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May 23, 2006
Progress at 53 Bridge Street?
We're curious to know what people have heard about the loft conversion at 53 Bridge Street. All we've been able to dig up is that Scarano is the architect. We suspect it's come up before on the site but can't find any reference. Despite the light and views from the five-story addition, we'd prefer an apartment in the original building. We hope they're keeping the old beams and brickwork exposed. UPDATE: This is owned and being developer by developer-non-grata Joshua Guttman of Greenpoint Terminal Market fame. Caveat Emptor. GMAP
Comments
The building is owned by Joshua Guttman. Sad because I doubt it will get the restoration it needs. I wouldn't go near a Guttman building if you paid me, his track record for quality is about ZERO.
Posted by: Chris Pensiero at May 23, 2006 12:33 PM
On the Water street side of this building is a pile of metal drums and plastic jugs filled with what looks to be paint thinner and varnish and other questionable materials. Above this mess and taped onto the building is a handwritten note that says something on the order of "hey Guttman -- get rid of this hazardous waste or else the police and the city are going to get a phone call." What I wonder is why didn't the concerned citizen just call? From all reports, Guttman sounds like the type to snicker at such idle threats.
Posted by: Rascal at May 23, 2006 1:06 PM
Based on experience with his 5-year (and counting)"renovation" of 50 Bridge, which has occurred entirely without permits (at least visible ones), calls to the City about his transgressions are ignored. I can only hope that his newly acquired notoriety might increase the City's responsiveness to such calls.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 23, 2006 2:29 PM
jugs of paint thinner and varnish? can you accelerants...
Posted by: Anonymous at May 23, 2006 2:34 PM
I don't know anything about the renovations inside this building. I can tell you, however, that from Feb.'05-May '05 approx. folks in the neighborhood were able to complain so much about the lack of permits, working on the weekends, etc., that there was a stop work order. After that, Guttman was able to finagle the system to continue work on it. I'll report back every now and then as you highlight the building.
Posted by: gidget at May 23, 2006 8:57 PM
Every day I see trucks carting off huge dumpsters of building debris. It looks as if they are digging a deeper basement. The facade has not changed.
Posted by: JK at May 25, 2006 3:00 PM
Also, this is supposedly going to be commercial space, as Guttman's rezoning application for residential was turned down. My bet is on a lot of illegal "commercial" tenants.
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=4664
Posted by: Anonymous at May 25, 2006 4:43 PM
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