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March 24, 2008
Development Watch: 307 Atlantic Avenue
The old Academy Rubber Stamp Co. on Atlantic near Smith is in its end days as a developer plans to build a new residential building where it stands. The property was recently sold for $3,700,000, and plans have been filed with the DOB to construct an 8-story, 26-unit structure on the spot. (The DOB didn't approve the initial filing.) The architect on the project is Thomas Gilman, who is designing the 20-story tower slated for Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. There are no renderings for the project yet, but Gilman says the developer is a fan of contextual architecture. Presumably that won't mean looking exactly like its neighbor, The Smith. GMAP
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Comments
I'll start of with a 2 controversal posts on his....
1. The Smith really doesnt look all that bad now that its finished - just sort of blends away in an non-offensive way.
2. It is ridiculous that Atlantic Ave is zoned only to allow 8 stories - the strip (6 lanes wide) needs as much pedestrian traffic as it can get and it should allow for 12 stories at a minimum.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 1:12 PM
Agree. They allow monsters (260 feet) like the BLS dorm on State Street and keep Atlantic marginalized.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 1:36 PM
and the Smith looks a helluva lot better than this existing buidling.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 1:57 PM
The link to the filed plans seems to be wrong.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 2:03 PM
Any news on what is happening with the hotel and retail space at Smith...Also, no news on the gourmet foodstore on court street near the court house apts.
I will say that the Smith looks like any old building...
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 2:24 PM
Any news on what is happening with the hotel and retail space at Smith...Also, no news on the gourmet foodstore on court street near the court house apts.
I will say that the Smith looks like any old building...
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 2:24 PM
Not sure how much more the contextual the Smith could be unless it was smaller, it looks like a modern oversized brownstone. I like the smith except for the organish colored brick on the sides. Seems like other people are ok with it as well, which is saying a lot for new construction reviews on Brownstoner. Hopefully it gets some great retail in it.
As for the 20 story town is PLG, the last thing I would call it is contextual, but maybe this one will be different. I welcome some more modern architecture anyway.
Seems odd though that there will be the 13 story Smith, a 4 story brownstone, an 8 story building, and then more 4 story brownstones. Guess that happens all the time in NYC though.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 2:57 PM
Not sure how much more the contextual the Smith could be unless it was smaller, it looks like a modern oversized brownstone. I like the smith except for the organish colored brick on the sides. Seems like other people are ok with it as well, which is saying a lot for new construction reviews on Brownstoner. Hopefully it gets some great retail in it.
As for the 20 story town is PLG, the last thing I would call it is contextual, but maybe this one will be different. I welcome some more modern architecture anyway.
Seems odd though that there will be the 13 story Smith, a 4 story brownstone, an 8 story building, and then more 4 story brownstones. Guess that happens all the time in NYC though.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 3:00 PM
Really curious about retail at The Smith too. Those awnings they recently installed look suspiciously Gourmet Garage-esq. Wishful thinking probably...
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 3:01 PM
Any news regarding Trader Joe's. I thought it was supposed to open in March....havent seen any activity at the site at all
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 3:34 PM
According to very reliable sources in Boerum Hill, Trader Joe's is NOT coming to Atlantic Avenue. Due to a spat between TJ's corp office and the developer.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 3:53 PM
That would be a darn shame.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 4:02 PM
I think the rumor that TJs is not coming has already been debunked. Also, it is still listed on their website http://www.traderjoes.com/locations.asp
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 4:07 PM
"As for the 20 story town is PLG, the last thing I would call it is contextual"
There is a 17-story apartment building one block away from the future 20-story building. Whether that provides enough context for you or for some by your own definition, that would be subjective. Many people think high-density housing is contextual on Flatbush next to a subway and bus stop, immediately surrounded solely by high density apartment and coop buildings, and down the street from another modern glass building (Meier's) also bordering the park.
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 5:45 PM
Unfortunately, contextual zoning is what NIMBY types use to mean "it's too tall".
You know those same people look at that 17-story building in PLG and praise their god the Great Depression hit. It reminds them of what would have been had that financial disaster not happened. When was it built? 1928?
Posted by: Polemicist at March 24, 2008 6:13 PM
I, at 3:00, am fine with tall buildings. What I meant to do was point out that if The Smith is not contextual, then there is no way the other building is contextual. Both are great. Yay tall buildings! (as long as they don't block my view of course)
Posted by: guest at March 24, 2008 8:54 PM
Polemicist, you twit, those 17-story buildingsin PLG are Patio Gardens and there are about 4 of them on Flatbush Ave just south of the proposed 20-story place. They are decidedly post-war, having been built in 1962.
The Great Depression had nothing to do with it.
Posted by: guest at March 25, 2008 6:43 PM
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