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April 12, 2007
New Development: Fusion on 20th Street
We spotted this new development on 20th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue last weekend and didn't have to even go online to know that it had Mr. S written all over it. The formerly empty lot, which the developer bought in late 2004 for $1.3 million, now has 10,000 square feet of residential space on it spread over eight one- and two-bedroom apartments. Despite the banner on the exterior, the building has not hit the Corcoran site yet. We were able to deduce, however, that the agent handling the listing will be David Perez, who's also the master of ceremonies over at The Simone. How's the nabe feeling about this puppy? The block is rather, ahem, eclectic to start with, so we're fine with the Scarano glass front; we just wish they'd stopped at four stories, as the building permit indicates. GMAP P*Shark DOB
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Comments
Looks good from the Pic
Posted by: ANON at April 12, 2007 11:13 AM
I think it's a terrific addition to the street. People can whine about the height. But it's better than a vacant lot and will bring more people to the street.
Apartment on the top floor is selling for about $1.2 million from speaking to Corcoran.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 11:20 AM
R6b =max ht. 50'-0".
If you have a problem w/ the height blame the geniuses over at City Planning.
Posted by: ANON at April 12, 2007 11:21 AM
What a piece of crap!! What moron would pay $1.2 for a condo in a shitty building on 20th st. The broker is obviously posting here!
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 12:12 PM
Don't you live in Clinton Hill? How did you happen to be on 20th between between 5th and 6th? Why not post pictures of all the projects going up on that block and 21st as well. You must have seen those. Are you shilling for corcoran? By the way I live on the block!!
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 12:15 PM
Beautiful building! Beats a Fedders anyday of the week. The scale is fine, and best of all, it replaced a vacant lot! This really is the perfect development.
Posted by: hi! at April 12, 2007 12:40 PM
Brooklyn needs more developments like this one. Many more.
Posted by: GrandPa at April 12, 2007 12:50 PM
"we just wish they'd stopped at four stories, as the building permit indicates."
Question: How can they build 7 stories up before the setback if the permit was for four stories?
What am I missing? Are those upper floors double-height single stories? Compare the rendering on the banner to the actual building!
Posted by: berto at April 12, 2007 1:12 PM
seems like the definition of story is a bit loose. but they had their foundation in before r6b, so anything goes i guess.
can't wait for people to move in!
anyone have an idea of what the new building a couple of doors down is going to look like?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 1:27 PM
Realtor: "Real estate is always a great investment, 2006 was the third best year ever!"
Buyer: "What else could the first year of the downturn be just after the peak of the biggest bubble in house prices in the history of mankind?"
Realtor: "Huh?"
Buyer: "And 2007 will be the 9th best year ever, 2008 will be the 17th best year ever, 2009 will be the 41st best year ever..."
Realtor: "Look at me I'm cute!"
Posted by: Bitter Renter turned Homedebtor at April 12, 2007 1:31 PM
Realtor: "Real estate is always a great investment, 2006 was the third best year ever!"
Buyer: "What else could the first year of the downturn be just after the peak of the biggest bubble in house prices in the history of mankind?"
Realtor: "Huh?"
Buyer: "And 2007 will be the 9th best year ever, 2008 will be the 17th best year ever, 2009 will be the 41st best year ever..."
Realtor: "Look at me I'm cute!"
Posted by: Bitter Renter turned Homedebtor at April 12, 2007 1:31 PM
We suspect that what appears to be two stories from the outside is really a double-height living room with mezz in the rear...
Posted by: brownstoner at April 12, 2007 1:48 PM
yes all the floors are double height.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 2:03 PM
FUSIoN = like when your old neighborhood Chinese restuarant starts serving sushi... because, hell they don't even have to cook it, and they can charge double.
Posted by: imby at April 12, 2007 2:14 PM
Total POS.
mezzanines galore (in fact may be a problem when they go for a CofO). So overbuilt the developer had to go around to neighboring properties and buy air rights.
And to ANON 11:21 am, this puppy was vested under R6, not built under R6B, otherwise it would have been MUCH smaller in size and mostly bulk.
You should see how it looms over the back of the property, into the 30' required rear yard (legal?), over the neighbor's back yard. They will be able to read the box tops of the new condo owners...
For the record, this has been a poster child for us as to whats WRONG with typical 55' high Scarano specials.
And the boys at Cyberstruct (yes, that's the developer) went all out on the finishing. Must have spend all their money on Bob's fav black brick, 'cos the rest of the exterior finishings are awful.
To tall, to fat...Fugly! But hey, that's why we got the zoning changed.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 2:19 PM
OOOOOH, and did I mention 20th St is one of the MAJOR truck routes in the 'nabe?
Those 18 wheelers bounce by this bad-boy day and night. Better hope the bedrooms are in the back.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 2:23 PM
Wait, even better yet...
let's rename it "The Confusion"
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 2:24 PM
Wait, even better ...
maybe you can stop being the most negative neighbor around and put some energy around other things aside from tilting at tall buildings.
More people does not equal bad.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 3:16 PM
Anon 3:16pm
"more people does not equal bad"
When did I ever post that more people are bad?
We're talking about out of scale (and my opinion FUGLY) architecture from a known bad-boy architect.
Am I missing something here?
I think I'm a pretty good neighbor watching your back to make sure what's new in our 'nabe is legal, safe, well built and is a "good addition" and not another sh*itbox to turn a fast back, no?
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 3:25 PM
meant "fast buck" in the last sentence...
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 3:29 PM
I live around the corner. The building is a nice addition to a (mostly) shitty block.
Posted by: greenwood slope at April 12, 2007 3:57 PM
Totally understand the anger about the height, which I agree is excessive. But do a lot of people really find the building ugly? At least from the photo, it looks really nice to me. Does this guy build with bad materials/quality?
Posted by: bob999 at April 12, 2007 4:17 PM
bob999,
As per typical of Scarano tag-team projects (I REALIZE he does not build them...well, so we think), the finishes are always for shit. Look nice from across the street, but when you get up close, yuck.
We have 4 buildings in our area, all the same. Nice on paper, lousy in the flesh.
This job is gonna look like crap in 5 years, trust me.
Wait, did I just kinda give Mr. S a kinda compliment?
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 5:37 PM
Lost.
Thanks for keeping us up to date with quality.
Can you give us examples of bad job that have been done in Scarano jobs compare to other architects like Bricolage, or Fischer?
I assume you are an engineer so that your data is supported by real facts.
Or you are a LOSER in Brooklyn that sitting home and think that you know better than everybody else.
I see the eforts that this devloper did compare to many other crappy jobs and I think you should look for other things when you are losing another case in Brooklyn
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 6:39 PM
I live up the block. The building is a nice addition to the the nabe in comparision to what was there before. The block is is made up of two and three story brick/vinyl sided houses so this place does stand out. This block is a truck route but traffic is (from what I have seen in my 2 years) is only on the weekdays before 2:00. After 2:00 and on the weekends there is no traffic. I welcome the new condo owners as long they stay out of my parking spot. I work during the day so for me there is no difference from the other nice places I have lived.
I am not going to sit here and write negative things and use word play to scare potential buyers. Anyone can do the analysis, come out and look around on the weekdays and weekends at all times.
Negative Neighbors do waste your time they are going to sell anyway.
The proximity to Park Slope. Prospect Park,……. Sells itself
There are new restaurants and stores sprouting up.
Half your neighbors are guaranteed to be quiet all the time (The cementery is up the block).
And you are far enough from the train station not to get any all that pedistrian traffic.
If you drive you can get on to the gowanus expressway or prospect expressway in minutes.
Posted by: GH at April 12, 2007 7:42 PM
Anon 6:39 PM, no need to respond other than to say you nailed the situation by grouping this development with the other architects of ruin...though I am less familair with Carl, so I'll stay off his case.
Unfoutunately my experiece is backed by way too much time dealing with stes like this one, their porblems, shoddy workmanship, illegal activity, etc. as a hobby of sorts...like protecting my community from those who would exploit it.
Who's the "loser sitting at home" bucko? Man of the streets way to often. Please back up your BS, I'd like to understand your POV...
Betcha you won't. Another anon shill.
PS. GH made some good points, crappy as they are...they will sell.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 8:06 PM
Oh, and for the record:
"I think you should look for other things when you are losing another case in Brooklyn"
The only Scarano project we fought...we won :)
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 12, 2007 8:39 PM
Loser,
You trying to protect the community and not taking in consideration that these buyers will be part of your community very soon. So please welcome them with nice and warm greeting instead of crying and complaining all the time.
What you fight for? Did you seed a flower in your life that you can Judge this developer? Do you understand what does it mean to build something like that?
Waist your time on negativity and you'll win the competition of the big Losers.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 9:15 PM
GH is a shill. Poor 20th street suffers from miserable nonstop traffic--two way no less on a street that can not handle it. It was an ordinary working class block before, not fancy or beautiful but now it is overbuilt with poor quality FUGLY Ps of C.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 12, 2007 9:45 PM
GH is not a shill. I will meet you in front of this building and walk you to my house. There is traffic but it is not non-stop. It is as I described. Actually I hope these units take a long time to sell. Less competition for parking. I have a condo building on my block; they are like a self contained group. They do seem not to mingle with the other home owners on the block. I doubt very much that these new owners will be any different. "The building is Fugly, muggy, huggy" everyone is entitled to their opinion but you know what! This building is here and is now part of our landscape. You do not do any justice to our nabe by criticizing its buildings and streets, especially if you have a vested interest in this nabe. In case you have not made the connection between the neighboring homes and your own home. They are going to sell anyway (3 weeks, 4 months…….) whatever. Only naïve buyers will be influence by the truth and half truths posted on this blog.
Posted by: GH and proud at April 12, 2007 11:07 PM
"GH and proud "
AGREED! But, I hope you stay :)
nite.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at April 13, 2007 12:02 AM
"The Shadow" or "The Scarano?"
Posted by: on the DL at April 13, 2007 12:04 AM
If the building permit says four stories, how can they go higher. Someone in the building department on the take, nothing new there. Scarano has a reputation of getting a developer more square footage then any other architect in
Brooklyn, I believe we all know how that is possible. Where there is huge profits to be made, there will be greedy people taking advantage of the community. Yes, the community is strained when a monster building goes up. They can't get away with this sort of creative building in any of the other boroughs. Call your councilperson, let them know how you feel. Change can be wonderful, but breaking zoning laws is not a part of constructive change. I say Mr. S should lose his licese to be an architedt.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 13, 2007 9:04 AM
the block is very very unimpressive. its a great addition, tasteful, and not too high.
Posted by: anone at April 13, 2007 1:51 PM
anon 9:04
what do you know about zoning to ask for him to loose his license when not one single building he has done had to be reduced in height? I guess they complied with the zoning thats why.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 13, 2007 7:00 PM
Scarano's zoning is never accurate...always shady...builders plans never match approved plans..I know EXACTLY how he gets his plans stamped and perforated...and no it is not by bribery..
Posted by: The EMP at April 14, 2007 10:49 AM
Can somebody please tell me who is buying all of these condos/coops going up all over Brooklyn's posh neighborhoods. I know I sure as hell can't afford to purchase and I make a decent living. I don't live above my means although every once in a while I do manage a Spa day. I am saving 20% of my salary which is basically all that I have left after paying rent and other necessary expenses like food, electric bill and metrocard. I had my cable turned off and became a vegetarian to cut down on my grocery bill and I now bank that! Will I ever be able to afford to live in Brooklyn?
Posted by: GuessI'llhaftamovetoJersey at April 14, 2007 8:54 PM
EMP 10:49
Please tell us how he does it. It has always been a mystery to me as well and I work there.
Posted by: lost in york st at April 15, 2007 10:18 PM
HAHAHA...This is obviously not the place to discuss how he does it..
Glad to see someone in your office has a sense of humor..
Posted by: The EMP at April 16, 2007 4:15 PM
I'm looking for insurance opportunities... I represent a leading retail insurance brokerage and I'm willing to pay a referral fee to anyone that can bring me to a GC or owner/developer. E-mail me at brads@fairmontins.com if you are interested.
Thanks!
Posted by: Brad S. at April 24, 2007 10:38 PM
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