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July 31, 2009

614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later

614-7th-Avenue-0709.jpg
When we last checked in on 614 7th Avenue, the cluster of eleven new townhouses on the site that once upon a time generated controversy over a plan to put up a building that would have blocked the statue of Minerva's view of Lady liberty, we ran a rather unflattering photo of one of the facade along with the comments of a reader who was unimpressed with the construction quality. Now another reader has sent in a photo of the finished product which we thought was only fair to share with you.
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:31 AM | Comments (17)
Categories: Development, Greenwood Heights

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Comments

Yawn!

And totally odd looking, besides, bot front, side (pictured here) and back.

As I stated before, regardless of finishes, buyer beware. Or purchase a good sub-pump, you'll need it.

Posted by: Action Jackson at July 31, 2009 11:56 AM

I usually don't get worked up on this site and engage in invective and hyperbole, but this building is criminally ugly. The only reason to live in such a place is so that you don't have to look at it. And where are those doors next to the teensy windows going? Are they planning on putting in balconies, or is it one small step for man, one giant leap to your death?

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 31, 2009 12:46 PM

"The only reason to live in such a place is so that you don't have to look at it."

Mr B., this has to be the quote of the day!

Posted by: Action Jackson at July 31, 2009 1:45 PM

All the homes (11 of them, ahem) have doors in place of where windows ought to be. Guess what they had in stock at Home Depot was cheaper than special order.

From looking at the front, they have these odd "piano-string-esque" Juliet balconies/guard rails.

Adding to the top notch design of the exterior of the building.

Posted by: Action Jackson at July 31, 2009 1:48 PM

That bizarre and horribly fugly teeny windowed wall can be salvaged by only one thing...
a Tetris themed graffiti mural.

Posted by: MAT at July 31, 2009 2:26 PM


I actually think this building is really well-designed. You've posted just about the most skillfully-cropped photo imaginable... the architectural details are pretty decent, IMHO. I'll try to grab a photo from the cemetery and will send it to B'stoner.

Posted by: 8thandprez at July 31, 2009 2:48 PM

AJ, is there anything in the area you like? Just checking... I think they look great myself. If these aren't 'contextual' in a good way, I don't know what is.

8p, thanks, my photo. Here's another from the cemetery, taken back in April.
http://www.pbase.com/dentontay/image/115570427

Posted by: denton at July 31, 2009 2:57 PM

I just can't see these things aging well. White plastic stucco is going to look very dingy after a few months. The design depends on it's crisp n' clean appearance.

MAT_ Don't worry. That wall is going to be a graf magnet.

Posted by: IMBY at July 31, 2009 3:19 PM

my brick townhouse was built in 1903. after 106 years, it looks beautiful. will we be able to say the same for this place in 2115? (let's pretend we'll still be alive then)

Posted by: pfa at July 31, 2009 3:42 PM

"All the homes (11 of them, ahem) have doors in place of where windows ought to be. Guess what they had in stock at Home Depot was cheaper than special order."

I think the doors are there because they allow the owners to have an entire window of walls but still have the abililty to have fresh air come in because that middle window is way to big to be opened and closed. Very though out by the developer if you ask me.

Posted by: Streetwise123 at July 31, 2009 3:52 PM

You've posted just about the most skillfully-cropped photo imaginable...

I agree, while not the last word in architectual ingenuity, the photo tried to skew the viewer to the most unflattring perspective. I pass them every day, they're alright.

Posted by: doldrums at July 31, 2009 4:19 PM

It's a side view shot. The side of the building is nothing special, that's true. I think it's pretty innocuous though. On the other hand, I think the front facades are very attractive, and the interiors are beautiful with tons of light and views of the city and cemetary. I don't get all the hostile comments on this one. If you want ugly, go look at all the new condo buildings on 16th street.

Posted by: Stuart at July 31, 2009 5:06 PM

"I think the doors are there because they allow the owners to have an entire window of walls but still have the abililty to have fresh air come in because that middle window is way to big to be opened and closed. Very though out by the developer if you ask me."

Yes, but they open IN. And at 14' wide, you cannot have anything near them, so they are worthless unless you plan to have zero furniture.

"You've posted just about the most skillfully-cropped photo imaginable..."

Um, that's how it looks. The crop has nothing to do with it, unfortunately.

And Denton, I have less of an issue with the architectural style of these shitboxes (cannot wait till 2115) and more of an issue of they way they are built: danger to the new owners, danger to the community and will kill the home values in the area when a $999 NB single family home begins to disintegrate.

There a fixer-upper frames in the area with better structural integrity.

Again, buyer beware...buckets in hand...especially in today's rain. Ought to be an interesting open house with the pumps running.

Posted by: Action Jackson at July 31, 2009 6:04 PM

Denton, yes, it does look much better from that angle. I didn't get that the original photo was a side view (if you took the side view of my house, it wouldn't look like much, either). It's still not my style, and those door-windows strike me as a disaster waiting to happen, but I'll retract the "criminally ugly" characterization.

Posted by: ProfRobert at July 31, 2009 7:10 PM

Now, THAT is an eyesore.

Posted by: charlie127 at August 1, 2009 6:00 PM

At our friends house...you should HEAR THE PUMPS RUNNING from the flooding the 11 buildings. Perhaps they should advertise built in swimming pools in the cellar.

Anyone who looks at these better have a really good building inspector in their employ!

I guess they don't have open houses on or after rainy days :)

Posted by: Action Jackson at August 2, 2009 1:45 PM

I still think those buildings are ugly and too tall for their surroundings. The day I went to look at them I found:
-a bottle of urine in the driveway
-a bag of feces in the driveway
-styrofoam beads all over the street and surrounding area from the workers shaving the material off the exterior walls.
Like all of today's construction, high end or not, it had no soul.

Posted by: someguy at August 3, 2009 1:07 AM

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