« Grenier Really Is Going Green Going, Going...Almost Gone on Newkirk »

November 14, 2006

525 Clinton Avenue Looking Good

development
We went to get a closer look at 525 Clinton Avenue this weekend and have to say we were positively surprised. Given the building's proximity to Atlantic Avenue, its fairly high ceiling heights and non-cookie-cutter design, we think it's potentially a big positive for Clinton Hill, which has yet to have an interesting, higher-end (which is what we can only assume this is) new residential building in the construction boom of the past several years. Assuming the market hasn't completely tanked by the time these are ready, we hope this will show developers that there is a market in Clinton Hill for something other than generic boxes.
Tower Rising at 525 Clinton Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP

Comments

I agree. Here's a link with a rendering of what it is supposed to look like. http://www.gepc.net/residential/residential.html

Posted by: lp at November 14, 2006 11:07 AM

omg - a tall building. Think of the shadows! at least for the neighboring block. what about our low-rise neighborhood?

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 11:14 AM

I love it! I think this is the first good tall building around us, I can actually see the last floor of it from my bedroom windows at the fourth floor of my brownstone, it looks nice already!

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 11:31 AM

So I guess this is a Meltzer Mendl Project too then. Yuck.

Posted by: anonymous at November 14, 2006 11:33 AM

a lot more than generic boxes have gone up in clinton hill in the last couple years.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 11:48 AM

brownstoner, you make a great point. hopefully this will serve notice to developers that clinton hill is indeed ready for major high end condo development. on another note, can you give us an update on the haps at the Fugly Tower on Classon and Fulton up the street from this project? i know that the developer is having a very difficult time moving the units, rightfully so. do you think that they are going to pull the condos and instead operate the building as a rental? any 411 would be helpful.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 12:18 PM

Ok, the tower does seem to be actually at least designed. But from the rendering and what I can see, through the plywood, the building completely fails to address the street. Why not continue the glassy design right down to the street. Instead, they have designed a stip mall with a glass tower perched, or looming, on top.

Posted by: Clinton Hillster at November 14, 2006 12:20 PM

In regard to the fugly building on CLasson and Fulton, maybe the community should join together and demand some changes to the sight. Like retail that meets the street.

I agree with CH, no matter what these tall buildings look like, they completely fail to address the street.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 12:24 PM

Now that we are having an addition of high end condos to this area of the hood is it somebody smart going to open some good stores on fulton or what? I think we are all waiting for it, so if you are out there come on! we will shop!

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 1:47 PM

Wait Brownstoner really like this monstrosity? You have change your website and now you are changing your attitude? Whats up with this.

Posted by: Gary at November 14, 2006 2:04 PM

are any of the anti-AY groups protesting not enough affordable housing in this lux bdlg?

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 2:06 PM

Anon 1:47, right on! I am wondering what I have to do to get some decent retail on Fulton!!! From Vanderbilt on East, it's pretty bad out there -- plenty of bad Chinese take out, fried chicken,99 cent stores, dusty bodegas with expired milk, rotten fruit, Associated with grey chicken etc. It's a desert out there! We need the following:

Shoemaker

Another drycleaner - tailor (NO not another laundrette)

Bakery

Bank

How bouot a little local movie theater?

Decent green grocer

butcher

Fish store

A decent restaurant

A decent Italian restaurant!

For us East Fort Greeners, West Clinton Hill people over toward Fulton, it is FUNKY out there. Food shopping is a car trip or Fresh Direct (getting seriously sick of that option). I can't believe it. Throw a rock and you hit a new condo (or condo developer) but try getting fresh chicken without getting into your car!!
Maybe we need to start some new businesses.

Posted by: donatella at November 14, 2006 4:32 PM

To the hungry shoppers of East Clinton Hill ... your time is arriving. The reason that you have not have had anything classy to date is because you have not had any reason for such shopping. I know, you are all going to say this is racist, oh well, the time has come for shopping that will meet the needs of the high end residential units coming. Hang in its a comin.

Posted by: anon at November 14, 2006 4:37 PM

What are you talking about 4:37 ????????
I have been poor and I have been better then that, in any case I always wanted to eat fresh quality food, maybe in those poor days I couldn't afford much but the little that I had was fresh, this is not a matter of expensive/classy.... is matter of been a human been educated about feeding yourself with good fresh ingredients and not with the junk that you buy around at every corner here. It's defenately going to change, and you know what we all be happy, I'll get the good stuff and you'll have a choice :-)

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 5:48 PM

Brava Donatella, un bel ristorante Italiano,
Ciao

Posted by: Anonymous at November 14, 2006 5:49 PM

Agree that Fulton needs a facelift (hey how about an unresearched and probably wrong article on the renovations of Fulton itself - anyone else notice eastbound is going to be closed for a while?). But don't forget - drycleaners on north side of Fulton at Washington (Kurt is as cute as a button, and foldks on the otherside stole a bunch of my shirts when I first moved in). Kush and Brown Betty near Grand and Fulton. Supermarket not that bad, and improving. I enjoy the pot pouri (sp?) of various ethnic foods. Outpost (horribly named, but pelasant enough in a Williamsburg-y gayboy sort of way). The West African spot at Fulton and St James has just renovated, and a couple mid-priced soulfoody fusion places opened up on Fulton as well. Sure it is not Dekalb, but nor is it that expensive. I think it is coming along.

Posted by: putnam-denizen at November 14, 2006 11:25 PM

Outpost is a double-entendre. It's called Outpost because it's off the beaten path and it's GAY. Duh.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 15, 2006 9:41 AM

I understand the double-entendre. I live around the corner. I think it is a nice addition to the neighborhood. I am also gay (and white). But I was also concerned about naming what at first seemed like a white establishment in a working class African American area "outpost." It has, er, a colonial ring to my ear. Duh?

Posted by: putnam-denizen at November 15, 2006 10:01 AM

I have been in the area for less than 2 years, but the old time neighborhood residents tell me that those goodies did exist over there when they grew up in the neighborhood. They had a bakery to go to to buy a cake when people had birthdays and a nice butcher. I am thinking of doing something; I don't know. I love my street, the neighborhood, my neighbors, all the kids (love all the playing in the streets with ball games and retrieving balls out of my backyard and the excitement of the games over at Brooklyn Tech High School football field-- it's great) but I can't take the ratty stores and lack of services. Can't sign in for some reason as myself today. - Donatella

Posted by: donatella at November 15, 2006 10:03 AM

Dear Putnam-Denizen,

You really are exaggerating, even fabricating the colonial ring. Go to Swilly's if you don't like it.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 15, 2006 10:09 AM

I am exagerating or fabricating? Uh, I am saying what my reaction was when Outpost opened - in the context of general praise for the place. A few other people I know had the same reaction. I personally thought it was a pretty obvious faux pas on the part of the owners. Obviously you don't have same reaction, and I know, because I asked them, it never even crossed to minds of the owners, who are very nice people. I guess it still bothers me enough to mention it. While I do spend some time at Tilly's (after dropping off my son at PS 20), I prefer Grand 275 at Lafayette. They are all nice places. Can we just be friends now?

Posted by: putnam-denizen at November 15, 2006 2:04 PM

Well, they're working hard on THAT building. After being away for a few days, we opened our living room curtain and voila - goodbye view. Sigh....

Posted by: Fela at November 16, 2006 3:17 PM

« Grenier Really Is Going Green Going, Going...Almost Gone on Newkirk »

November 14, 2006

525 Clinton Avenue Looking Good

Comments

Post a comment

Latest Restaurant Additions