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March 9, 2007

Development Watch: 431 Warren Street

431warren030607.jpg
We stumbled across yet another Scarano project last week, this one at 431 Warren Street between Bond and Nevins. This is slated to be a 14-unit, 20,000-square-foot residential building whose greatest hurdle is going to be the proximity to the Wyckoff Gowanus Houses across the street. This was self-certified by the man himself back in '05. It doesn't appear to be have the ceiling heights to accommodate mezzanines. GMAP P*Shark DOB




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:01 AM | Comments (18)
Categories: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, Development, Real Estate

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Comments

Its not just the proximity to the Gowanus houses that will make this a challenging sale, but its also located on what Boerum Hill locals call " the crack block," where prices of homes and condos are priced less than similar properties one block away. Additioinally, this development is right next door to The Vargas Market, which is so shady. Its known to have a numbers racket running out of that spot, and there are always at least two sketchy characters hanging out in front of this place.

The NY Daily News ran a story a while back on this block and its problems compared to the rest of the newly tonified Boreum Hill.

Oh yeah, I'm first!

Posted by: Boerum Hillsider at March 9, 2007 11:16 AM

This is across from Gowanus Houses not Wyckoff(gardens).
How'd you miss the Scarano on Warren between Smith and Hoyt (which does have the ceiling/mezz height) and much closer to completion?
Not sure what it means -self-certify in 2005 when I don't think construction of this one commenced back then.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 11:18 AM

That specific area is simply not anywhere near safe. No amount of new housing is going to change that any time soon. I lived 1 block up and 2 blocks over from these projects for 4 yrs ... there was even a shooting at the MET foods on Smith St a few months back. Anyway .... bring on the ugly where ever you dare build.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 11:40 AM

whoa. the projects are a real problem, and i wouldn't want to live next to them. but i have lived less than a block away from them for three years and haven't had any problems. could there be? sure. and since the projects aren't going to get gentrified, you can't simply buy in the brownstoner crowd fixes the problem with tasteful renos down the line. but do get a grip - the incident at the met involved the cops shooting a crazy guy. that's upsetting, but could happen anywhere. and as it turns out said crazy guy was from red hook.

Posted by: anon at March 9, 2007 11:56 AM

FYI, for what it's worth, the assailant was mentally distrubed and from Red Hook.

I remeber when I first moved to Carroll Gardens in mid 1994. Within the first month a Deli owner (deli on the corner of Degraw and Henry) was killed by a shotgun blast during a robbery and someone was shot execution style while sitting on a bench in Carroll Park.

That's a long way of saying that these neighborhhods (Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill etc. are all much safer than they used to be and all pretty much in the safe category.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 12:11 PM

I went to the Scarano Web site, and couldn't figure out which one is the said development on Warren between Smith and Hoyt. A little help here?

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 1:41 PM

I have lived near the projects for almost 10 years now. Its not Mayberry perfect, but things have improved considerably in the last 5 years. I see more police on foot in and around the area, and occasionally a squad car stationed at strategic intersections. The crack block has been under intense scrutiny and the complaints of the residents (and resulting bad press) seems to have had an impact on police surveillance. (It was also announced in September of 2006 that CCTV cameras would be installed in and around the Gowanus and Wyckoff projects to improve the safety of residents in and outside of the projects. Have not seen them but maybe I am not looking hard enough.) What has also changed is the composition of residents in the projects which is evident during the morning rush-hour(more well-dressed working people, for one). Is there a discount for being so near the projects? Absolutely. I would even go so far as to quantify it as being 10-15% off the going rate for something comparable on Wyckoff and Bergen Streets between Nevins and Bond. In my book, that translates as a bargain price to own something in an area that is extremely convenient in terms of transportation and amenities proximity to projects notwithstanding.

Posted by: crouchback at March 9, 2007 1:46 PM

The Scarano is at 335 Warren. It's listed on the "multifamily" site. props to them for sort of admitting that its built next to a women and children's center.
btw what is the gynormous "smith street" project listed on the site, which is supposedly going to sit on an entrance to the f line?

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 1:56 PM

also Scarano at 121 Wyckoff St. (near corner of Hoyt) and I guess can call next to projects also.
But is only 4 family though. Lots of metal exterior-bit over the top.
( 335 Warren I do think is going to be nice)

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 2:29 PM

121 Wyckoff Street is not Scarano. The project is owned by the Architect/Designer Sarah Jefferys (there is a prominent sign on the building).

Posted by: crouchback at March 9, 2007 3:28 PM

well DOB website for permits says Scarano
Current Applicant of Record: Robert M Scarano Jr. Phone: 718-222-0322
Scarano & Associates Architects
110 York Street, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Professional Title: RA License Number: 17739
D-14 Applicant of Record: NOT APPLICABLE Phone:

Filing Representative: JONES/CALDERON KHALIHA/JEFFREY Phone: 718-222-0322
SCARANO ARCHITECTS
110 YORK ST, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Posted by: Anonymous at March 9, 2007 3:42 PM

A bit odd. The permit filings may be going through Scarano's office but, unless the purported designer is misrepresenting herself, this does not appear to be a Scarano project.

Posted by: crouchback at March 9, 2007 5:27 PM

Crouchback,5:27pm, I guess they needed a little help on Wyckoff to build from a person who always helps everyone.

Three cheers for Brownstoner for finding another Scarano project trying to quietly and without public issues get built. Maybe if they keep looking they will find the other 300 little or not so little gems he is putting in the crown of Brooklyn instead of the rest of the crap being done.

For the record and for most of the interlopers to the borough who read this site, and that includes the author, BROOKLYN has had periods where almost every block was bad at one time or another. Try to understand this simple concept, Build, Bring in new WORKING people, boom improvement to the neighborhood. Not too difficult a concept to grasp and anyone that has purchased in one of SCARANO's jobs has seen their investment rise faster then in any of the other jobs being built. Facts are facts.

Keep looking and see what you may find or what spring will pop up.

Wake up you lost an hour and do some work.

Posted by: The Shadow at March 11, 2007 9:40 AM

I've lived a block away from Gowanus Houses since 1978. When we first lived here most of the residents were employed. Now most aren't. Reason jobs
leaving New York. These are the people most hard hit. Notice our Mayor doesn't seem too concerned however, he's all for giving the working waterfront to New Jersey. Maybe it's not chic enough, but we need to work on
manufacturing and waterfront jobs. Write and ask Mike what he's doing.

Posted by: Sweetie Pi at March 11, 2007 11:31 AM

Speaking of the Gowanus Houses located at the end of the block, unfortunately there was another shooting there last night (right around the corner from the development featured above)

http://www.gothamist.com/labs/map
Unmapped Incidents
...
Shooting | 420 Baltic St X Hoyt St Brooklyn, NY | 3/10/2007 11:54 p.m.

Perhaps related to Sweetie Pi's reasoning above, in terms of recent opportunities/outlook there.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 11, 2007 12:36 PM

I think sweetie pie is making stuff up. I wasn't around in 1978, but did move to Boerum Hill in 1983. I wouldn't even walk past the Gowanus Houses back then. Now I walk buy with my young duaghters and don't even think about it.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 11, 2007 9:24 PM

Shadow?
Who are you?

Posted by: Anonymous at March 11, 2007 9:59 PM

I live right by the location. I mostly feel safe, but lately this one guy, who lives at either GH or at WG, apparently hates me for no reason and twice has threatened to do something to me for being a "b**ch" and a "crackah". This, I guess, for doing my laundry down the street on Bond.

Of course, he does it from a distance like a coward, which is why I wasn't sure at first it was directed at me, but it makes me want to a) kill him, b) move and then c) blow those houses up.

I hope to avoid all three scenarios, but has anyone else been called out or threatened when walking near the GH? I hate to call the cops for something like that, but this guy's behavior is unacceptable, and I don't think ignoring it is the answer.

By the way, I hate project housing. It's instituionalized poverty. There is a better way to get working class people the housing they deserve and keep out scumbags like the racist dude I intend to take down.

More condos, no PJ's, and replace them with mixed-use housing for working people, not thugs. Those buildings are a blight on Brooklyn.

Posted by: A non mouse at March 14, 2007 12:28 PM

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