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February 1, 2005

Flipping the Bird at Williamsburg Developers

Al Goldstein used to have a segment on Midnight Blue in which he would ceremoniously give the finger to a person or entity that had particularly raised his ire in the previous week. We couldn't help recalling this last weekend as we strolled around South Williamsburg. Although we complain constantly about all the bureaucracy we are having to deal with to renovate and change the C of O on our own house, surveying the eyesores that developers have been putting up between Grand and Broadway on the South Side made us thankful that our brownstone is in a landmarked district and reminded us that there is a role for government regulation. We honestly don't think we could design uglier buildings than these if we tried. We also wonder whether this crap that is getting built ultimately will be the neighborhood's own undoing. Who wants to pay $700 to $900 a foot to live next door to one of these things? Not us--we're off to Clinton Hill where prices are half that. As for the tasteless developers, we hope the market votes with its feet and refuses to inhabit these soulless spaces. If we had a television show instead of a blog, you can guess what kind of a gesture we'd be giving them.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Williamsburg Hall of Shame

Comments

could you post some stuff in your rennovation blog about changing your CofO ? I'm just starting on that and would love to hear how you're going about it.

Posted by: jk at February 1, 2005 10:03 AM

it's a travesty. although the phenomenon of atrocious new development is not limited to south williamsburg, the problem certainly is endemic there. it's sad in the context of buildings of yore, such as that beauty featured next to the neo-box contraption.

a big fat al goldstein middle finger is much deserved, indeed.

Posted by: 9000 at February 1, 2005 11:16 AM

a big fat al goldstein middle finger is much deserved, indeed.

Posted by: j. matthew hijuelos at February 1, 2005 11:17 AM

It took me four years and $50,000 in soft costs (ie not construction costs) to change a C of O. And the city is much more difficult than they were even five years ago. As you point out, this is nothing if not positive to prevent rampant abuse.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 1, 2005 6:08 PM

This will sound a bit sacrilege on this site for those obsessed with old homes, but ya can't stop progress. A lot of buildings were simply not designed to withstand years an years of aging. Eventually they'll need to be replaced and when they are replaced they'll be replaced with whatever architectural style is present.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 2, 2005 12:31 AM

i always wonder why the architectural quality of new residential development in brooklyn is of such low quality. im completely frustrated by the use of cheap materials, flimsy balconies, metal stairs, fake brick, weak fenestration... just take a look at the new developments in park slope, especially south park slope. these new buildings must be softening property values of surrounding buildings. i, for one, would hesitate to buy next to one of these eyesores.

Posted by: erik at February 2, 2005 9:28 AM

"A lot of buildings were simply not designed to withstand years an years of aging."
This is true in many cases but not all. Most older buildings were built to last. Hardly any new buildings are. There's no excuse for building an eyesore out of crappy materials, when a slightly bigger investment would mean longer-lasting, more attractive and just plain better buildings. The problem isn't that the style is so "modern" and "current"--it's that those buildings HAVE no style.

Posted by: abby at February 2, 2005 10:54 AM

buildings need to be replaced over time, and styles obviously change, but you can hardly say there's any "style" involved with the dreck that's popping up throughout the bk and elsewhere. it's all just dull, unimaginative and flimsy. bk developers should at least walk over to pratt and try to find some inspiration and probably some cheap labor as well.

Posted by: j. matthew hijuelos at February 2, 2005 11:09 AM

Thank you for pointing this out. But it's not just South Williamsburg. It's all over Williamsburg, from Grand Street (yes, I mean you, 287 Grand Street), to that awful thing that people have already moved into on N.7th between Bedford and Driggs, to Stagg Street, to those ugly-ass places near the Graham Av L stop. And it's not just pre-fabricated, soulless places. It's also this plague of "modernist" glass-and-brick things that would look out-of-place in any neighborhood that wasn't inhabitated entirely by blind people, but look that much more out of place among the modest lo-rises of our 'hood. The king of this particularly revolting hill is architect Charles Scarano, who is destroying the look of the neighborhood 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 buildings at a time. Who the hell keeps hiring him? Aren't there any other architects out there?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 3, 2005 3:58 PM

Yeah that's true that these buildings have no style. The decision to use cheap materials and such has to do with the economics. If the developer hires a well known architect and builds with better materials, etc.. The cost would rise per sq ft and there is no guanrantee that people would pay more for that. Since these buildings look like condos, the prospective buyers would probably care more about whats inside their unit than how it looks on the outside.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 3, 2005 8:05 PM

Williamsburg is starting to look like Hoboken.

Posted by: hobo at February 10, 2005 5:42 PM

Well, new developers jumping in on the Williamsburg boom to take advantage of the rise in popularity they are not. The developers of those buildings are actually the natives of that particular area of Williamsburg--yes, they are hasidics who have nurtured their neighborhood forever, before most of you have settled in and claimed it your own. How can they do this to OUR beloved, rustic Williamsburg, which was at its best when we first moved here, before all the hype... like, what, 5-10 years ago? These people have been here forever. I say if the hasidic developers want to put up "style-free" buildings and there are people who find them appealing, so be it. If the general public is concerned that the architecure is below-par, then become involved, get a degree in architecture and do something about it. I am tired of the developers and real estate agents being cast as the "devils". Basic supply and demand principles here, people. New York City is constantly changing. This is not the midwest, ok? Neighborhoods are always reinventing themselves. get over it.

Posted by: steve d at February 24, 2005 1:15 PM

The real crimes are being committed by the Scarano & Associates architects and the Developer's Group. There are many lousy examples, but my two least favorite:

-171 n. 7th is hideous - are you serious with those glass Juliet balconies?
-The 22-story monstrosity going up on N.7th between Bedford/Berry - thanks for that!

Quick write-up on the Elan Padewh, the joker ceo of Developer's group, who is very profitably killing brooklyn, one lousy construction at a time....

Elan Padeh recently celebrated a profitable year by buying a 40-foot
powerboat named Aquasition, a 28-foot sailboat called Lost Horizon and a
silver BMW convertible. His testosterone-fueled shopping spree may sound
like a Wall Street bonus-backed splurge, but Mr. Padeh is making his money
in a far less glamorous venue. He's consulting on the development of luxury
condominium projects, mostly in the boroughs beyond Manhattan--namely
Brooklyn.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 24, 2005 1:17 PM

I am looking into buying in Brooklyn (Dumbo or Williamsburg perhaps) and there are certain elements of a development that have an appeal - are there any developers/architects that actually have any respect and/or credibility in terms of the product they are putting out there?
Am I about to get pelted with vegetables and be called yuppie scum?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 24, 2005 2:57 PM

Unfortunately many of the opinions posted here reflect personal points of view that really are unfounded. Many people who moved in to Williamsburg before the press caught wind of it, believe that the neighborhood belongs to them and was discovered by them, and they want to preserve it the way they found it. Quite frankly it is a completely egotistical and insane concept. Those people are completely opposed to anything new--post-their arrival.

Speaking as a person who grew up there and lived there for over 25 years, it is a fantastic place to be. Not everyone shares these negative views. The real locals--pre-hipsters--embrace the change and the arrival of new faces. There is a reason why Williamsburg is so popular. There is a reason why development is rampant. Don't trust the opinions of these naysayers. They don't speak with real knowledge. Scarano Architects is a very reputable architecture firm and has received countless awards and accolades with the architect world--I'd say that's credible. Check out their website and talk to people who actually live there and have for more than one year.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 24, 2005 5:52 PM

i have no doubt that scarano has won lots of awards (so has alicia keys), and that's one swanky little office he's built for himself overlooking the bqe, but an ugly building is an ugly building, and there's nothing that ISN'T ugly about 171 n.7th, to take one of many possible examples. let's not even talk about tower 78, or whatever that thing on ten eyck street is called. i'm not opposed to new. i'm opposed to revoltingly butt-ugly. at $700 or more per sq ft, is that too much to ask for?

i love williamsburg, too, and i've lived there for more than one year but less than 25. thirteen years to be exact.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 24, 2005 7:05 PM

Are there any recommendations here as to what architects are out there that have great style and can build multi-family new construction condos???

Posted by: BK at February 24, 2005 7:25 PM

Tower 78 is the latest Williamsburg development that's generating tons of interest. Everyone I know is talking about it. I love the architecture--the materials, the windows, the design... A nice feast for the eyes. Sure beats all the siding. Are there any new Williamsburg developments that you like?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 25, 2005 10:35 AM

Wow that's funny every one I know hates Tower 78!!! At least those morons at Developers Group are not marketing it!!!

Posted by: Adam at February 26, 2005 11:42 PM

I love Tower 78. what's wrong with the developers group? I never dealt with them before. Any Williamsburg brokers you like?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2005 1:20 PM

Have you considered the fact that there are eager buyers for all these new buildings you hate? Has it occured to you that you are only defending the neighborhood because your rents are about to go up, if they haven't already? How can it be that the American Institute of Architects, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and other such organizations have seen it fit to award architect Robert Scarano so many awards if the buildings are ugly? Are you saying that all the architects in the united states are so called "morons"? And who is buying these horrible, ugly developments? Morons? Well, they seem to have more moey than you do!!! think about it!! Then get a life.

Posted by: erika hillstand at May 8, 2005 9:29 PM

Have you considered the fact that there are eager buyers for all these new buildings you hate? Has it occured to you that you are only defending the neighborhood because your rents are about to go up, if they haven't already? How can it be that the American Institute of Architects, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and other such organizations have seen it fit to award architect Robert Scarano so many awards if the buildings are ugly? Are you saying that all the architects in the united states are so called "morons"? And who is buying these horrible, ugly developments? Morons? Well, they seem to have more money than you do!!! think about it!! Then get a life.

Posted by: erika hillstand at May 8, 2005 9:31 PM

I agree! Who are we to say a building is ugly just because it is new qand bigger than anything around it?
The funny thing is, with regards to the new building at 78 Ten Eyck, that the developers dig their own grave: they should show the building from the other direction so that everyone can see that they are across the street from the 12-story projects, which are, by far, the ugliest thing around (oh -- but is that bad for sales?)

Posted by: Michael Schmidt at May 8, 2005 9:53 PM

Move away if you hate it. The people who build and inhabit ugly new buildings -- and these aren't all that bad -- are the same ones who buy art. If you don't make art, move out and pass your cheap rent onto someone who does. If you do, shut up and make sure you're on exhibit somewhere when moving day comes for the 20,000-odd newcomers who like art enough that they paid a lot of money to live where it gets made.

Posted by: Bill Gusky at August 3, 2005 8:52 AM

From the pictures posted here I would certainly say they are hideous developments. They are slapping up anything they can as fast as they can because there is great demand. As for the yuppies pouring into the area, well they have to have a home too and it will certainly attract more businesses. I think a lot of the negative comments posted here are from artisits who live an "alternative" lifestyle they don't want disrupted. I can sympathize since there is hardly a neighborhood left in the city that artists haven't been pushed out of. But, as one other poster said, you should be eyeing those yuppies as your potential customers not just as the people who are displacing you. Bed-Sty anyone?

Posted by: andrew at August 19, 2005 9:52 AM

Are you FREAKIN kidding me??? Original inhabitants of Williamsburg were NOT the hasidics, they were working class Irish, Italians, and Puerto Rican people who dominated the South Side/North Side scene way before the housing projects were put up and most definitely way before the Hasids came in. Not to be a bigot, but I have a BORN right to complain about my birth home being sold out from under my family and then us having to move around like gypsies trying to find a home that A)if owned by a Hasid, would allow us to move into-rare, you try it, they are exclusive and discriminating and it is allowed even under the non-discrimination acts put in place for housing, or B)that was affordable and livable. Williamsburg in the 60's and 70's was crime ridden and most buildings were abandoned drug dens. So while the hasids may have improved life there it is mostly for their own, and they got favorable consideration when it came to new housing being built, and even more so in public housing. I hold Williamsburg dear to my heart, my abuelo still lives in Taylor-Wythe, but I ask myself why after so many years was I placed in East New York housing while the hasids get preferential treatment and move into public housing in WillyB faster than you can say WillyB??? It isnt fair, and now with the hipsters, more of us long time dwellers here are being pushed out due to high risng rents and new ugly horribly wrong developments. Out of all you, my family has the longest history here, and we KNOW we can complain. The working class, as we know it yesterday and today, will no longer exist in Willy B for long. SHAME!!!

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« Tuesday Links Hall Floors Revealed: Today on the Renovation Blog »

February 1, 2005

Flipping the Bird at Williamsburg Developers

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