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October 31, 2006
Development Watch: Preview of 639 6th Avenue
A reader dug up this rendering of a six-story residential building slated to rise at 639 6th Avenue. Interestingly, this was one of the South Slope projects that community activists tried to stop; in the end, developer David Angel was able to win over the BSA to his hardship argument. One thing not included in the promotional shot above: The bountiful views of the BQE.
Residential Projects: 6 on 6th [daSilva Architects] GMAP
Comments
cool looking building
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 11:16 AM
Views of the Gowanus, BQE and the abutting Prospext Xpwy but it probably has NYC views and the harbor and lady liberty.
The rendering looks OK. A bit Euro, but a nice addition to the block (given that the new zoning won't allow the rest of the block to follow suit). What I don't get is what the dark wall thingy on the top level is.
Posted by: greenwood slope at October 31, 2006 11:53 AM
Funny, "Euro" is the first thing that we thought too. Looks like it belongs on the fringe of Munich or Paris.
Posted by: brownstoner at October 31, 2006 12:06 PM
But talk about out of context!
Posted by: Park Sloper at October 31, 2006 1:42 PM
I have to admit I like this mock-up. Yeah, the project shouldn't have gone forward but at least it's not 9 storeys tall, and it least it looks like someone with talent is involved. That said, I feel for the people who own a house on the same block.
This area of 6th ave is revitalizing itself quite nicely - there are somewhat new restaurants (kitchen bar and bar-bq) about 3 blocks south on 6th, and others on the way. There is also new stuff happening nearby on 5th ave.
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 1:42 PM
My first impression was the same: it looks European, I agree this reminds me of the fringe of Paris, Dublin, etc. We could argue wether or not this should have been built there, but at least it looks nice, nicer than most of what is built in Brooklyn these days. Not only the Fedders houses, but also most of the new "luxury" buildings in NYC are ugly, or boring at best. This city is 20 years behind Europe and most major cities in the world for current architecture. What a shame.
Posted by: anonymous at October 31, 2006 3:10 PM
depending on your opinion, couldn't south slope be considered fringe?
Posted by: tuesday at October 31, 2006 3:39 PM
south slope is fringe in a very good way.
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 4:00 PM
south slope is fringe in a very good way.
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 4:00 PM
At that point I don't think you'll be able to see the harbor at all. The highway is pretty much at it's highest point there and the docks are just beyond it. Not to mention the Home Depot. It's possible the top floor will be able to see it but I'd be surprised. Definitely from the roof.
Posted by: cobblestoner at October 31, 2006 4:10 PM
Hopefully, a fireball will come down from the sky and incinerate all those disgusting wood framed houses in the south slope. The south slope should be twice the density of the north slope at minimum - and that will take some serious demolitin.
May the gods help us.
Posted by: Eryximachus at October 31, 2006 4:50 PM
hey, i live in the hood - you can see great harbor views from the bridge on 6th avenue that crosses the Propspect Expy, so the top 3 apartments should have killer views.
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 4:53 PM
Eryximachus, who are you? scarano or locicero?
Posted by: Anonymous at October 31, 2006 4:55 PM
Looks like some of the buildings in Setagaya, Tokyo
Posted by: rocco at October 31, 2006 5:11 PM
I love it --when is it going up?!
Posted by: west at October 31, 2006 5:28 PM
Regardless of whether you like the building or not, style or not, 6th on 6th is a bunch of BS from the BSA...the developer misrepresented himself in court (gee, big surprise!).
He and his talented attorney (and I mean that in all seriousness, she won the case on a shoe string of hope) basically portrayed Mr. Angel "as a poor country bumpkin" who was to suffer "terrible hardship" due to his mistakes of hiring a BS contractor who accruing tons of SWO's, DOB/ECB violations for unsafe work (basically getting shut down for months) and the architect and engineer almost walking off the job. Boo-hoo. Can't make enough profit under the new zoning, thus the BSA approved the variance based on hardship...regardless of the fact he only had less the 20% of the foundation in prior to the rezoning. Money talks, and BS at the BSA definitely did not walk.
Guess what, he one. Kudos. Here's another, the country bumpkin has a 20+ unit in progress (for the PAST 2 YEARS) on 16th St. in the South Slope. Riddled with violations and stop & start construction. And wait, if we wiggle through the Developers Group site, we see Mr. Angel has a 12 story condo up in Chelsea, name The Slate Condos.
Some country bumpkin. Turns out Mr. Angle sound a very lucrative real estate management biz in Portland, OR before selling and descending on Brooklyn.
Listen, everyone is entitled to make a buck, but here again we see developers get away with dangerous work conditions (on 2 of his 3 sites), by pass the law and misrepresent themselves in front a city tribunal (the BSA). Felony anyone?
Only if you get caught. "6th on 6th Condos," welcome to the 'hood. Enjoy your great view of the Expressway! The car exhaust alone will keep those lovely terraces vacant, despite the the view.
Hey Eryximachus, please do us all a favor, STFU and leave the nabe alone. Let's all agree to understand that you feel our nabe should be fire bombed. No need to waste anyone's time with your one-sided, myopic, unconstructive (pun intended) rhetoric.
But here's a question, where's your next target?
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 31, 2006 6:30 PM
Eryximachus is a troll, don't waste your time with him.
I found some interior renderings here:
http://www.newyork-architects.com/index.php?seite=ny_profile_architekten_detail_us&system_id=10737
Posted by: anonymous at October 31, 2006 6:36 PM
Anon 6:36pm
I agree. He's just looking for a rise outta some of us folks...but he hits my buttons sometimes. Enuff said.
Funny thing is, after battling this development for close to a year at the BSA, I do agree that it's a nice looking building, it just does not need to be 6 stories.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 31, 2006 6:52 PM
Oh, another thing...they talk about the lovely little NYC Park next door (to the left in the rendering, next to the expressway, ahem). Well, that "lovely little park" is going to be pretty barren after all the sycamore trees (some topping 40' in height) all die due to the 20+ deep basement and the major trim job of their branches needed to accommodate the building. So, there goes the contextual nature of the block AND the little amount of green space. Damn shame.
Here's to progress!
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 31, 2006 6:57 PM
AND, Happy Halloween (from a Cemeterian).
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at October 31, 2006 7:27 PM
It says Jaques Black AIA is one of the architects. I loved Nacho Libre.
Posted by: west at October 31, 2006 8:25 PM
Look "Erkle" or whatever you're calling yourself , lots of folks call the frame houses home, so cool it... most of the frame houses on my block are well- kept and quite charming.
Posted by: bren at July 9, 2007 10:32 AM
just realized these posts were posted in the Fall! oops! :) my sentiments still hold though!
Posted by: bren at July 9, 2007 10:37 AM
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