A Closer Look at Sterling Place Development

When New York Magazine ran its piece on the rebuilding at crash site on Sterling Place and Seventh Avenue, it didn't provide any good views of the building on the Southwest corner. We happened to be walking by last weekend and took the opportunity to capture the facade as it nears completion. Our verdict? Looks fine. It looks like the developers are even taking pains to create some terra cotta (?) panels underneath some of the windows that from this angle appear reasonably authentic.
Developments at Sterling Pl Crash Site [Brownstoner] GMAP

Comments

Sorry Brownstoner, but the crash site is actually on the other side of Sterling - a larger building going up where a funeral parlor used to be. The building you photo'd has been under construction for a long time. The work was halted when either the DOB or Landmarks noticed that it was not being built according to approved plans. The entire building was open to the winter elements for months and months before they got the OK to get back on the job. Does anyone know how that horrible cupola-thing on the top of the building made it past Landmarks?

Posted by: PS Neighbor at May 4, 2006 10:09 AM

I think that is what Bstoner is saying, that the article did not cover the building across the street, only what was going up on the crash site on the other corner...

Posted by: Anonymous at May 4, 2006 10:14 AM

Right, Anon 10:14. Sorry if that wasn't clearer.

Posted by: Brownstoner at May 4, 2006 10:38 AM

I HATE that the windows on the Seventh Avenue side of this building are so much smaller than the windows in EVERY OTHER BUILDING on that block. Would it have really killed them to upgrade the windows to at least attempt some kind of continuity? Ugh. The building across Sterling (the site of the plane crash) does a much better job at this...at least on the Seventh Avenue side (I still can't really figure out what's going on with the windows facing Sterling).

As for that idiotic Rapunzel tower, I'm hoping they're planning to enclose it or do something more to it. As is, it looks like a garden shed or trash enclosure on the roof.

Posted by: AJ at May 4, 2006 11:32 AM

I think this building is crap. I walk by it every day and absolutely hate it. The terra cotta inlays are a sorry attempt to fancy up the building, and the cupola is laughable. This corner is just outside the landmarked area, otherwise they never would've been allowed to include the cupola. I agree with AJ about the windows. And do you see the whiteness on the bricks on the right side of the building, which is the Sterling Place side? That's how these cheapo bricks have weathered the elements over the last few months. This is barely a step above the much-maligned Fedders buildings we are seeing in other neighborhoods.

The NY Magazine piece mentioned that the larger development across the street -- on the actual crash site -- will be condos, while this one will be rentals. Makes sense, I guess. Whoever is building this one isn't even trying to build quality. And from the brief glimpses I've gotten inside through the windows recently, they're putting up hideous Home Depot chandeliers, so I can only assume the rest of the fixtures and fittings are of the same ilk.

Posted by: Park Sloper at May 4, 2006 1:17 PM

I passed by one evening when the apts were lit up within and the spaces looked rather generic. Also, oddly, each apt sported a gaudy chandelier!

Posted by: Anon at May 4, 2006 1:17 PM

In always thought the crash site waws on BOTH sides of the street.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 4, 2006 2:19 PM

I agree wiht the poster who dislikes this building. Why did it take so many years for it to go up?
I'm not a construction guru, but it looked like a crappy job to me. . .

Posted by: tripster at May 4, 2006 3:39 PM

this building was built by Dolly (what's her name)"s company, friend of Markowitz,, Ratner and part owner of the Nets. I guess she was allowed to get away with alot (using scab labor, cheap materials) because of her connections.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 4, 2006 4:14 PM

What I don't like about the condo development is the sketchy construction workers who catcall women all the time and stare into the neighbors' windows.

The illegal parking that they have roped off is annoying too.

Posted by: anon at May 4, 2006 5:21 PM

No Bob, the plane fell neatly straight down on one corner and didn't harm anything else ;-)

Posted by: Anonymous at May 4, 2006 6:47 PM

That was very thoughtful :-)

Actually, I recall reading that the pilot was trying to crash land in the Prospect Park Long Meadow to avoid killing people on the ground, but was unable to make it.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 4, 2006 9:57 PM

Even if you don't like the building or the details, it could be worse. I give the owner / builder credit for adding exterior decorative details. The building is a vast improvement over the weedy and garbage strewn lot with a collapsing chain link fence that was that corner for over twenty years.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 5, 2006 7:23 AM

That half of that Sterling block isn't like the rest of the neighborhood. mostly new construction anyway, so these two buildings blend old and new together just fine. It could have been constructed with higher quality bricks and better windows, but it could be much worse.

Posted by: anon at May 5, 2006 10:49 AM

The plane crash WAS on both sides of the street.

If you look at the lighter-colored brick building (or is it the 2nd building) west of the new one pictured above, you can see the newer brickwork where half of the top floor was sheared off. (You can't clearly see what I'm talking about in the picture above though.)

Posted by: steveo at December 22, 2006 1:09 PM

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May 4, 2006

A Closer Look at Sterling Place Development

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