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May 18, 2007
Saying Hello (Living) to Pacific Blue
As we've said before, the whole Hello Living complex that's springing up on Pacific Street is a game-changing step for eastern Prospect Heights. When signs of the six-building project first started sprouting up, we didn't quite know what to make of it. Of course, we were psyched for the heretofore down-on-its-luck block to get an injection of residents (and all that would mean in terms of trickle-down demand for services in the nabe) but it wasn't immediately clear whether this was the work of a madman or a genius. Perhaps just an optimist. The strategy of putting a building with high-end finishes and amenities in a decidely not high-end location seems to be paying off: Eight out of 15 units at the Madison (925 Pacific) are already in contract; another four are in contract at the Hudson (935 Pacific). (The first buyer in the Madison, by the way, was a young indie rocker of some repute.) About 50 people turned up at first open house last weekend; there's another one on Sunday from 1 to 3 pm. Have any readers been inside?
925 Pacific Street [Aguayo & Huebener] GMAP
Trouble at Hello Living? [Set Speed]
Pacific Blue Bares All [Brownstoner]
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Comments
i'm SHOCKED and quite disturbed that the post on the house in dyker heights was removed because brownstoner didn't like the comments being made about his commentary.
what is this site coming to?
guessing my comment will be deleted soon.
Posted by: anon at May 18, 2007 12:51 PM
I can't believe they are so exposed. It looks alike a break-in waiting to happen.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 12:58 PM
I can't believe they are so exposed. It looks alike a break-in waiting to happen.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 12:58 PM
My take on the removal anon 12:51 mentioned is simply that Mr. B realized that he had made a mistake and had the grace to rectify it--something we could all learn from.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 18, 2007 12:58 PM
12:51, if the comments were what bothered 'stoner, don't you think he would have deleted the comments, not the post itself? I think Bob Marvin had it right. He realized he put his foot in his proverbial mouth and fixed it.
Posted by: EJ at May 18, 2007 1:02 PM
i see your point, but i suppose i just think that he's a smart guy, if he decided to write and post on the topic, he should be able to back it up without letting some (as we are all aware) oftentimes crazy anonymous posters in the comments section.
of course he can do what he chooses, but you can't decide to delete a story from the ny times after its printed and i can't say i don't think that there are oftentimes articles that i don't particularly agree with.
Posted by: anon at May 18, 2007 1:06 PM
Who is the indie rocker of some repute? Dying to know!!
Posted by: anon at May 18, 2007 1:07 PM
unrelated but it was confirmed on gowanus lounge today that beyonce did indeed buy an apt. at richard meier's on prospect park at grand army plaza.
http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/
Posted by: anonymous at May 18, 2007 1:09 PM
I agree with Bob. This is an interactive site, not the paper of record. Mr. B should not be viewed in the same way as a journalist -- he is looking to provoke discussion within this community. He probably shot from the hip, realized from the comments it was in bad taste, and took it down. It's not like the house is no longer for sale. Maybe Mr. B will come forth with a post on the subject and clarify for us.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 1:15 PM
I wouldn't want to be living there on Halloween night. You will be cleaning the eggs off for a long time
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 1:19 PM
Note to buyers:
Buy Windex in bulk and get really long handled squeegies.
Posted by: anonymous at May 18, 2007 1:35 PM
this is an interesting project though i hate to see any brownstones go down for modern architecture springing up...i live 3 blocks from here.
Posted by: sarah at May 18, 2007 2:05 PM
were brownstones really destroyed on this site? how many?
Posted by: z at May 18, 2007 2:32 PM
And please imagine balconies covered with bikes, mops and other clutter.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 3:03 PM
And please imagine balconies covered with bikes, mops and other clutter.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 3:04 PM
3:04 makes an excellent point, nothing takes the elan out of glassy minimalism faster than kiddie toys, trikes, buckets and brooms on your neighbor's balcony.
Posted by: anonymous at May 18, 2007 5:11 PM
I dont think any bstones were hurt in these projects. That block was full of empty lots not too long ago
Posted by: gbug at May 18, 2007 5:41 PM
this apt sucks!!
the sales people are very bad!! they don't know anything about the building!!
they are asking people bid on the apt and we decided the cxl the apt and they called us bk same day to get the apt cause the other buyer didn't want~!
obiously they are trying to sell more money~!
don't get this apt!!
Posted by: michael at May 18, 2007 6:50 PM
this apt sucks!!
the sales people are very bad!! they don't know anything about the building!!
they are asking people bid on the apt and we decided the cxl the apt and they called us bk same day to get the apt cause the other buyer didn't want~!
obiously they are trying to sell more money~!
don't get this apt!!
Posted by: michael at May 18, 2007 6:50 PM
i think this is an interesting juxtaposition with yesterday's thread, "Fantastic 4th?" at novo, 345K gets you 615 square feet, while at the madison, 380K gets you 566 square feet. (all footage per brokers.) the madison is more off the beaten path, but has 18 foot ceilings and a bunch of shared amenities (including grilled corn.) plenty of room in this comparison for personal preferences, but i think hello living makes fourth avenue look good.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 6:52 PM
Uh, what's up with Michael?
Posted by: Anon at May 18, 2007 7:45 PM
grilled corn could be the thing that closes the deal.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 18, 2007 8:18 PM
I know the architects...they are cutting edge and take their work very seriosly. I am sure a lot of thought went into this project.
Posted by: jonathan at May 18, 2007 9:04 PM
what the hell is grilled corn?
Posted by: anonymous at May 18, 2007 10:56 PM
What is up with people on this site and development? I am surrounded by vacant blocks where I live. Please build something as nice as these developments on Putnam Avenue or Fulton Street! Imagine front yards of brownstones with old dryers, abandoned cars and coaches. And do we really need to be threatening the life of the webmaster?
Posted by: putnam-denizen at May 19, 2007 1:07 AM
i know the architects too, they are some guys from austria and i think they try to design something nice...you know
Posted by: michel at May 19, 2007 3:59 AM
yes, they are the guys from loadingdock5
looks like they have a thing going right now
Posted by: jon at May 19, 2007 4:03 AM
If I may I interject...the location is not 'eastern Prospect Heights'. It would more clear to most to call it 'westernmost Crown Heights', if 'Crown Heights' by itself isn't enough.
Have a nice day :-)
Posted by: Hal at May 19, 2007 7:33 AM
Wow, this site really devolves into silliness so quickly.
I went to the openhouse. They're awesome inside. 18 foot ceiling height makes such a mental difference, and the amount of light it allows in.
The finishes are fantastic (if you like modern, which I do) and they seem to be doing them really well, the bathrooms and kitchens are beautiful. Between the fitness center, roof terrace, etc. the architects really seem to have thought it out.
I welcome this kind of development at this intersection of Crown Heights/Prospect Heights/2 blocks from Clinton Hill, not sure what neighborhood to call it. I think we will start seeing a lot of other development into Crown Heights/Prospect Heights as a result.
Posted by: Anon at May 19, 2007 11:59 AM
anyone know who the indie rocker is?
Posted by: Anonymous at May 19, 2007 4:37 PM
Some of the interior finishes are palatable, and the space/layouts of the units are fantastic. but the whole project falls apart on the exterior detailing - shoddy stucco, warped flashing, etc... A prime example of a great architectural concept boiled down by the lowest cost denominator/dominiator/developer... the project looks bad now, and will only look worse as time goes on, no matter how much brown paint you put on that stucco...
oh, and to top it off, the sales team is so TACKY - agressive and icky
Posted by: pdub at May 19, 2007 4:49 PM
Jon,
Why don't you speak about the illegal lofts in the job that the building department hasn't picked up on yet or are your mean spirited comments only reserved for Scarano. Hypocrit.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 19, 2007 4:51 PM
looks like that last post was written by scarano himself - he of the hilariously bad spelling...
Posted by: Anonymous at May 19, 2007 8:36 PM
I don't think they're building mezzanines/lofts. When I went to the openhouse they said buyers could build them later but the developers couldn't build them because of what had already been filed with the buildings dept.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 19, 2007 10:32 PM
I'm not Jon... Is Scarano involved in the project? It's a fantastic idea to build mezzanines in the units, but you still would have to live with the ugly stucco and poorly placed vents on the building....
Posted by: pdub at May 20, 2007 10:52 AM
Shutfu.....p this is a cool development what else do you want to see, it seems that nobody is ever happy about any kind of design in here, shut up and design your own place.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 20, 2007 11:22 AM
Ooch - this is a harsh environment in the brownstoner world. I'm new to this site, but I think (rather frank) discussion of projects under construction is a positive thing, and leads to better design in the future...
I applaud the efforts of the architects on this project - the layout and planning of the units is exciting(the interlocking spaces of the living room/bedrooms reading through to the exterior of the building is exceptional) My comments had to do with the quality/durability of the exterior wall - While the exterior is not complete, it is obvious at this point that there was a decision on this project to focus (spend money) on the interiors with the hope of attracting buyers. Just a bit more attention spent on the exterior could have made this project really sing...
Posted by: pdub at May 20, 2007 12:39 PM
Although I wouldn't have put it quite so crudely, I agree with 11:22. It seems like it's being done really well, and everyone seems to have something to complain about on this increasingly snarky blog. I applaud the fact that at least one 'new construction' seems to be thought out, and not the crap you see going up everywhere.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 20, 2007 5:48 PM
We always put food out at open houses.
New developments always have an opening party. Are you telling me, you liked Jerry
Minsky. Are you telling me that JM was helpful, and threw a good party.
You kids. No one, I repeat no one likes
Jerry Minsky. I can't believe I'm writing this, but the man is a sleaze. truly a sleeze. Make sure everything is in writing, don't trust his word.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 21, 2007 6:30 AM
actually this is prospect heights....crown heights ends at classon avenue.
Posted by: aj at May 21, 2007 8:01 AM
This site is hysterical. I am rolling on the floor. You can't make this stuff up.
This is great. Sometimes, young people,
you have to step away, back away from the box, take a better look at what's around you. Most people think they are smarter,prettier, cooler, than everyone else. This site has definitely proved
otherwise. Okay I can't tell if you are
pretty, but we will go with the old adage you are what you think. Also, in walking down the street, not too many head turners of either gender.
Keep up the derisive idiotic banter.
Hey, can we argue about foreclosures again. You guys just are knee slapping funny.
Are you richer today than yesterday?
All of you would think money, right.
I can't help it, you guys are hysterical.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 21, 2007 9:07 AM
BTW if you haven't noticed, this little neighborhood doesn't have a name. I've lived in it for many years and I am used to the confusion. Crown Heights is east of Classon Ave. Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy is north of Atlantic. And Propsect Heights is west of Washington Ave. The little triangle created by Classon, Washington and Atlantic, a fifteen-block area that contains 31 auto repair shops, is effectively nameless. In fact, it is ripe for the brokers to brand it with some flowery, trendy, or hyper-aristocratic pseudonym that attracts especially the kind of people that are ignorant of the neighborhood's extant "character." I nominate "Pacific Heights".
Posted by: Anonymous at May 21, 2007 11:35 AM
Went and looked at Hello Living. Seems nice, more European than other condo's I've seen. By European I mean somewhat smaller spaces, looks like glass railings going in, and dual flush toilets. There were quite a few nice details.
Was a little surprised at the amount of big windows, my concern was along the lines of another reader (crime).
Posted by: That Guy at May 21, 2007 11:59 AM
yes, crime can be a possibility here. there are homeless ppl who encamp in the triangular park west of this condo. washington towards the museum is full of gang activity. there was a murder there a month ago or so.
paying $552k for 800 square feet seems crazy to me. and i live in the neighborhood!
Posted by: ltjbukem at May 21, 2007 1:06 PM
Please don't post whoever the indie rocker is (no, I don't know). This site can often be such a vulgar intrusion into people's lives. Some people just want to live in their homes and not have their addresses posted on a f*cking website. Browstoner, you made the choice to post your renovation process for the world to see, and took it down when the comments and critism got to be too much. Other people whose addresses are posted here are not given that option.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 21, 2007 1:51 PM
i would say it's obvious that bstoner had no intention of posting the name of the indie rocker, otherwise he already would have.
calm down, will ya?
jeez. stop reading if you think it's so intrusive.
Posted by: anon at May 21, 2007 2:52 PM
the guy isnt a rocker, lol... trust me... trust me
Posted by: boopsie at June 13, 2007 12:04 PM
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