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November 17, 2009

Development Watch: Grandma's House No More

478-Grand-Avenue-1109.jpg
Writing up yesterday's atrocity on Underhill put us in the frame of mind to revisit another blight on the area, 478 Grand Avenue. Back in 2005, the original structure was being marketed by Corcoran as "Grandma's House," presumably in reference to its charming but somewhat rundown condition. A year later it had been replaced by a plywood box. And for sometime now it's been a cinderblock eyesore. Just look at that quality design and construction! It's a pleasure and an honor to share the same street.
Supersizing Grandma's House [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Grandma's House in Clinton Hill [Brownstoner]




Posted by Brownstoner at 2:42 PM | Comments (18)
Categories: Clinton Hill, Development

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Comments

I like the papa-bear, mama-bear, baby-bear fenestration pattern.
very whimsical. :-/


Posted by: Minard Lafever at November 17, 2009 2:48 PM

I am so tired of these ugly house being built all over Brooklyn. They are cheaply made and look terrible....I see way folks in Brooklyn are fighting for landmarking. Who wants to see this crap everyday.

Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at November 17, 2009 2:55 PM

What's with the cinderblock hating? Can we wait and see what facade is put over before commenting?

Posted by: denton at November 17, 2009 3:00 PM

Come on we all know what it's going to look like...just like the other poorly made homes going up in Brooklyn.

Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at November 17, 2009 3:03 PM

These sorts of buildings are worse than ugly, they are brainless. People say they looks third-world but many third world countries have charming vernacular architecture. This makes most prisons look gracious.

Posted by: Minard Lafever at November 17, 2009 3:04 PM

denton, look at the windows. Look at their odd sizes and haphazard placement; they don't even line up. Look at the front door barely the width of a bathroom door. Do you think this will look good when they cover up the cinderblock with stucco or synthetic siding?


Posted by: Minard Lafever at November 17, 2009 3:12 PM

This structures are ruining the borough. And why the balconies in the front of the house? Just tacky!

Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at November 17, 2009 3:20 PM

ooh looky, an upside-down AT&T add

Posted by: moreteasir at November 17, 2009 4:00 PM

Denton, it won't get a facade - it's been like this for a couple of years at least. The developers were fined several times and issued stop work orders because they did unpermitted work. They effectively destroyed the two story timber framed house dating from the mid to late 1850s and built this. They were not permitted to do so. As I recall, their work permit was for interior renovation etc., not for additional floor or demolition of the exterior.

They've been trying to sell this overbuilt travesty for a couple of years or so now. It's really too bad because the original house was cute, had a front porch, and was sold for a reasonable 500ish price (plus it was one of the oldest houses in the area).

Really a shame. I still can't believe they just built this and destoyed the old place without appropriate permits.

Posted by: 1842 at November 17, 2009 4:11 PM

so unbelievably upsetting.

Posted by: gkw at November 17, 2009 4:14 PM

the word is "criminal".

Posted by: Minard Lafever at November 17, 2009 5:04 PM

It looks like modern third world housing,and not in a good way. I've seen cinderblock across Guatemala; they tear down adobe to put this shit up.

Posted by: lucky_1998_WT_buyer at November 17, 2009 5:32 PM

The Balconies are good you can get a good view of Paris by night or the view of Sorrento with Amalfi in the back drop. You can breath the fresh air that is coming from the BQE. Nothing like playing poker and having a BBQ on your 6 by 6 balcony.

Posted by: hannible at November 17, 2009 11:06 PM

now now, that is on the other side of fulton which is not landmarked like your block BS. it is a whole different world over there!

Posted by: witchdoctor at November 18, 2009 3:14 AM

its not even done yet.

Posted by: Santa at November 18, 2009 9:49 AM

Awful, The buildings these days are really ugly.
I am so sick of seeing the name Fedders scream at me 500 times I look at a building.
You would think that the Fedders compnay could make air-conditioner covers that would come in a variety of colors to match the facades of buildings.

They really are ugly.

At least the old tenements did have fancy stone work on the outside.

Posted by: STARGAZER at November 18, 2009 10:06 AM

She also ran out of money and thus cannot continue the project. Poorly managed, poorly financed...voila. Also the house next to it was flooded when they were doing all the permit free work due to negligence on behalf of the 'skilled' workers.

Posted by: brokestone at November 18, 2009 2:25 PM

I'm still amazed that they can clear a violation for demolishing a building withoug permits with the simple payment of a $2500 fine (someone correct me if the amount was wrong). Also, it looks to be built bigger than the FAR allows...

Posted by: 1842 at November 18, 2009 2:55 PM

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