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October 26, 2006

Habitat for Humanity on Halsey

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Habitat for Humanity is developing this corner at Halsey Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard into homes for nine families. The townhouse-style residences are being built in compliance with EnergyStar standards as part of Habitat-NYC’s Green Building program. From the rendering on the group's website, we think the design certainly looks a cut above most of the new buildings in the area, though it is unfortunate that the facades will not align with the existing brownstones on the block. What a waste. Is this to accommodate front-yard parking, do you think?
Current Projects [Habitat for Humanity] GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:03 AM | Comments (23)
Categories: Development

Comments

You amaze me. These are homes being built by a charitable organization using volunteer labor, designated for low-income/homeless (I am not certain of which) people. It is doubtful that Habitat has the funding or means to make brownstone replicas just to satisfy some niche-aesthetic. I think that there will be many people thrilled to have these houses, and if you want to see that they are fit into the existing architectural context perhaps you can raise funds and find an architect to make sure it happens.

Posted by: punko at October 26, 2006 10:25 AM

that would be my first assumption, but it sure doesn't look like front parking in the rendering. are some properties able to get around the parking rule? it would have been nice if they had put the parking in the back and pushed the houses up to join the existing ones. otherwise, the rendering looks pretty good.

Posted by: Jimmy Legs at October 26, 2006 10:28 AM

is this an example of bricolage (brick-collage) done fairly well. Hopefully it will be executed much better than the beaut on fulton.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 10:34 AM

not for nothing, good design costs the same as bad design. A good architect can work around any parameter. In this case, I'm guessing the parameter that is keeping the roof line at the lower elevation is an ADA and H4H requirement that the ground floor apartments are roll in/barrier free spaces.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 10:53 AM

Brownstoner wasn't suggesting that the brownstone facades should be replicated - just that it's too bad that they don't line up with the existing buildings. It makes for a more cohesive street-scape, in my opinion.

These look a lot better than I had feared they might look. At least they actually plan on having low walls and plantings. Too many new corner properties are surrounded by a sea of concrete sidewalks.

Posted by: HC at October 26, 2006 11:08 AM

Habitat For Humanity is one of my favorite charitable organizations. I find them very admirable and worthy of support. I like that you can be a physical part of helping people out, and that the recipients also are helping themselves while being helped in turn.

Not a bad group of buildings. Considering they rely heavily on donated materials, I can see why they might use a bricolage approach. The behemoth on Fulton Street used whatever they had laying around because the developer was cheap. Big difference.

Is ANY new construction - good, bad or otherwise, built up to the lines of pre-existing construction? I can't remember seeing any. Whose bright idea in city planning was that?

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at October 26, 2006 11:10 AM

I think the earlier comment explains why many of these new bldgs don't line up - so they can conform to ADA and other bldg regs to make more accessible.
So don't be so quick with the criticism
such as 'in whose bright idea in city planning was that'.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 11:31 AM

I'm sure that the families who wind up living in these homes will be happy to have a roof over their heads. Pontificating about the design is a luxury of the haves.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 11:34 AM

Hey, 11:31, I just asked a question. The poster who mentioned the ADA regs said "guess". If that's it, fine. You don't have to be such a pissy jerk about it.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at October 26, 2006 11:44 AM

I was told by representatives of Habitat for Humanity that parking will be in the rear - not in front. The aprtments will be condos under affordable housing criteria. They certainly look a lot nicer than most of the new construction I have seen around Brooklyn.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 12:08 PM

This development is nice! Too bad they didn't make that East New York low income housing you profiled the other day look like this.

Posted by: New2Brooklyn at October 26, 2006 12:19 PM

I actually think that the set back with the perimeter wall and plantings (hopefully trees) look fine - and once the trees are established, it will look quite nice.

Posted by: lp at October 26, 2006 12:45 PM

'Pontificating about design' should NOT be the exclusive right of the 'haves.' This arrogantly presumes that the 'have-nots' are entitled to nothing but crap design. Some of the coolest bldgs in Brooklyn (Astral Apts come to mind) were designed originally as 'workingman's housing.' I'm not saying that in-fill housing in poor nabes has to be dripping with killer detail, but why should it be presumed that poor folks don't merit good basic design (from a functional as well as an esthetic standpoint) as the rest of us? What's interesting is the apparent anti-elitist posturing of these commentators, when their message boils down to: "You're poor--be grateful for whatever you get." Odd.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at October 26, 2006 1:40 PM

On what basis are the homes awarded? Do they go to middle-income residents? Low-income residents?

Posted by: Jeff at October 26, 2006 1:46 PM

I have seen new buildings that line up with the old ones - they are usually a single lot between two buldings though. From what I hear it requires a waiver of current requirements to do it - more work than it's worth for many.

Luckily, it look like there is only one gate in front that would be large enough for a car. I wonder if that will stay that way?

About alternatives for the "off-street parking" requirement, there's a group of newish townhomes on the corner of Bainbridge and Lewis which has parking access from the side. Each townhouse has a garage on the bottom level back of the houses with outdoor spaces above the garages. Some loss of backyard space, but much better looking from the street IMO.

Posted by: HC at October 26, 2006 1:49 PM

This building looks great. What's the prob?

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 3:40 PM

Brenda,

Your logic is beyond faulty. If I said that poor people should be grateful for what they get, kindly quote directly from my post to prove your assertion. Otherwise, you are guilty of fabrication.

Believe it or not, some people are happy just to have a roof over their heads and couldn't care less about design. When a person has been homeless or living in substandard housing for several years, believe me, they aren't going to scrutinize the aesthetics of these buildings. That, dear, is a luxury of the upper class and should not be confused with declaring that poor people deserve inferior housing. I'm sure that even you can comprehend that.

So, to clarify: Poor people DO deserve high-quality housing and I think that these buildings will qualify nicely.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 3:47 PM

Thank you for your interest in Habitat for Humanity - New York City's Halsey Street homes.

We invite you to visit our website, www.habitatnyc.org, to learn more about our programs. And please feel free to stop by the site or call us with questions.

This project will provide nine affordable condos for Brooklyn families in need.

Our future homeowners must meet income criteria and a number of additional qualifications--including being willing to help build their homes. Our website gives you a full picture of the criteria.

We care deeply about providing homes that are not just affordable--but comfortable and high-quality as well.

The Halsey homes are being built to green standards, with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient methods.

Those unusual-looking white objects currently rising on the site are Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), which will form the exterior walls. This is a strong and energy-efficient material--familiar to the rest of the nation, but new to New York City.

We will be discussing the project soon at a Community Board 2 meeting (date TBA). Please come by if you'd like to learn more about these homes.

Posted by: Habitat-NYC at October 26, 2006 4:01 PM

Rock on, Habitat NYC!

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 9:27 PM

I believe Habitat meant to invite us all to a Community Board #3 not #2 meeting. CB3 meets has jurisdiction over Bedford-Stuyvesant and they meet on the 1st Monday of the month at Restoration (1360 Fulton Street).

Appreciate the comments on the look of the buildings and their aesthetic fit for the nabe. Too much of new construction is crap. Habitat has taken the lead in providing ownership-based housing and green buildings. It would be great to see them show developers how to incorporate good design standards as well. Come on Habitat. Let's align these structures with their neighbors.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 26, 2006 10:03 PM

Brownstoners,

Thank you for your interest in our Halsey Street homes.

One small correction: Our upcoming presentation will be with Board 2, not 3 (we've had many meetings with Board 3 and other Bed-Stuy community groups).

Board 2 has invited us to present on our work Brooklynwide, including the Halsey homes. Date still TBA.

Posted by: Habitat-NYC at October 27, 2006 11:04 AM

I bet Habitat for Humanity would have been a great developer for the AY project! :-)

Have to admit to feeling whether or not the buildings are set back doesn't seem as important as the fact that they are not only getting built, but they look good too. Many streets have blocks of homes with different setbacks- I live on one- and to me it is visually interesting. A different aesthetic than a block where all the houses have the same setbacks. I like both. HFH cares about what they do, and about how good housing positively impacts residents. If they can build this type of quality housing, give me one good reason why Scarano, Boymelgreen, Ratner and their ilk can't. If anyone shows contempt for their market, its those developers.

Posted by: Bx2Bklyn at October 27, 2006 11:27 AM

I was thinking exactly the same thing - HFH should have been given the AY development!

And if all those proponents of the AY development actually DID care mostly about construction jobs, and affordable housing, they would have encouraged HFH to be the developer and NOT Ratner. Proof positive all the posts supporting Ratner are plants and phony baloney.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 27, 2006 12:51 PM

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