LPC Urges 'Do Over' for 73 Pineapple Street Plan

thank god! this sounded like a disaster.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 9:16 AM

I don't understand why a developer wouldn't even make an effort to put something nice here. Surely it's a desirable location that would command high resale or rents.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 9:34 AM

The number of skilled craftsmen around today who can build something similar to what exists in Brooklyn Heights today is very small.

It is not economically feasible to build something comparable in this day and age.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 9:39 AM

9:39: BHA has been clear from the beginning that they don't need it to be what's similar to what exists now. Modern is fine. Just good modern, not crap.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 10:26 AM

I think the desire of the LPC, CB2 and BHA is that any new structure be both contemporary and contextual. This requires a good deal of care and skill in both the design and construction phases of a project. While I don't believe it is necessary to hire a star architect (especially in this case) in order to wow the governing entities I do believe it makes sense to hire an architect that has significant and successful experience working in landmarked districts and one that is effective in managing both the permitting and construction process. Considering that the redevelopment strategy by this owner is rental units, they have allocated only $4MM (approx.) for all hard cost improvements and their carrying costs have just gone up due to this setback I don't have a lot of faith that an appropriately designed and constructed project will ever come to fruition.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 11:33 AM

Follow up to 11:33.
The redevelopment strategy of rental units is at odds with the price that was paid. Massey Knakal had this on the market for $6.7MM. I am not sure why current owner ended up paying $7.4MM. Even at the lower number a developer is almost forced into a redevelopment "for sale" condo scenario. At least that strategy would have provided a little more capital for improvements which would end up, hopefully, allocated to design and material costs.

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 12:26 PM

Anyone know who the architect for this project?

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 12:44 PM

I live a few doors down, and the street directly outside this gated-off site is continually collapsing. I know that sounds odd, but about a month ago, I came home to find a car with one wheel stuck in the gigantic pothole, which the DOT filled in a couple of days later, and this process has happened at least 3 times since then. It was a giant hole last night, and filled in this morning! I wonder if the site has anything to do with the road collapse?

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 3:58 PM

And a follow up to 3:58 - those orange & blue barricades in the lower R corner of the picture are covering up and giant & dangerous sidewalk collapse - separate from the road collapse. Something is seriously wrong with the structural integrity of the ground over there...

Posted by: guest at August 15, 2007 4:00 PM