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July 31, 2009

Development Watch: 51 Woodhull Street

51-woodhull-street-0709.jpg
This Radusky-designed monstrosity at 51 Woodhull Street in the Columbia Street Waterfront District appears to be nearing completion. We're not sure how many of the building's ten units will have views of the BQE. GMAP DOB




Posted by Brownstoner at 2:40 PM | Comments (15)
Categories: Columbia Street Waterfront, Development

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Comments

million dollar views. can't afford that.

Posted by: Petebklyn at July 31, 2009 2:43 PM

What makes this a monstrosity? Maybe it's nothing special architecturally, but it seems pretty inoffensive to me.

I'm not a big fan of casement windows, but in this case they're probably necessary to attenuate the noise from the highway.

Posted by: Sparafucile at July 31, 2009 2:58 PM

i seen much worse. this building isn't bad at all. hardly a 'monstrosity' by any standard.

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 3:08 PM

This "monstrosity" would be prettier if it were in Clinton Hill.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at July 31, 2009 3:15 PM

why does Henry Radusky suck so much?

Posted by: pfa at July 31, 2009 3:46 PM

Monstrosity = Proportions are crap, balconies in front, uses Home Depot cast lintels, doesn't line up with adjoining buildings, casement windows, no attempt at all to relate to surroundings, too tall, shitty construction. (see also "Tragedy of the Commons")

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

Good grief! I decide to take a peek into what's going on in Brownstoner, and it's business as usual.

"doesn't line up with adjoining buildings"
Are you looking at the same picture that I am?

"casement windows"

The horror!! Yes, those windows that happen to be terrific for energy conservation. Maybe we should just call them "green" windows and then they'll get your approval (and probably pay 20% more for them).

"no attempt at all to relate to surroundings"

Huh??? What in the world are you talking about? Does this look like some home in the Kansas plane or something?

"too tall"

We have certainly arrived at a strange place when a 5 story building in a central-city neighborhood is characterized as too tall!

Oh well, back to my hiatus. See everyone after the summer.

Posted by: benson at July 31, 2009 4:13 PM

When considering the surgical excision of TWO perfectly sound 1850's Italianate rowhouses that were demolished under the cover of darkness ( We all saw the DOB stop work orders), this building stands as a primo example of the utter disregard and destruction of our architectural and social-cultural heritage that has run rampant and unchecked throughout the last wave of real estate development. We're not talking vacant lots here anymore. Look no further today than recent developments on the brilliantly executed and perhaps unique low-stooped Greek Reveival 1840's block of row-houses on DeGraw, between Hicks and Columbia (midblock-south side), and one can predict the dim future of the non-landmarked Columbia Waterfront!...if there is any doubt why developers are so reviled, look no further...

Posted by: homesweethome at July 31, 2009 5:34 PM

It's a tragedy, but thank God for small mercies - no Fedders units.

Posted by: Architerrorist at July 31, 2009 9:04 PM

I think the proportions and styling were all done with sensitivinty to the neighboring buildings. It is taller, but reasonably so. There is nothing special about the building but I think it somewhat bizarre to refer to it as a "monstrosity".

Now the destruction of historically important and/or interesting buildings is a problem - but but I would imagine that is separate from the criticism of the architect...unless this Radusky is both architect and the developer who demolished the other buildings "under cover of darkness"??

Posted by: charlie127 at August 1, 2009 5:56 PM

The building juts out another 20' feet from adjacent buildings in the rear. A 80' tall cedar was cut down to make room for the extension. Unbelievably, this thing isn't the worst development on the block. The abortion on Columbia between Summit and Woodhull is worse.

Posted by: dvockins at August 3, 2009 9:18 AM


Not that I support cutting down trees... but trees do have lifespans ya know. That last little whimper about the poor 80-foot tree is silly. It probably only had another decade or so left anyway. The building will be around a lot longer. All the trees falling in Ditmas park with the storms?? It's because the trees are old. They are 100 yrs old. They're beginning their replacement cycle.

Anyway... this building is NOT a monstrosity. That's an absurd statement.

Also, balconies on the front? Seems nice to me. I'd like to sit on my front balcony with a drink and watch people on the street... no?

Posted by: tybur6 at August 3, 2009 10:05 AM

Sure, I can start rambling on about how the Brownstoner readers will pick on any supposedly questionable detail of a perfectly decent house/apartment and yet, when presented with this MONSTROSITY, quite a few of them will say nice things about it, most likely just for disagreement's sake... Instead, I will simply state the following:

THIS BUILDING (and many, many buildings like this one - there's no shortage of these in Brooklyn/Queens) SUCKS MY SALTY BALLS!

Feel free to alter the above statement by replacing "building" with "developer", "architect", and lastly, the whole reason why this MONSTROSITY was built in the first place, "future residents/owners".

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at August 3, 2009 10:30 AM

"The building will be around a lot longer." I doubt it. It was a northern white cedar. They can live for 1300 years.

And you won't be watching any people on the street from those balconies, unless the people are tow truck drivers hooking up broken down cars and the "street" is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United States.

Posted by: dvockins at August 3, 2009 12:20 PM

I agree with dvockins: the project on Columbia between Summitt and Woodhull (west side, midblock) ranks as THE eyesore of the year, if not of all time on Columbia Street. What's with that "ye olde brick" people?... and that kitchen clock built into the facade? It's painful to walk on this block now and think of what could have been if a developer/architect with at least some education and vision had a crack at it. I was thinking it could be stuccoed over, but in the wrong hands, it would probably make matters worse.

The only hope in the short-term would be the addition of european retractable canopies on the storefronts and fast growing trees (and possibly vines) to hide the whole mess. Has brownstoner covered this one?

Posted by: homesweethome at August 3, 2009 4:38 PM

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