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July 30, 2007

Forgotten NY on Bedford Avenue 'Crappitude'

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Forgotten NY kicked off the first in a series of Bedford Avenue posts this weekend with a close-up look at the stretch from Sheepshead Bay to Flatbush. Along the way, Kevin spots a couple of real architectural gems. Of the first, he writes: "This is almost iconic in its classic crappitude, and indeed I almost admire the chutzpah it takes to build this sort of thing, but just almost." And of the second: "Your webmaster is speechless. I mean, I really don't know what to tell you."
Bedford Fellows Part 1 [Forgotten NY]




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:04 AM | Comments (14)
Categories: Architecture

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Comments

It really does boggle the mind. They appear to from an alternate universe, a bizarro world where proportion, symmetry--taste itself--is inverted and upended. It makes me queasy to look at them.

Posted by: Rascal at July 30, 2007 10:17 AM

the second one is indeed a singular disaster, but the first is just sort of classically ugly like many other nyc townhouses.

Posted by: z at July 30, 2007 10:34 AM

The one on the left is all over my neighborhood in the Bronx. They have been tearing down single families and putting these up. And they are just as bad on the inside as well. At least the one on the left has some character, and looks like it is something that someone wanted.

Posted by: anon at July 30, 2007 10:35 AM

I live on bedford ave. about a block away from the house on the right. Everytime I drive by with my wife, she mentions how ugly it looks. Its an eye sore!

Posted by: Anonymous at July 30, 2007 11:13 AM

the lighter brick with white metal work model can be found in greenpoint/williamsburg too, near graham avenue.

Posted by: anon at July 30, 2007 11:18 AM

We've been calling the one on the right Frank Lloyd Wrong for ages now.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 30, 2007 11:26 AM

10:35, where in the Bronx are you at? Melrose, Morrisania, West Farms or ?? Also, are they part of the State/Fed subsidized rebuilding programs there? While I take the "utilitarian" (being kind) aesthetic as a given in those cases, it's somewhat more surprising in open market Sheepshead Bay.

That said, you have to consider, as ever, who the builder is & also who the buyers are likely to be. That's not a defense of this crap at all but rather something to think about, esp. when you start to ponder the full range of questionable architecture going up all along southern Brooklyn these days.
Hint: when was the last time ya'll walked around interior Brighton Beach?

wwib

Posted by: who walk in brooklyn at July 30, 2007 11:41 AM

This is really the sort of stuff the Downzoners are really encouraging. Miles and miles of dumpy poorly thought out places with driveways. Low density, low rise, a tribute to the opponents of 360 Smith.

Posted by: Niccolo Machiavelli at July 30, 2007 12:10 PM

The house on the right I think is my parents' block, Bedford between Quentin and R, right? That house has been there for awhile, but it was one of the first teardown fuglies in that area. Sad to say, there are many more like it now...

Posted by: Rocknrope at July 30, 2007 12:14 PM

Did he really ask "Who's Gil [Hodges]?"

Posted by: Anonymous at July 30, 2007 1:15 PM

Those multiple white doors and the lovely expanse of cement on the left-side properties are bad bad bad. The property on the right...words...can't express...(*gag*)

Posted by: zeebee at July 30, 2007 3:46 PM

The one on the left is ugly, but surprisingly no fedders. Kill me, but I think the one on the right is kinda cool. Space age.

Posted by: hi! at July 30, 2007 4:20 PM

"Did he really ask who's Gil (Hodges?)"

I was asking the question on behalf of younger Forgotten Fans who might not remember his 1950s Dodgers exploits, or his 1969 Miracle Mets managership.

I mean, not everyone is 49, like your webmaster.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Posted by: Kevin Walsh at July 30, 2007 9:52 PM

I like the one on the right. But I also like the moniker frank lloyd wrong.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 30, 2007 11:55 PM

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