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January 23, 2007
Squeezing In at 179 Monroe Street
On this fairly modest stretch of Monroe Street, a five-story Karl Fischer-designed building is rising, wedged in between a pair of vinyl-clad two-story houses. (Pictured above is the similar house that used to sit on this lot.) It's hard to argue with the fact that the scale of the building looks pretty ridiculous (then again, the building to the far right is the same height, so maybe we should be saying the small houses look ridiculous!); on the other hand, we're tempted to give kudos to any developer doing anything better than a Fedders special in this neighborhood. What think ye? GMAP P*Shark DOB
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Comments
Brooklyn is changing (way too fast) I don't personaly care for these new structures and have lucky found a house in a landmarked nabe so I won't have to deal with the possibility of that kind of structure being built next door to us. I will miss the character of the neighborhoods being so brazenly "gentrified" and would love to be a part of at least slowing their progress. IMHO That particular bldg look absurd next to the smaller ones even with another one like it on the same block.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 10:48 AM
I wouldn't necessarily characterize this building as the epitome of gentrification, rather a quick buck venture by a developer.
Posted by: lp at January 23, 2007 11:05 AM
mr. b...don't you see the cutouts for the fedders sitting there waiting to show their true colors?
Posted by: anon at January 23, 2007 11:14 AM
what are the cross streets? i rather like the way it looks, but will have to see what the finishing materials are.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 11:14 AM
sing it with me folks--better than an empty lot!
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 11:57 AM
yea you guys are right, that building looks ridiculous next to those vinyl architectural marvels. The year is 2007, when are people gonna give up the nostalgia of the boring Americana A frame house with no regard for design? Visit a city like Vancouver and you will see they are way ahead of us. This is NYC we are supposed to be ahead of the curve.
Posted by: ANON at January 23, 2007 12:50 PM
Seeing as I grew up in the house, seeing what it will become sincerely breaks my heart. And the picture is not similar, it is my grandparent's house.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 1:26 PM
Ahhh Vancouver
Are there any state of the art design rich fedders buildings up there?
If so Vancouver or bust!
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 1:58 PM
personal sentimental value is something different, but it can't be that strong, if you, or they sold it.
Posted by: ANON at January 23, 2007 2:10 PM
Off topic re: Vancouver. I visited there recently and was actually shocked at how extensive the skid row is. Block after block after block of the center city has been given over to an open air drug market. Just a few blocks from expensive condo towers. Overall, I was unimpressed with this city. Beautiful setting, but that's it. Everywhere I went I had the odd feeling that I was a few blocks away from something that might have been interesting, but I never found it.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 2:21 PM
As far as Vancouver, your right, there is a large portion of shady areas right outside the high end condo areas. Probably the future of whats going on in NY, building new condos....pushing out the poor. Anyway as far as buildings and planning goes, they have a good mix of outdoor space incorporated into the condos, townhouses, high rises etc, plus they utilize the waterfront very well.
Posted by: ANON at January 23, 2007 2:33 PM
ANON: You actually can't speak to how strong or deep my sentimental value because the monetary element wasn't there. Seeing this has hit me harder than you or anyone else will ever know. I've been on this site before and seen things and it's just another building, but for me, this is my house and unfortunately, my family didn't have the means to keep it.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 3:27 PM
People, Brooklyn has 2.3 million people, more than 14 states based and not much less than a handful more.
Nestalgia by neurotic people obsessed with crap is not an ethical reason for the impeding of progress. Brooklyn has almost the same number of housing units that it did 50 years ago but about an extra million more people.
Why, oh why, do these crap homes inspire this fanatical selfishness?
The whole block should be bulldozed and a 40-story highrise should be erected on that spot!
Posted by: Eryximachus at January 23, 2007 4:53 PM
Guys.
What the F__K are you talking about. Finally some decent developer is building something of true qaulity and vision. This neighborhood needs that. Go look who is the population who lives in Bedsty today.
Posted by: Chen at January 23, 2007 5:01 PM
"Go look who is the population who lives in Bedsty today."
What do you mean by that 5:01? I am a very successful professional who owns a gorgeous house on the border of Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy. I love the neighborhood because of it's diversity. There are students, artists, yuppies, long-time residents, rich, poor black, white etc. etc. What are you saying?
Posted by: anon at January 23, 2007 5:14 PM
I meant the diversification. It wasn't like that 5 years ago. I don't like developers, but sometimes you have to say a good word. What would you rather have another 2 family house? A "Karl fischer building in bedsty". That's amazing for us. (By the why I live on gates)
Posted by: Chen at January 23, 2007 5:22 PM
to 11:14 AM.
These are not fedders holes -
This is P-teck hitting.
Go learn some design before you jump to conclusions.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 6:11 PM
I don't undrstand what's the intent of this debate.
Any place here, you can see developments some nicer than other. Here we see a developer that decided to built a housing for specific target market. I assume that he blieves that there are enogh buyers who like his project. If he compile with the code and regulation why should we say what is wrong or right. I thought we live in a democracym you don't like it don't buy it. Personaly i think it's a nice building. Look at the light that comes to the apartmentsn and who knows what's the view from the top apartment.
Posted by: Andrea at January 23, 2007 7:16 PM
I own a new 3 family Fedders (or rather Friedrich) house 3 doors down and I am happy about this project. The house it replaces was a dilapidated vinyl sided eyesore. I do wish the contractors put a little more thought into aesthetics of some of the new homes, but I'm still pleased when I see new contruction. We can't save every old building. My Friedrich is relatively nice.
Posted by: Mark at January 23, 2007 8:14 PM
Lets get to the heart of the matter. That pesky audit REVOKE pending on the filing. Amazingly it is not even a Robert Scarano job. Although it looks like Mr Fisher has run out of ideas and has lifted Scaranos plan. How do you spell interlectural property?
Posted by: The Shadow at January 23, 2007 9:22 PM
Shadow,
It's interesting - It doesn't look much as Scarano.
I live in Greenpoint and few blocks from my house at Meserole street there is a house by Fisher that seems very similar to this one.
I don't see here Mezanine flors, and
I don't see here Staco.
Posted by: Dilip at January 23, 2007 9:48 PM
My sympathy to the person who grew up in the original house. I can imagine how painful it must be to see your former home replaced by that atrocity. It is a shame that the character of so many Brooklyn neighborhoods is being ruined by these trashy building and money grubbing is at the bottom of it.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 23, 2007 10:22 PM
My sympathy is to you anon 10:22 of how you think.
Mr.B showed us a photo of the old house that seems like a cow house and say it's a shame?
I have sympathy for the person that grew up in this house, however once they sold the house it's over.
Perhaps you should go travel a bit in the area and not in Dumbo therefore you'll see the character of these neighborhoods.
This property would defiantly improve this block
Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2007 12:36 AM
Will the zoning show it is approvable?
Posted by: shadow at January 24, 2007 9:54 AM
There only 3 units left in this amazing building. As construction nears an end people are getting a better sense of how nice the units are and what a great deal they're getting! Please call me if you'd like to see the inside of this wonderful building. They'll all be sold soon! 917-488-0422
Posted by: Judah Domke at July 7, 2007 11:48 AM
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