« 364 Myrtle Avenue: Scarano Strikes Again Craigs Picks, Brownstone Rental Edition »

May 17, 2007

Habitat for Humanity Homes on Hart Street

hartsttownhouses.jpg
Our post last week about the Habitat for Humanity project on Halsey prompted Bed Stuy Blog to do some more research on the non-profit's other work in the borough. In addition to a set of small townhomes on Willoughby and Marcus Garvey, the blog turned up this set of red brick houses on Hart Street in Bed Stuy. Other than those silly canopies and the meters on the facades, we have to give these high marks, especially given what the budget must have been. Does anyone know how HFH would have gotten around having to include parking? What about disabled access requirements?
Habitat Homes in Bed Stuy [Bed Stuy Blog]
Checking In on Habitat's Halsey Homes [Brownstoner]




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:42 AM | Comments (12)
Categories: Architecture

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/1184

Comments

I don't think the canopies look so bad. The graceful arch of their design is harmonious. I think the problem is the black wrought iron gates in front. Low brick walls or even painting the iron gates a different color, would be better. Right now it's jarring, those harsh black gothic fences/gates.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 17, 2007 10:30 AM

Wow, those are nice looking. Speaking as a complete amateur, I would have to say, those are some of the nicest-looking new construction townhomes I've ever seen. The window ledges make the windows, which make the whole facade. Yeah, the canopies are silly, but hey, at least they're not those awful aluminium things. And I'm sure they'll come in handy when it's raining and people have to juggle their groceries and whatnot while unlocking the door... Now plant a few small trees or shrubs out front, and it'll be downright pretty.

Posted by: sylvia at May 17, 2007 10:31 AM

Stoner, I do not believe that single family homes have to comply with handicap requirements although the bureacracy would probably give a private individual a hard time about it, because well, that's what they do.
Projects like these usually have important people pushing, and the city staffers know to get out of the way.
But if you or I were to apply for a permit they would throw every roadblock at us with relish. As for parking, requirements vary according to zoning.
Most subdized and public housing includes free parking for the residents, as opposed to market housing which looks at parking as an outlandish luxury.

Posted by: ??? at May 17, 2007 10:39 AM

Low brick walls? In less than 60 minutes, they'd be covered with graffitti.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 17, 2007 11:16 AM

It's ironic in a way that groups like "habitat" are building the type of housing for the poor in Brooklyn that is inceasingly becoming out of reach for the middle class. Unless by middle class, you include families that can buy a two-million dollar home.

Posted by: anonymous at May 17, 2007 11:47 AM

There are limestone low walls outside some houses in PLG, a place that certainly has its graffiti on commercial streets, and those walls don't get graffiti on them. It's always a possibility, but it's not a "given" just because it's Bed-Stuy.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 17, 2007 12:27 PM

??? is right, these are single-family homes which will be owned, not rented, by the people living in them. but ??? is wrong about habitat being exempt while individuals would have to comply. that's not the case.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 17, 2007 12:31 PM

I commend Habitat for building quality housing for people of limited income but the idea of building townhouses in a NYC for the poor is rediculous. For the money spent, they could build condo apartments and house twice as many families. Even in Bed-Stuy a new townhouse would sell for $500 to $600K which strikes me as a very inefficient way to provide quality housing for poor families.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 17, 2007 3:10 PM

I think Habitat builds mostly houses, which is cool, I love the idea that families of modest means can own their own home. But its not so cool that middle-income fanilies are left out in the cold. For us its the suburbs because Brooklyn real estate is evindently now only for he richy-rich. and for the lucky few poor folks who win whatever lottery they need to win to move into a habitat house.

Posted by: anonymous at May 17, 2007 4:06 PM

Habitat started out building only single family homes because that's what they do in other parts of the country. When they started to work in NYC and other cities, they quickly realized that urban housing needs can be different, and that other solutions need to be implimented - now they are building both multi-unit, as well as single family homes. They still depend on volunteers and the sweat equity of the future homeowners, and this is what separates them from a program where someone wins a housing lottery. Plus they are run much more efficiently. By the way, these houses are not free, although they are highly subsidized. HFH does not believe in handouts.

I have no problem with them building these attractive single family homes, unlike anon 3:10.They are contextual to the surrounding neighborhood, and create a block of like minded new homeowners who will be very highly motivated to keep this block as pristine as the photographs.(with some landscaping hopefully) As most public housing projects have proved, stacking people like cordwood is not the way to go. Why not some single family homes, as well as some multiple family homes or apartment buildings? Why not afford to low income folks the same things all of us want, a well built roof over our heads?

Also, I would be the first to agree that there is little to no quality housing of this kind being built for middle income people. It's wrong, and frankly, short sighted of developers and the city in general, to ignore the people who keeps this burg running. But let's not begrudge a VERY small amount of people who WORK to get one of these homes. They are coming from worse conditions than most of us can imagine, and at the end of the day, still have to fight to survive in an expensive city, perhaps with little in the way of quality education and career choices, and still with many of the daily situations that did not leave them just because they moved into a new house. Being low income with a decent roof over your head is better than low income with dreadful living conditions, but it's still low income.

Posted by: Brower Park at May 17, 2007 6:19 PM

I'd hope there wasn't some idiot parking requirement to build here. The J/M/Z isn't the best train, and neither is the G, but there's still no need for off-street parking.

Posted by: JF at May 18, 2007 10:51 PM

No volunteers? When they talk about a disposable society, ever think they are talking about you. Community, is a word you and the brokers talk about, but there is no sense of community. Oh, you bought a kitchen magnet at last year's flea market,I'm sorry you are the All Compassionate.


Posted by: Anonymous at May 21, 2007 12:28 PM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions