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January 21, 2009

New Lease on Life for Finger Building

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Poor Finger Building: It's been a rough few years, what with the Stop Work Orders, Scarano affiliation and, ultimately, foreclosure. The end of 2008, however, marked a turning point for the storied apartment tower. A month before the controversial decision by the BSA that cleared the way for the building to continue its climb to 17 stories, the property was purchased from the bank by GFI, a multi-tentacled real estate company, for $8,000,000. (In addition to a large mortgage brokerage business, they are also developing 470 Vanderbilt Avenue.) While the build-out continues, the hunt is on for a retail tenant for the 20,000-square-foot space that's just a hop, skip and skateboard trick away from the Bedford L. We'd be curious to hear what locals would like to see in that spot. Maybe something like Gourmet Garage? What do you think? GMAP P*Shark




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:31 AM | Comments (20)
Categories: Development, Williamsburg

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Comments

When I lived nearby there I wanted a non-multi storey development. The rest of the northside "upland" area is low level, the only tall stuff is around the park or on the waterfront.

What this proves tho' is that its ok to continually work illegally at nights and weekends and be a scofflaw to get a foundation poured before a rezoning change.

Posted by: dittoburg at January 21, 2009 10:47 AM

Not really, dittoburg. The owner who did that stuff lost the building in foreclosure.

Posted by: Atlantic Frantic at January 21, 2009 11:01 AM

Point taken.

Posted by: dittoburg at January 21, 2009 11:04 AM

Oh, so *that's* what's going up in this spot. Looked like a wasteland last summer, always a nice place to park. There's already a Sunac grocery across the street and another grocery a few blocks down. But it's not like Sunac is so great. It's more expensive than Citarella with quality bordering on 7-11. Why I think this location would be perfect for a food coop! I'm sure they won't have any trouble paying the rent. Or maybe the rumored Apple store? A hipster hotel?

Posted by: mopar at January 21, 2009 11:18 AM

GFI got a steal when they bought for $ 8MM. Especially since the decision by BSA comes almost immediately after the REO sale. You would almost think that GFI was divinely inspired. They had a nice vision and it said, "If you buy it, they will let you build." Anyone know of any ties between GFI and BSA?

Posted by: Ozymandius at January 21, 2009 11:23 AM

We in Clinton Hill take pride in the fact that our finger building, on Wash/Myrtle, will be larger than Williamsburg finger building!

Posted by: werner at January 21, 2009 11:25 AM

Where do u see that it was purchased for $8m.?

Posted by: shchune at January 21, 2009 1:10 PM

i am sincerely hoping that something will finally get built as this is a major eye sore.

obviously, that is an amazing location for a retailer. a grocery store would be great for the area. sunac has terrific quality - not sure about the 7-11 comment, but it's all upscale stuff and expensive. best for smaller purchases. the new khims on driggs is a bigger version of both sunac and their other store, but not the size of a true grocery store, so i don't think it would be that much competition.

i know that lots of people go to both the trader joes and whole foods in union square, but certainly, they would start going to a local outlet of either instead.

with that said, between fresh direct and the Pathmark in Long Island City (which, if you haven't been there, you should go if you have a car - it is a gift from god in terms of quantity of stuff and cheapness - and it's a million times better than the pathmarks i've been to in PS and CG), i don't personally really need another grocery store.

a store that i think is missing from all of gentrified brooklyn is bed bath and beyond. no way that a chain store like that would get approved in williamsburg though i think. north west williamsburg has close to zero chains.

Posted by: wine lover at January 21, 2009 1:33 PM

Geez, Tops is around the corner.

Anyways, I think a Barnes & Noble would be nice. Or a giant Starbucks.

Posted by: Heather at January 21, 2009 2:01 PM

How about a Walmart?

Posted by: dittoburg at January 21, 2009 2:13 PM

Walmart is not an option...the space is not big enough and they are not coming to Williamsburg. I like the "real" supermarket idea. I am tired of paying $5 for a tomato from Sunac. And I am sorry, but Tops doesn't cut it. It's better than it was but still.....

Posted by: misswilliamsburg at January 21, 2009 4:01 PM

no barnes and noble and no starbucks -- nothing like that could get approved i bet. altho, a starbucks would make a fortune at that location.

Posted by: wine lover at January 21, 2009 4:48 PM

There's that new grocery store on North 10th and Driggs that's pretty decent. Better then Sunac anyways. I can't see any big box stuff coming to the area anytime soon, except for that huge development over Kellogg's they are planning to build.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at January 21, 2009 5:17 PM

What northside really needs is a freakin' bank.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at January 21, 2009 5:19 PM

There is a bank, on bedford between N7 and N8, unless it closed.

Posted by: dittoburg at January 21, 2009 5:23 PM

I aggree, but banks are not really in the greatest position right now to be opening up new locations...ya know

Posted by: misswilliamsburg at January 21, 2009 5:39 PM

the bank is still there on bedford. believe a bank is going in on metropolitan and marcy. agree that the other side of the BQE is different and a box store is supposed to go up in the new development next to kelloggs.

Posted by: wine lover at January 21, 2009 5:53 PM

I don't want it necessarily, but I smell a hotel.
It would be nice if the space was big enough for a small movie theater. Or maybe a small museum? Like an annex from the New Museum? Just thoughts.

Oh well, it will probably end up being turned into a different set of condos eventually.

Posted by: Peanut at January 21, 2009 7:02 PM

The thing about Barnes and Noble and Starbucks, unlike, say, Mamalu's... is that they won't close randomly due to an owner losing interest in the business. They may close due to corporate restructuring, but they still seem more secure.

And me, I'm selfish. Either would make a great place to hang out during the day with a kid. Trust me, if a Barnes & Noble opened in Williamsburg, your tots will be hanging out there too. If not with you, than with your Tibetan.

Posted by: Heather at January 21, 2009 8:34 PM

And Tops is great. I don't understand the Tops hate. Especially when coupled with the standard party line about how all corporate stuff is omg evul.

Posted by: Heather at January 21, 2009 8:35 PM

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