete revamp of Asser Levy Park, a project that has been opposed by many in its community. Opponents have gathered 12,000 signatures against the project, saying it should be in a commercial district and that it will bring all manner of disturbance to what is now a peaceful haven. In addition, a nearby synagogue “may have found a weapon in the city’s administrative code. A provision bans the use of amplified sound within 500 feet of a school or church during hours of classroom work or worship, and Mr. Turk said his synagogue would seek to have it enforced during the Sabbath, Friday night and Saturday.” The park’s redesign is a pet project of Marty Markowitz, who says that its critics “don’t want anything that attracts anyone who doesn’t live a block away…I’m not going to allow folks who have such narrow vision to stop the future.”
Clash Over Plans for a Brooklyn Park [NY Times]
Another Snag for Marty’s Amphitheatre [Brownstoner]
Coney Arena Opponents Now Dwelling on Sound [Brownstoner]
Coney’s Potato Chip Amphitheater Revealed [Brownstoner]
Community Concerns About Marty’s Coney Concert Space [Brownstoner]
02/11/2010 10:00 AM
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Closing Bell: Visit 9 in ’09
The Beat has all the info on a new tourism initiative launched by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. Nine in ‘09 encourages residents to “explore nine highlighted, culturally-diverse neighborhoods across the five boroughs with distinct cultural, retail, dining and entertainment offerings.” Don’t have the cash to go on a vacation this summer? Nine in ’09 outlines the perfect staycation. You can view sample itineraries with neighborhood information here. For that staycation in Brooklyn, find out what Brighton Beach and Flatbush have to offer (like a visit to the Flatbush Caton Market).
Photo by Ana Rose.
05/13/2009 4:00 PM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Now Open: Belleville Lounge
332 Fifth Street, Park Slope; (718)832-9777
“Belleville, the landmark Brooklyn bistro that has wowed devoted locals and urban day-trippers with authentic Parisian food and ambiance, has recently expanded their space and created an exciting new nightspot, the Belleville Lounge… The Lounge, with its soaring sky-lit ceiling, vintage 1950′s Parisian bar and original French antique furnishings, brings the Marais to the Slope,” or so says their press release. According to the Belleville website, they’ll also host Wednesday night Karaoke (which will involve a “mix of everything from Brooklyn’s favorite karaoke singers, to readings of Dr. Seuss”), Monday night Girl Party, and a Sunday Night Drag/Tea Party.
Coming Soon: Purple Yam
1314 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park
Ditmas Park Blog happily reports that Purple Yam, “the eagerly-awaited Filipino restaurant on Cortelyou will open in May.” A model of the new space and photos of the work-in-progress are posted on the Cendrillon website.
Newly Improved: Press 195
195 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope; (718) 857-1950
Chowhound Bob Oreilly talked to the owner at the recently reopened Press 195 and learned that they’ll now be serving liquor, new menu items, six beers on tap, and “more importantly faster service as the kitchen has expanded… I can’t wait to have a roasted beet salad and try these Belgian fries the owner told me about.” (Thoughts on Press 195? Review it here.)
After the jump: A culinary tour of Brighton Beach, the new Patois, $25 prix fixe dinners, and more… (more…)
04/15/2009 11:33 AM
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Brighton Beach Getting a Rezoning Too
While everyone’s been in a tizzy about the future of Coney Island, the city has been gearing up for a large rezoning of nearby Brighton Beach, points out Gowanus Lounge. Largely a reaction to some out-of-context apartment buildings that have risen in recent years, the city’s plan seeks to preserve the lower density character of the nabe while providing a few stretches for slightly larger buildings.
01/21/2009 11:42 AM
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Rezoning for Brighton Beach?
Kensington‘s doing it. So is Flatbush (and Gowanus and Greenpoint/Williamsburg, too). And now Brighton Beach is slated for the rezoning bandwagon, too. City Limits reports that that proposal is “an attempt to limit destructive overdevelopment by setting clear limits on construction and creating height restrictions for buildings in the area. Most of the neighborhood is now zoned without any height limits.” The limits were removed in the 1970s to stimulate development. Guess it worked, with an influx of young money and immigrants tilting the nabe away from the low-rise housing that once dominated and toward projects like the Oceana, in the photo above. Thus it’s been the victim of the speculation that’s harmed other Brooklyn neighborhoods, with half-finished or vacant projects looming over the area. If the rezoning goes through, most of the neighborhood would have to respect a 40-foot height limit, with 80 feet on commercial streets and 100 feet over on Brighton Beach Avenue, the throbbing hub of the ‘hood. But some folks think it’s too little, too late. “Asked whether the proposal will solve the development situation in Brighton, [CB13's district manager, Chuck Reichenthal] said: ‘No, it won’t.’
Rezoning Too Late for Brighton Beach? [City Limits]
12/18/2008 9:04 AM
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Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by NYC Food Guy
Ballfields Vendors Return! (With Some Serious Debt)
The Brooklyn Paper reports: “The beloved Latino food stalls of Red Hook Park announced they will return to their traditional haunt this weekend — and the grand re-opening couldn’t come a moment too soon for vendors, who have racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt to comply with tightened city regulations… ‘The losses are major,’ said Marcos Lainez, who operates a Salvadoran papusa cart. ‘It’s going to take at least two and a half years to recover all the money we have lost.’” It’s unclear whether or not prices will be higher than previous years — better bring some extra cash just in case.
New Tenant Grabs 360 Space
360 Van Brunt, Red Hook
Lost City chats with the landlord and dishes the details on the new tenant: “The new eatery, ‘another fancy sit-down place,’ will arrive in September. It will be Italian, and run by an Italian, whose name I didn’t get, but who runs a restaurant outside Italy, and has put in time at Patois on Smith Street. (Perhaps with that information, the foodies out there may have an idea who the guy is.) The place may be a ‘family affair,’ run by the chef and his clan, and the landlord said the man was committed to the place.”
25 Bucks Buys Food, Booze, and Boobs
“Sixpoint Craft Ales is teaming with Clinton Hill’s Brown Betty Cafe to cook up a—beat this—$25 four-course meal with beer pairings and burlesque show on Thursday 17 at Prospect Heights’ pastie-twirling watering hole Barrette. Highlights include watercress and grilled-peach salad with Righteous Rye ale, shrimp-and-corn bisque with Sweet Action Ale (one of the 100 Best Things we tasted last year) and a performance from Naughtia Nice… R.S.V.P. to 917-378-2454.” [Time Out New York]
After the jump: Brooklyn Flipsters, Miranda, Zenkichi, the Prospect Heights dining scene, cheap eats in Brighton Beach, dining out in a Carroll Gardens brownstone, and fish tacos at Brooklyn Bridge Park… (more…)
07/16/2008 11:29 AM
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Luxury, Brighton Beach Style
Here’s what you can get in Brighton Beach for the price of a historic brownstone: A penthouse condo at the Oceana complex. Oceana is a gated community with amenities like a fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools. $2 mil will nab you the 2,200-sf unit pictured above, which has three bedrooms and two baths. Common charges=$1,400. According to StreetEasy, this listing doesn’t even represent the most expensive unit in the development, which is made up of seven buildings: That honor goes to a $2.7 million penthouse that’s also on the market.
06/11/2008 11:00 AM
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adam_dahill
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM