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August 14, 2006
Inside the Belly of the Beast at 1067
Our man on the street made it to the open house at 1067 Fulton this weekend and sent in these pics. At first glance, to be honest, we didn't think these looked as bad as we had expected. The commentary sent in with the pics, however, suggests otherwise. "The bathrooms were relatively nice," he writes, "but most of the workmanship was shoddy, and in some apartments, the kitchen had an oven that was in the hallway. Weird." He also points out that the floors some of the living rooms were unlevel (look at how that corner ramps up to the door) and the finishes were "cheesy". Caveat Emptor.
The Shame of Fulton Hitting Market [Brownstoner]
Comments
You could start by flipping the positions of the stove and the sink. The ventilation hood mounted at the side? The stove in front of the window? Maybe a nice pair of velvet curtains might prevent cooking grease from condensing on that cold glass this winter.
Posted by: interior wreckorator at August 14, 2006 10:00 AM
I, too went to the open house. Words cannot begin to describe the shoddiness of this building, and photographs don't really capture its awfulness. The exposed sprinkler system, black iron pipes snaking through every poorly designed and poorly finished apartment, is only the tip of the iceberg.
Here on Brownstoner we all have our moments of mocking the modern interior in a period townhouse, or the the Home Depot reno embraced by a flipper. This is not that--it's truly criminal. These apartments are ugly and dangerous, and I have no doubt that the underlying construction is on par with what one sees on the surface.
As CHP and others have said on the previous thread, these apartments will likely be bought by unsophisticated buyers who will be totally screwed, using their life savings on a unit with limited resale value. It is also highly likely that this building, already a neighborhood blight, will become a taxpayer problem if it is occupied.
I encourage everyone to DO SOMETHING about this. I personally am going to write a letter to the DOB Commissioner with cc's to the Mayor, the Brooklyn DOB Commissioner and Tish James. I've included their addresses below so you may do the same. If you prefer, all of these folks/agencies have e-mail addresses (go to www.nyc.gov), so you can contact them that way as well.
It is very easy for those of us who are homeowners to sit back, nitpick, and look at this travesty as purely a real estate issue. But it's not. No one should be able to put this crap on the market. Please contact these officials and at least demand a full inspection. The addresses are below.
Patricia J. Lancaster
Commissioner, Dept. Of Buildings
280 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Magdi Mossad, P.E.
Brooklyn Borough Commissioner
Dept. of Buildings
210 Joralemon St., 8th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Council Member Letitia James
67 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Posted by: tinarina at August 14, 2006 10:52 AM
Thanks for the names and addresses, Tinarina. I'm going to write, and put my money where my mouth is. If we sit back and just complain amongst ourselves, we do nothing.
Caveat Emptor indeed.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at August 14, 2006 11:07 AM
I live in a New Start LLC apartment in Red Hook (renting the owner's duplex)and I must say, when I first came to see it, I was shocked at the poor quality of the construction. To this day, I am still scraping off paint from the cabinets and marveling at the awkward layout. I pity the people who bought these 3-families off of spec sheets. Although it is a pretty good investment considering that they are all pretty much rented at market value and some, above.
What I do like is the fact that I get a 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex with a balcony, terrace and roofdeck, nice views, hardwood floors, nice bathrooms, a private parking space and a lot of light and closet space. I just would not want to deal with the inevitable headaches that ownership would induce. After I painted and added my furnishings, it is aesthetically pleasing and people are generally impressed with my apartment.
I just moved here in June from that exact corner in Clinton Hill and watched the entire building going up. The architecture is blasphemous, but I can't help but think that these will sell. Can they issue a stop work order for being just utterly heinous? They should...
One lousy project after another. New Start should be developing primarily low income housing in areas such as Brownsville and East New York. And they should be far superior from a construction standpoint.
Does anyone know if these are income restricted? Who is handling the sales and marketing of this development? If it's anything like the Red Hook property, it will be an open listing...
Posted by: Paul at August 14, 2006 11:51 AM
Would add that if this place is condo - New York State Attorney General's office is one that approves prospectus and all. If feel building has real problems ...meaning not just ugly...
could be worth contacting them also.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 12:03 PM
Good suggestion, anon 12:03. It is indeed a condo. Here is Spitzer's NYC address:
Attorney General Elliot Spitzer
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
Posted by: tinarina at August 14, 2006 12:36 PM
I love the way the rangehood is placed to the left side of the stove. And exactly how are you supposed to reach the cabinet above the rangehood?
Priceless.
Posted by: petebklyn at August 14, 2006 12:46 PM
Check out nyc.gov dept of bldgs site for long list of (open)violations at this address- including lacking permits, plans, ignoring stop work orders, etc. Amazing this building is to this point. .
Most disturbing violation I saw-->
Description of Violation:
DANGEROUS BLDGS, PLACES, AND THINGS. UPON INSP. 6 STORY BLD AT THIS TI
ME IS PLACED ON PORTION OF OLD BRICK FOUNDATION WALL AND ON NEW BLOCK
WALL, NO APPROVED PLANS ON SITE FOR INSPECTION. REMEDY: STOP ALL WORK-
---Old brick foundation and block foundation (not poured concrete) for a 6 story building?
Posted by: petebklyn at August 14, 2006 1:27 PM
if you have a window in your kitchen, why not put the sink under the window?
i prefer full-overlay doors on cabinets, but now i'm just piling on...
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:27 PM
I went to the first marketing event in late winter when the building was still in mid-construction. I was not impressed then with the horrible layout of the apartments (sharp angles that creates dead spaces) and small bedrooms (two of the bedrooms = 1 decent bedroom). Beyond that, the salespersons were less than kind, giving us 5 minutes to look at the apartments and then insisting that we leave after that time. So I am not surprised to hear that the finished product is far from pleasing.
On the comment by Paul that New Start should be developing low-income housing in East New York and Brownsville instead of Clinton Hill, I disagree. No one diserves to live in crappy housing, rich, middle-class or poor.
Posted by: Suzanne at August 14, 2006 1:36 PM
The building started out being a Alt #3 renovation to an existing building but they demo-ed more than 90% of the old building. They should have taken out a 'New Building' permit. I don't think they have a Cof O yet..maybe a temp. Spitzer will not do anything. D o B has already done their part in issuing violations. Why is the ECB not following through on the DoB complaints? This building is built and at most will have a punch list of remedial corrections to do before occupancy. Otherwise this baby is born and it's way to late to abort. Ladies and gentelman...May I present Brooklyn's version of the Elephant Man!
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:44 PM
Don't they have a regulation as to the way a stove and hood get set up? Stupidest kitchen layout I've ever seen. I can't believe they can atually sell units in view of that stop work order.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 1:54 PM
"On the comment by Paul that New Start should be developing low-income housing in East New York and Brownsville instead of Clinton Hill, I disagree. No one diserves to live in crappy housing, rich, middle-class or poor."
Amen to that.
Those of us better off often look at the housing for the poor and complain about why can't they keep up their apartments, and why do their buildings always look so ratty on the outside. Well, here's a perfect example of why, substandard materials and construction, and layouts that make no sense. Granted, personal habits and responsibility also greatly contribute to conditions, but I defy anyone to be able to keep an apartment or even a building together if it's built anything like this one. How can you be proud of your surroundings when it is obvious that the company that built your building holds you in little regard and maximum contempt.
That kitchen is an insult to any potential buyer, and I hope those potential buyers give the management a piece of their mind, as they storm out of the building.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at August 14, 2006 1:59 PM
Everything that should be said has been said. All I can add is this place is an absolute disgrace and I hope no one invests their hard earned $$. I also plan to write New Start LLC a letter.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 2:51 PM
HPD should probabaly also be notified since they also post these affordable housing listings. I am absolutely appauled!
Posted by: Anonymous at August 14, 2006 2:55 PM
Re: Low income housing in Brownsville. Note, I added "And they should be far superior from a construction standpoint."
Posted by: Paul at August 14, 2006 3:08 PM
Noted, Paul. Thanks. I wholeheartedly agree.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at August 14, 2006 4:10 PM
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