Condos of the Day: Goings-On at the Gretsch

this is a truly lovely building, and is more convenient than the NY Times said in last sunday's paper (there are both drug and grocery stores within a couple of blocks on Broadway and a big Korean deli).

however, having been over to my friend's apt in the building, agree that the layouts need to be re-configured typically to suit a families' needs. has a fabulous bachelor pad feel though!

I know 2 families looking right now only in williamsburg (both looking at million + apts) and both have a pre-schooler plus one couple is expecting another baby.

If I had a place there, I would bring in an architect. My friend had an architect look at her place and for about $50K, could re-do into a good sized 2 bedrooms.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 12:57 PM

I agree with Stoner. These places look pretty nice to me.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 12:57 PM

Cookie cutter layouts. Always lame.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:03 PM

ah...the Gretsch. Loved living there; love the building. Had to relocate to London for a few years but I kept my apartment there and am renting it out. The views from the higher floor apartments facing North are absolutely spectacular and the high ceilings really enhance the feeling of spaciousness. Great, solid building with a lot of character.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:26 PM

Apartment 5B is essentially a square. (My cookies tend to be round.) And, it is an open-plan apartment. How would you "creatively" carve up a rectangular floor plate, 1:03

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:34 PM

$935,000 for a studio apartment?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:36 PM

No, $935,000 to share an elevator with Anthony Hopkins. Bargain!

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 1:52 PM

#1:03pm - really, if you are totally uniformed about something, you should keep your mouth shut. anyone who has been to this building could tell you that it's remarkable.

crawl back in to your garden apt in your crappy unrenovated brownstone, and leave the cool apartments to the cool people.

btw - don't all brownstones really have cookie cutter layouts??

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:05 PM

^^^^^^^Ooops a gretchie must have been inflamed here. You know everyone has the right to an opinion. THat how Brownstoner makes money. Slow day Brownstoner?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:18 PM

Oh I see, 2.18, the slow day moron, has exposed himself with his diabolical grammar -he is the tWhat. Should have seen that before.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:23 PM

nerds...the lot of ya.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:42 PM

A brownstone at least has character, sunshine. Sod off. This is just a modern box. Click on any of the buildings advertised on the brownstoner home page. Modern boxes. Nothing special. Cookie cookie (the person who wrote "My cookies tend to be round" is a moron). Nice try at being snarky, but you failed since you're obviously too dumb to not realize how that term has been used, for like ever.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:46 PM

the gretsch is sooo not a box. and brownstones get sunshine?? compared to any apt? are you joking? the upper level apts here have stunning views and get amazing light. even a friend's 3rd floor apt in the back is all windows and gets great light.

you simply can't appreciate this building without going into it. nothing box like about most of the apts. and it's stunning. the average brownstone is a big fat snore fest compared to this architectural feat.

and, i don't live there. but, seriously, anyone who doesn't get how special this place is ignorant.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 2:52 PM

To answer the question about families in the Gretsch there's a joke with the doormen that there is something in the buildings water system since there are so many new Gretsch babies.
There aren't many older children maybe 5 or 6 but there are a lot of infants and toddlers and more on the way.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:00 PM

God, you morons could argue and flame each other about what brand of toilet paper is more luxurious...

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:16 PM

Marcal is the real Williamsburg

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:23 PM

lets see here....

buy a studio in the building for $515k, or rent one for $2000 a month?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:27 PM

Doesn't some rapper live in the Penthouse, there? Can't remember who.

I really like this part of Williamsburg -- it's well removed from the hell that is Bedford Avenue, and retains a real urban funkiness.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:35 PM

2.52 - he was calling you sunshine. I'm sure he wasn't trying to claim brownstones get sunshine!

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:37 PM

Penthouse: Busta Rhymes "sold it" to Fiddy Cent.

Are all the apt listed the south facing ones by any chance?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:42 PM

Indeed I was calling the person sunshine. Perhaps muppet would have been better.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:53 PM

I believe poptart would be the more american expression.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:58 PM

I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 3:59 PM

Well, in answer to Heather and 3:42, perhaps people were getting sick of large (and, perhaps, loud) entourages hogging the elevator and all decided to move out.

Pure conjecture, of course.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 4:11 PM

these prices are still ridiculously expensive, especially in this market. 3B sold in december 2005 for $880,000 and now less than 3 years later is asking $1,295,000. that's an appreciation of close to 47% from 2005 to 2008 or approximately 16% per year.

if that isn't a sign of unrealistic seller expectations (a $415,000 profit in less than 3 years), i don't know what is!!

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 4:40 PM

Just a bunch of delusional greedy *unts.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 5:04 PM

I heard there was a building going up directly behind the Gretsch that would create a sort of tenement-courtyard vibe for the south facing condos.

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 5:19 PM

Does Anthony Hopkins actually own a unit there, or is that hearsay?

Posted by: guest at May 20, 2008 5:50 PM

My only problem with the building is that they still have not delivered the promised parking.

I was going to buy one of the penthouses, but had to back out over the parking. I know that most NYers do not have cars, but I do and I would think that other people that can afford to live in the Gretsch would too.

There is no other indoor parking in the area except for at Schaeffer Landing. And that was not there at the time the Gretsch was ready to be occupied.

The lot in back is still empty. If they ever get around to buidling the parking structure some of the units in the back are going to losing their light and will be facing a wall.

Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 11:10 AM

Yes, not having parking is a bummer. I park my car at Schaeffer and only use it during the weekend, so not much of a hassle. We've been told that when the building goes up in the back lot, it will have parking (and yes, it will block some of the South-facing buildings). Would have to say that other than the parking issue, the Gretsch is one of the nicest buildings in Wburg. Solid feeling (never have heard a neighbor) with great finishes. Some of the asking prices are crazy (especially for the 1BR duplexes) but I guess it's just based on what the market is for the building. Probably not so bad when compared to the Edge asking price of $1,000 sq ft (but, not sure if they are selling at that price). And yes, there does seem to be a lot of kids/newborns lately...

Posted by: guest at May 22, 2008 11:01 AM

I think the gretsch is a good building with some really hideous giant kitchens in the actual apartments (which work OK for the huge units but are a waste of space for studios and 1BRs). I was interested in an south facing apartment but then I was concerned that they would build something in the back lot and kill my view 100%. Considering that in streeteasy the there is a "sold lot" for 2.6m, I just think that something will come up over there and that's way most of the buildings on sale are on the back from the 5th floor down.

Posted by: guest at May 22, 2008 9:08 PM

What's the address of the lot behind Gretsch? Any ideas on when that building will be going up?

Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 8:54 AM