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March 22, 2006
Plywood Signals Things to Come at 240 Bedford
On the same block as what we earlier reported to be a massive new townhouse development in the works, the Mura building has put on its ceremonial demolition attire. We haven't heard what the specific plans are for this siteAccording to The Post on Sunday, the developers, who include former Bronx beep Herman Badillo, are pushing to build as many as 40 stories on the site. Not surprisingly, many locals aren't too thrilled with the idea. So long, phallic graffiti.
Badillo's Brooklyn High-Rise [NY Post] GMAP
Comments
Something is wrong with you Brownstoner, you are missing too much this days, first the Flatbush Ave. story in Crain's, and now the New York Post story on Sunday regarding this lot.
Apparently, Herman Badllio, a former Bronx borough president, is a partner in this project, and one of the plans submitted to the Board, calls for two towers, one a 20 stories, and the other of 40 stories, oh ya, forget the finger building, lets go for the full hand now.
In the print addition they had the renderings of the project, but I can’t find it online.
Here is a link to the online story
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03192006/news/regionalnews/65618.htm
Posted by: Mentch at March 22, 2006 9:40 AM
Thanks for the heads-up, Mentch. BTW, how many kids do you have?
Posted by: Brownstoner at March 22, 2006 9:54 AM
Jeez Brownstoner, Mentch is right, something must be wrong with you. I rely on this site for all of my news... ;-)
Posted by: lp at March 22, 2006 9:58 AM
Lol
I still love your site though, and big big thanks for all the hard work you put in each day.
And btw, I have one child...
Posted by: mentch at March 22, 2006 9:59 AM
Wait til you have two. We'll see how much time you have to kick back with the Sunday papers! That's why we need as much help as we can get from our readers to get by.
Posted by: Brownstoner at March 22, 2006 10:12 AM
Sad to lose the best place for graf art in Williamsburg.
Posted by: GrandPa at March 22, 2006 10:26 AM
Forty stories. Plus twenty stories. Is this for real? Does anyone have any idea how these people plan to get into Manhattan for their jobs? I hear it's hard to get on the L train out at Graham at this point.
I am bummed, however, that this place finally gave up and sold. They really dug their heels in and stayed for a long time. I hope Apple Restoration up around N. 10 isn't next!
Posted by: Glad to have escaped... at March 22, 2006 10:48 AM
The Williamsburg phenomenon really puzzles me. It seems to me that whatever appeal exists is based on two factors. 1/ Convenience (ie one or two stops to Manhattan) and whatever is left of some kind of ever-elusive hipster aproval. Minus that you have a mostly bland, semi-toxic neighborhood with the recent addition of a lot of cheaply constructed businesses trying to suck some cash out of the buzz. As another poster mentioned–right now there's plenty of anxiety as the L pulls into the station and the crowds shift and position themselves in hope that (like a slot machine) the door to the train will come to a halt in front of them. At what point in time (two full trains go by–three? four?) do people just say "screw it". When the last hipster turns out the light will whoever followed their "trail blazing" and bought an overpriced loft go "how did I get here?" For me, it defies understanding. Seriously, I'm curious what people think. Almost all of the neighborhoods that have become hot going back 20 years or so at least had some kind of "bones". Maybe when all the parks and green spaces etc are built it will provide a reason for being there, but in the meantime...
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 11:35 AM
I totally agree with anon 11:35 and have been in WB since 94. I don't get it. Convenience, yes but it took me 45 minutes to get to work today when it normally takes 20 - 30. I stay because I have a deal and that, to me, is what WB is about -- a deal. If I have to leave my apt. I don't think I'll live in Williamsburg.
Posted by: cb at March 22, 2006 11:54 AM
Williamsburg also has a bazillion restaurants and bars and cafes to hang out in. For better or worse, it is a 'hipster paradise'. The construction is just going to make it more of a residential neighborhood, more (rich) family friendly etc. It's not going to be the neighborhood I moved to, but all this housing is a good thing, these annoying pampered prada wearing people have to live somewhere! As for the L being overcrowded, the millionaires can take car services, or work from home, and eventually Robot Trains will increase service 20% and there will be a ferry at Broadway & the waterfront like there was in 1906.
Posted by: will at March 22, 2006 12:36 PM
That plywood fence has been up for months - went up at the same time the site to the south was fenced in.
The proposed redevelopment includes one scheme with TWO forty story towers, and lots of community ammenities (non of which get us to work any faster). This site was recently rezoned - any changes would require a variance or another rezoning (probably the latter).
Anon 11:35 and 11:54 are right. As more people move to the east and more gets built in the northside, living here gets less and less convenient. Anything I can do to avoid the L at rush hour, I do. The projects on the northside waterfront (184 Kent and 2 sites to the north) will bring in over 2,000 new housing units - do the multiplication for number of people!
Posted by: AnonWB at March 22, 2006 12:43 PM
regarding anon 11:35. Don't know how old you are, but in the 80s and 90s people were saying the exact same thing about the East Village.
Posted by: TeoNYC at March 22, 2006 12:44 PM
will...
not to stir things up, but you ARE being ironic, right? The solution to overcrowded subways is everybody in their own car service vehicle going over the Bridge? I think there is an inherent contradiction in saying that the reason for living there is to hang out in "bars and cafes" but it will become "family friendly". Most people with families don't spend every evening hanging out. I think you may have missed the point of anon 11:35. A "trendy" bar inevitably becomes "un-trendy"–almost by definition. The question is; What is left when the trendy bar has moved on? Answer; An expensive property in an overcrowded, ugly neighborhood. Next question: Why is that property worth money?
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 12:52 PM
In regard to TeoNYC–I have to disagree. I lived in the East Village in the 70's and moved to WB in 1980. I'm 51 years old. The East Village WAS funky, but it's not really a question of what people were saying. Walk around both neighborhoods. Look around. what do your own eyes tell you?
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 12:57 PM
Anonymous 12:52,
I didn't say "trendy" I said "bazillion", but do you want to know what happens when the trendy bar has moved on? A NEW trendy bar moves IN! Roxy, Mudclub, Danceteria, the newest club is opening up! That's why the property is worth money.
I didn't say the solution to overcrowded subways is car services, I said rich people will take car services.
Trendy families like hanging out in coffeeshops and cafes after a spin on thier track bikes, with their babies, who are named Raleigh & Brompton. Then they pick up an AC/DC onesie at Seb & Seth for their friends who just had a baby, Dahon. This isn't hypothetical, this is happening RIGHT NOW! On BEDFORD! and it's just going to GET WORSE!
I also love the "semi-toxic" comment. If williamsburg is semi-toxic, so was Soho, so was Tribeca, probably the whole city! If you feel compelled to eat the dirt underneath your building, the least of your problems will be possibly getting cancer from it.
And I'm not being ironic, I'm being facetious!
Posted by: will at March 22, 2006 2:36 PM
actually Will, you kind of made my point. The Mud(d) club was on White St. below Canal and Danceteria was on 37th St.–not exactly the same neighborhood. As far as toxicity goes–true, if you live in NYC you accept some risks. However, you don't have to eat the dirt to be affected. Unfortunately what you can't see CAN hurt you. The Williamsburg/Greenpoint area is particularly nasty in that regard. I don't suppose I have to mention the Greenpoint oil spill–larger than the Exxon Valdez. Do you know about Radiac on S. 1st. St.? It's a transfer station for low-level radioactive materials. Go over there some day and watch them move the barrels off the trucks with a forklift. Not to sound too paranoid, but can you imagine the impact an explosion (accidental or otherwise) at that facitlity would have on property values. Not to mention the kids at the elementary school just up the street from it. I'm still not sure where you're coming from, but I'm enjoying your posts
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 3:07 PM
Its not complicated, the City will increase the number of L trains as affluent people demand better service. Ten years ago the L train was horrible and filthy. Now its got the snazziest trains.
Posted by: GrandPa at March 22, 2006 3:17 PM
Will, whether or not I agree with you, your last post was hilarious...
Posted by: lp at March 22, 2006 3:59 PM
Anon 3:07 - If Radiac goes, it will affect property a lot further away than Williamsburg. The issue is not really the radioactive material, its the other toxics stored there. The plume could extend as far away as JFK or most of lower Manhattan, depending on which way the wind blows.
GrandPa - The L is operating at near capacity now. The best MTA can do is make the service more efficient through OPTO, which would add one or at most two extra trains during rush hour.
If affluent people want better service, the city will need a new tunnel. I think Will's right about the car services.
Posted by: AnonWB at March 22, 2006 4:39 PM
there is a proposed water taxi at north 6th where 'the edge' project will be.
there is another at south 8th at schaefer landing.
with all these new high-end developments, there is a lot of opportunity for someone to cash-in with other transportation alternatives.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 4:56 PM
Dirigibles - just a quick trip to the landing dock on the Empire State Building.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2006 5:41 PM
man, i saving up for a helicopter...
Posted by: justiNYC at March 22, 2006 7:37 PM
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