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June 1, 2007
Development Watch: 651 Coney Island Avenue
While most people think of single-family wood houses when they think of Victorian Flatbush, there are clearly a lot of people interested in the area who can't swing an entire house. They are presumably who the developers of 651 Coney Island Avenue had in mind when they set out some time ago to build this 22-unit condo on the edge of Beverley Square West. The 50,000-square-foot, six-story building is designed by Sear Tombasco Architects, the firm also responsible for this building in Bay Ridge. Unfortunately, the project has been stalled by a Stop Work Order for ages, something to do with a collapsed fence and the threat of falling debris. Can anyone who lives near here give us a general timeline for how this project has proceeded? GMAP P*Shark DOB
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Comments
While I agree Coney Island Avenue has traditionally been an eyesore, and that Cortelyou Road will benefit from the increased foot traffic developments such as this will provide, it should be noted that not just Coney Island Avenue but also the west side of Stratford Ave., stretching from Beverley Road down through Avenue H are currently zones for 6 story (plus?) construction.
The western border of Prospect Park South is protected by landmarking; Beverley Square West, Ditmas Park West, and West Midwood, however, are vulnerable to teardowns along Stratford Road. In fact, two homes have already been torn down in Ditmas Park West to make way for two large apartment buildings. There are a handful of historic homes sandwiched between the two lots. Developers bombard howeowners in these neighborhoods with letters offering to buy existing homes on an almost daily basis.
Beverley Square West, and I believe Ditmas Park West, currently have applications into the zoning committe to change the current situation. The proposed changes would protect the historic homes along Stratford Road, while still permitting new construction along Coney Island Avenue.
Of course, these high rises cut off the light and air homeowners on Stratford previously enjoyed... It's a difficult issue.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 11:53 AM
With respect to the new condo building on Cortelyou, just across from Vox Pop - I don't have high hopes, aesthetically speaking. HATE the orange brick. What do people have against basic red? Looks like Fedders slots, too...
Also, what happened with the condos on Coney Island Avenue across from the Police Station? Are they all sold? It looks kind of desolate when I drive by.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 11:58 AM
I've been dying to know what's going on with that CI Ave development. There's a sign for another "luxury condo" to be built a few blocks north of there--closer to the Park. Though I hate HATE hate to see any of the Victorians desecrated, I'd be thrilled to see CI Ave improved. Right now it's a horrible jumble of auto shops, gas stations, more auto shops, more gas stations, and triple-parked cars. If we could get some residential development and some trees, perhaps the air quality would improve and there'd be less trash strewn about. And what about that crazy eyesore across from Greene Roofing? I hear it was supposed to be a mosque or something but has been empty for years now.
Posted by: Local at June 1, 2007 12:44 PM
Interestingly, from old photos I've seen, Coney Island Avenue, despite being a stone's through from tony Prospect Park South, was just as ugly and industrial seventy-five years ago...
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 1:00 PM
They need to tear down that ugly pos building on corner of Church and Coney Island that has the Pizza shop on ground floor, and B-35 and B68 stops on the side. It's such an eye sore for this area. If the area is to take a turn for the better these tenement looking buildings need to go. The huge Car Wash on the side of it is growing too.
Posted by: gh at June 1, 2007 1:07 PM
what the hell is beverly square west? lets keep it plain and simple. west of coney island avenue = midwood. east of coney island avenue = flatbush.
Posted by: aj at June 1, 2007 2:38 PM
Actually Beverly Square West is simple and clear. It has be the name of that particular part of Flatbush for over 100 years....as too are Ditmas Park, Ditmas Park West and Prospect Park South. And I believe Midwood is also east of CIA. West of CIA is Kensington, Bensonhurst, etc.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 3:41 PM
What the hell is Beverley Square West?
What the hell is AJ? Let's just keep it plain and simple. Anonymous poster at 2:38pm let's just call him stupid!
Come on the Victorian House tour and you'll see what BSW is.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 7:58 PM
"Can anyone who lives near here give us a general timeline for how this project has proceeded?"
I've been photographing the development of 651 Coney Island Avenue since the Fall of last year. It's right around the corner from my home. I just posted some of the photos on my blog at http://flatbushgardener.blogspot.com/2007/06/651-coney-island-avenue.html.
Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 1, 2007 9:03 PM
the page doesn't work xris
Posted by: Anonymous at June 1, 2007 11:01 PM
For those who don't know, the area bounded by Church Avenue on the north, Ocean Avenue on the east, Coney Island Avenue on the west, and Avenue H on the south, is divided into a series of neighborhoods collectivly known as Victorian Flatbush.
The Q train divides neighborhoods in a north-south direction and a few avenues provide east-west sectioning.
Fiske Terrace, West Midwood, Beverly Square East and West, Ditmas Park, etc.
These neighborhoods will benefit tremendously from the new residential construction on Coney Island Avenue.
Why? Shopping is what the Victorian Flatbush lacks. An increase in the number of residents will lead to the improvement of existing shopping -- supermarkets are my pet peeve.
Key Food on Foster Ave and C-Town on E 16th by Foster are dreadful.
Newkirk Plaza has potential. It is improving. But it has far to go.
Meanwhile, IF ONLY 6-story residential buildings lined Coney Island Avenue from its base at Prospect Park all the way to Avenue H.
That would mark a huge, huge improvement over the despairing dumps that mar this roadway.
However, if 4th Ave in Park Slope can change, so can Coney Island Avenue. CIA is close enough to the Q train to make it attractive as a site for people working in Manhattan or downtown Brooklyn.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 2, 2007 10:14 AM
The Associated on Cortelyou Road is good and the Food Co-op on Cortelyou is okay as well. I think that they are both comparable to the Met on 7th ave and the Food Co-op in Park Slope. There is also Shop & Stop with rooftop parking and the store is one of the cleanest that I've seen anywhere in Brooklyn. Of course, Fresh Direct now delivers to all of Victorian Flatbush so that is always an option. I still shop for groceries in stores outside of the neighborhood like Fairway for specialty items. I generally shop for furniture and other household goods outside of VicFlat but will make regular purchases within VicFlat to support local business. I've used DAS to reupholster a chair and have made purchases in Belle & Maxie, TB Ackerson and Trailer Park. NY social life is only or train, bus or cab ride away. There is also alot going on locally especially for families with children. The development of CIA would add to the improvements already in progress on Cortelyou and Newkirk Plaza but clearly the blocks east of CIA, must be downzoned to protect the character of the neighborhood.
Posted by: Beverley S. West at June 2, 2007 10:49 AM
The comment engine appended the period at the end of the sentence to the link. The link works without it:
http://flatbushgardener.blogspot.com/2007/06/651-coney-island-avenue.html
PS: There's no way to preview a comment and leave it. MoveableType refuses to recognize the challenge answer from preview mode. You have to back all the way out and start from scratch. There's also no longer a way to include email addresses and URLs. I liked the comment system better before.
Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) at June 2, 2007 11:19 AM
Beverly S. West,
The Associated on Cortelyou is good enough, but the Flatbush Food Co-op is exactly the opposite of the Park Slope Food Co-op. Co-ops are intended to deliver LOW prices, not the HIGHEST in the region.
The Flatbush Food Co-op is expensive. I have no idea why it is called a co-op.
Meanwhile, the Park Slope Food Co-op sells its goods at LOW prices.
If you want low prices on lots of food items including dried fruits, nuts, and produce, hit the shop on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Avenue J, across CIA from Rite Aid.
By the way, that Rite Aid is closing in a week or less.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 2, 2007 2:27 PM
P.S. Beverly S. West,
There are no bank branches on Cortelyou. Cortelyou seems to be the only commerical strip in NYC without a bank branch. Or two, or three. Odd.
For that reason I contacted Commerce Bank and asked the Commerce people to stick one along Cortelyou. It was my thought that the best location was beside the subway station in the building on the corner of Marlborough. The site had been occupied by a mismanaged bar that recently closed.
I received an e-mail from the bank telling me Cortelyou Road would receive their attention.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 2, 2007 2:34 PM
Vic Flatbush,
I agree with you about the bank and the prices at the Food Co-ops. This is one point that I thought that I included in my post but was thinking faster than I typed. Due to the inability to preview my comments, I went ahead and posted. Perhaps I will contact Commerce as well. The only problem that I have with Commerce Bank is they like building there branches from the ground up where possible. I have seen their standard design branches sprout up all over Queens and they often look out of character. Of course, there is no room for them to do is on Cortelyou Road. I also noticed that Cornerstone closed. They seemed to do a pretty brisk business, but I guess that mismanagement will do you in every time.
Posted by: Bev S. West at June 2, 2007 9:24 PM
Beverley S West,
I contacted Commerce simply because, well, it's an easy company to contact on this issue. I would call other banks as well. But if one bank appears, monkey-see, monkey do, others will follow.
Cortelyou Road is almost a mile long and it barren of bank branches. Odd. Very odd these days in NYC. Avenue J has at least 6 banks between Coney Island Ave and the subway tracks.
Chase and Sovereign battle for business at Newkirk Plaza on Foster, which has much less commercial activity than Cortelyou.
Meanwhile, the Cornerstone took a losing approach to the saloon business. The bar overcharged for drinks and invited amateur musicians to play. The limited appeal of the music drove out the drinkers. Mostly the musicians performed for their friends.
The bartenders were clueless about giving customers a free drink now and then to build rapport.
That bar-site would make a good bank site.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 3, 2007 2:36 PM
Upscale food market under construction now on Cortelyou between Westminster & Stratford. The name on the awning escapes me but its something like "Nature's Foods."
Posted by: Anonymous at June 3, 2007 4:56 PM
It is illegal for bartenders to give drinks on the house. The law was enacted during Rudy's administration.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 3, 2007 11:26 PM
Really? Cornerstone still sucked though. Sorry.
Posted by: Cornerstone blah at June 4, 2007 10:34 AM
North Fork Bank is currently building a branch right now on Cortelyou Road, i think on the corner of Argyle or Westminster Road.
It's unfair to compair to Cortelyou road to other commercial shopping strips, because it wasn't really one, until a few years ago.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 4, 2007 10:56 AM
After having read this post, we drove by this building on Sunday, and noticed that the space bellow the window usually reserved for Feders air conditioners was mysteriously absent.
We were wondering, is the developer really going to install central air?!
Bravo! Central Air on Coney Island Ave would be a real step up for this heavily trafficked stretch of roadway.
Posted by: Westminster at June 4, 2007 1:09 PM
I am certain that the residents on Marlborough Road will not see a bank opening where Cornerstone was as a good idea. In addition to truck deliveries from Associated they would get the band traffic as well. Good for North Fork though.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 4, 2007 4:45 PM
anon 11:26 pm, you wrote:
"It is illegal for bartenders to give drinks on the house. The law was enacted during Rudy's administration."
That's the apocryphal tale told by bartenders who think certain patrons are cheapskates in the tip department.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 5, 2007 1:02 AM
anon 11:26 pm, you wrote:
"It is illegal for bartenders to give drinks on the house. The law was enacted during Rudy's administration."
That's the apocryphal tale told by bartenders who think certain patrons are cheapskates in the tip department.
Posted by: Vic Flatbush at June 5, 2007 1:05 AM
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