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May 30, 2008
3rd St. Landmark Crumbling; Is Whole Foods to Blame?
The single building that escaped demolition on the land occupied by Whole Foods' massive (and massively fallow) site on 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue is going to seed. The structure, which is owned by the entity that sold off adjacent plots to Whole Foods, was landmarked a couple years ago for being "a pioneering example of concrete construction in the United States." When it was designated a landmark, LPC Commission Chair Robert Tierney had this to say about it: “This mysterious, elegant, small building commands the attention of everyone who passes by it. By designating it as a landmark, we are preserving the last remaining structure of a complex that was one of the first industrial producers of concrete in the nation." Nowadays, the building's steps are coming apart, with pieces spilling onto 3rd Avenue, and graffiti's been painted on it in a few spots. According to a spokesperson for the LPC, the commission has contacted the landmark's owner on several occasions and gotten it sealed, hence the boarded-up windows. In 2005, when the landmark's owner hammered out an agreement (as per public records here) to give Whole Foods control of adjacent parcels for the development of its supermarket, it appears the grocer agreed to make structural repairs to the landmark so its owner could obtain a C of O that would allow him to have an intriguing assortment of buildings in the property: offices, an art gallery, and an auto-body supply store. (Paragraph in question from the deal is on the jump.) It's possible that subsequent agreements between Whole Foods and the building's owner superseded this, or that Whole Foods has no reason to make improvements to the building until it starts on its own project. Either way, between the barren Whole Foods site and the dilapidated landmark, the corner of 3rd and 3rd currently tells a sorry story about both the past and future of Gowanus.
360 3rd Avenue Landmark Designation [nyc.gov]
Gowanus Whole Foods Site Looks Anonymous & Abandoned [GL]
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Comments
That building was actually the showroom of Litchfield when he was developing Park Slope. He built it near the canal because that's what was used to ship in all the brownstone.
Posted by: Brooklynnative at May 30, 2008 10:46 AM
According to this article:
http://www.callalillie.com/archives/2005/01/the_future_of_p.html
the location had nothing to do with brownstone importation, rather, it was to do with the activities of Litchfield's Brooklyn Improvement Company in dredging the Gowanus. Indeed, from what I've read elsewhere, it seems that, though he owned large tracts of land in the slope, he didn't actually develop the land himself but rather sold it to developers.
Posted by: johnife at May 30, 2008 11:07 AM
John is right
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:22 AM
John is always right
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:33 AM
Looks like I stand corrected. I got my info from an old radio interview with Christopher Gray. I had always wondered about that building. Interesting link Johnnife.
Posted by: Brooklynnative at May 30, 2008 11:36 AM
I am glad they are thinking of another auto parts store. The community needs one.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:46 AM
seriously brownstoner you have to change the way you post pictures. wh not a rollover or something? having to reload the page each time is a pain in the ass.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:49 AM
Stoner's too worried about the log-in question. Many people have already complained about how he posts pictures - it gives him more hits - $$ for advertising.
Posted by: Brooklynnative at May 30, 2008 12:01 PM
This building was brick faced sometime between 1976-78. Prior to that it appeared like a limestone building, with smooth light gray sides. The brickface was a repair addition during the late seventies. I watched them "rehab" this building while commuting up to Sunset Park on the 3rd Ave. bus at that time and thought it was a travesty. I sincerely hope someone can restore the building to what it looked like then.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:04 PM
11:46,
Actually, an auto parts store with real customer service would be a welcome alternative to Pep Boys and Strauss. It might even encourage them to shape up or ship out. I even miss the Pippen radiator shop that used to be next door to this building; they had a sand-blasting booth there where you could get rusty stuff cleaned up for a very reasonable cost.
I agree totally with 11:49's picture comment by the way. Curbed has the same annoying image display method too.
Posted by: johnife at May 30, 2008 12:05 PM
I've always wondered about this elegant, decaying building. Thanks for all the info!
Posted by: GHB at May 30, 2008 12:45 PM
It's a beautiful building and I always wondered about it. It reminded me of the movie, "batteries not included."
They need to get their act together and restore that building.... but please for the love of GOD no more auto-body shops.
Posted by: Adam Dahill at May 30, 2008 1:04 PM
Outrageous treatment of a lovely building. We in the R.E. business are all replaceable in our roles as brokers, landlords, tenants.
Buildings list this are irreplaceable. Take care of them!
Posted by: chrishavens at May 30, 2008 1:18 PM
And then there's the less than promising ads for a demolition company wrapped around the place ...
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:26 PM
We don't need auto parts stores. We need a hotel called "Le Wasteland" or "Le Bleak".
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:33 PM
you commies should buy it with your own daddy's money and restore it if you like it so much
i say tear it down and use it for more parking
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:35 PM
how much more damage can whole foods do to this area? time for them to throw in the towel and GET THE HELL OUT.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 2:34 PM
1:35 "your own daddy's money"? who's daddy do you get your money from?
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 2:41 PM
Requiring registration almost destroyed this site once. If Mr. B wants to role the dice again, I will stick with him and hope for the best.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 2:58 PM
The problem with shopping at Whole Foods is that you have to go elsewhere to get your favorite peanut butter, cookies, junk food snacks, on and on and on!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 30, 2008 3:02 PM
Are they gonna dump all the waste oil on the Whole Food site into the Gowanus? Wouldn't that be the easieast solution? They are gonna clean it out anyway, right?
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:09 PM
2:58, I truly admire your loyalty to Mr. B but are you sure you posted on the right thread?
Posted by: Biff Champion at May 30, 2008 3:10 PM
Another nice photo of the building via Curbed today...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidfg/2441162182/
Posted by: denton at May 30, 2008 3:14 PM
and another one from 06
http://flickr.com/photos/ladd_halsey/125906308/
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:33 PM
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