Was Happenin' on Nevins?

but when will it ever actually be done? i've lived around the corner for three years and it seems like the scaffolding has been up since i moved in...

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 1:23 PM

like 2 years ago... i tried to contact the weird reclusive owner to see if i could buy it ( he lives like 2 blocks away in a dilapidated brownstone)

very strange.

his house had the roof caving in... and a blue tarp keeping the rain out.

but he never got back to me

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 1:23 PM

yeah, it would be great to know what architect is in charge.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 1:29 PM

The architect has posted on this site before. Maybe if we wait he will post again.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 2:36 PM

I walk by this place a few times a week. The eternal scaffolding does not look very stable, and the building appears to be giving into gravity more & more as the weeks go by.

I have seen workers in there excavating a few times, but only during odd hours of the night. From what I could see walking by, the inside looked positively 3rd world - a big muddy pit being dug out by a few guys with hand tools.

It may be made with environmentally responsible materials, but those good intentions do not seem to apply to the working conditions.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 2:52 PM

I have lived on Pacific for 4 years, seen the scaffolding collapse 3 times and wonder if the project will ever get done. I always thought it was very odd that the person who owns the building didn't want to do something with it. I'll be glad when (if ever) it gets done - I'm tired of crossing the street to avoid the rickety scaffolding.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 3:49 PM

The developer posted this e-mail on the Boerum Hill Network last October. Doesn't seem like much has happened since then.

"For anyone who has wondered what is going on with the scaffold enclosed building on the corner of Nevins and Pacific: R & E Brooklyn purchased the building last week. Demolition on the interior is under way as of yesterday. The buildings dept. approved demo plans and we expect it to approve construction plans soon. The Boerum Hill Association and other neighbors and community members have seen plans and have been supportive and helpful: thank you.

For those of you who may be interested in more details on the project, here goes:

The plan for the building is to preserve and strengthen the façade while building up an additional two stories. The building will be converted into two side by side condominium residences with a common wall on Nevins. One residence - 93 Nevins - will have its entrance on Nevins Street and the other - 453 Pacific - will have its entrance on Pacific Street. The existing brick façade will be preserved but new parts of the building will have a more modern, clean, streamlined design. The project's architects, spearheaded by Fort Greene’s Tony Daniels, are known for their expertise in green design and architecture and the building will be very energy efficient and incorporate the use of local, sustainably produced and salvaged materials (bluestone terraces, salvaged refinished flooring, counters incorporating use of recycled glass, etc). Photovoltaic panels on the roof deck will produce much of the building's electricity and hot water.

R & E Brooklyn is a Boerum Hill based development company started a few years ago by Rolf Grimsted and me. Other projects we've developed or are now working on include 514 Atlantic, 582 and 584 Pacific Street.

Finally...we've been talking with the owners of the adjoining buildings and it's important to us to be able to respond to concerns, questions, etc re the demolition and subsequent construction of the building. Please feel free to email me with any concerns, questions, etc.

Emily Fisher

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Emily L. Fisher

R & E Brooklyn, Inc

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 4:53 PM

This may be a first. A developer who actually cares about asking what his neighbors think? Now if only Henry Radusky and Robert Scarano worked for R & E Brooklyn Inc.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 7:57 PM

I live right across the street and I am sooo excited about this development. the developer rocks! (the other day he bailed me out when I did not have enough money for my sandwich ...... now you know who I am!). And Iro, you are right what can we do about nevins-I take the same walk to the train every day. The block between Livinston and Schermerhorn is especially bad. What is up with that dilapitated building with the tarp on the facade? Is that even legal? I think about it every day.....

Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2006 9:43 PM

The developers have owned the property for 8 months during which they worked with a contractor to stabilize the facade and remove the debris.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 2, 2006 4:15 AM