January 27, 2010

Closing Bell: Ode to the Franklin Trust Building

Karl Junkersfeld, a regular on the Brooklyn Heights Blog, has put together another one of his interesting videos about Brooklyn architectural history. This time, the focus is the Franklin Trust building at 166 Montague Street, a building which is currently being restored and renovated into condos. Enjoy!

January 12, 2010

Main Post Office Getting a Tune-Up

Did anyone else notice the scaffolding going up around the beautiful Brooklyn Main Post Office on Adams and Tillary? As far as we can tell, this is most likely the set-up for the $1,340,000 Federal Stimulus project that was awarded to the Boston-based firm Goody Clancey for roof replacement and facade repairs. Good stuff, but not sure why they couldn't find a local firm to do the work.

January 8, 2010

Bigger But Not Better in The Slope

Looking at this kind of before-and-after is a good way to get depressed. The transformation of 561 11th Street was noticed and mused upon by the blog Save The Slope:

We have no idea if the new building is great architecture or not. Personally we prefer the old building. One wonders, though, what has really been gained in this process? The new building is not dramatically larger than the old one. The old building could have been a 1- or 2-family; the new building appears to be a 3-family. Perhaps we have managed to squeeze another couple of people into Park Slope, which is great. Probably someone has made a lot of money in this transaction, or hopes to. But the one certainty is that we have lost a bit more of Park Slope's historic fabric and unique "sense of place".

Bummer.
11th Street: Another One Bites the Dust [Save The Slope] GMAP

One Hanson Denuded

For the first time in years and just in time for the opening of The Flea tomorrow, the facade of the old Williamsburg Savings Bank is scaffolding-free. In this photo from an hour ago, you can see workers taking down the final pieces. Sweet.

December 21, 2009

Closing Bell: More Architectural Regrets in The Slope

The blog Save Park Slope has the second in its series on architectural eyesores that could have been prevented if the Park Slope Historic District were larger; the first post is here.

December 18, 2009

Sunset Park Adventures

Urban adventurer/photographer Nathan Kensinger has been exploring Sunset Park of late. This photo is from the interior of the old Empire Electric warehouse that's been abandoned for the last decade. There are many more in this post. He also made a similar foray into the bowels of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and has plenty to show for it in the photography department.

December 10, 2009

Goldberger Props for Saratoga Avenue Community Center

New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger has just posted his list of the Ten Most Positive Architectural Events of 2009. There's one Brooklyn mention:

Brooklyn, the borough that didn’t get Frank Gehry’s new arena for the Nets, got something a lot smaller and much more suited to its immediate needs, which is an exceptionally handsome and dignified community center in Brownsville by the architect George Ranalli. The Saratoga Avenue Community Center, built by the New York City Housing Authority, is a small, self-assured brick building that loosely echoes Frank Lloyd Wright, but is altogether original, and stands as a welcome—and welcoming—reminder that the city government actually is capable of being a good client when it wants to be.

For the rest of Golderberger's list click here and to see more images of the community center check out the architect's website.
Ten Most Positive Architectural Events of 2009 [New Yorker via Curbed]
Saratoga Avenue Community Center [George Ranalli]

December 7, 2009

A Look at the Court-Livingston

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This week the Streetscapes lens is trained on the high-rise co-op at 66 Court Street, which is usually referred to nowadays as 75 Livingston. The building, which was finished in the late '20s, used to be called the Court-Livingston, and it was the first—and, as it turned out, only—big project architect Abraham J. Simberg undertook: "The Court Street building was a big project for a beginning architect, but Mr. Simberg developed a blocky, faceted neo-Gothic tower that is perfectly credible against the rest of the skyline. The owners began missing tax and mortgage payments in early 1929, however, and by 1932 the building had gone into receivership, according to a 1939 article in The New York Times. And Mr. Simberg? It is unfortunate that just after his big break the stock market crashed. Through the 1930s, he did a series of modest alterations, like many major architects."
Portrait of a Building as a Young High-Rise [NY Times] GMAP

November 30, 2009

In Praise of Wood-Frame Houses

This weekend's cover story in the real estate section of the Times was an appreciation of wood-frame houses, particularly those found in Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods dominated by brownstones and brick buildings. All of the story's Brooklyn examples are in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, and owners of frames in those neighborhoods (like neighborhood mainstays Mary Cole and DK Holland) say they prize their homes for their uniqueness as well as the country-in-the-city lifestyles the houses offer. One of the examples highlighted was 329 Adelphi Street (at right), which was a House of the Day twice: First when it was listed for $950,000 in June, and then in September when the asking had been shaved down to $795,000. The house, which needs a lot of renovation, sold quickly after its price had been lowered, according to broker Roslyn Huebener. The broker says that "most people who want wood frame will do whatever they can to get them. There’s that cult of wood-frame buyers.” She also says that many wood-frames sell at higher per-square-foot prices than their larger brownstone neighbors because they're in such limited supply.
Forgotten by Time and Termites [NY Times]

November 23, 2009

Bloomberg Editorial Disses Yards Arena Design

"The result still smacks of hack expediency. One of SHoP’s overlapping metal bands thins as it arches into a broad porch over a bleak plaza, where Gehry had planned to build a high, glass-walled public space. Instead we would have a toad hunkering at one of the most important intersections in Brooklyn, that of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues Fans would stand soaking on the plaza on rainy days. The broad cineplex-look entry awkwardly squeezes into a much tighter gathering space and concourse. The secondary entrances have shrunk to the size of subway holes." — Bloomberg

October 21, 2009

The Northside's Haunted House

With Halloween only ten days away, Forgotten NY today takes a look at "one of Brooklyn's more notable 'haunted houses'"—Williamsburg's 539 Driggs. In addition to the all the original, decrepit details and odd detritus visible through the windows, 539 Driggs is also notable for its rear house, accessible through a narrow side path. We still remember taking a quick duck down the alley shortly back in the early days of Brownstoner when we were still living in the 'Burg. Neat stuff. More photos and descriptions on the link.

October 16, 2009

House Tour Double-Shot This Weekend

Lots of ground to cover this weekend for house-tour lovers...Tomorrow, the 31st Annual Bedford Stuyvesant House Tour runs from 11 am to 4 pm; you can buy tickets in advance from Brownstone Books at 409 Lewis Avenue or pick them up at the kick-off spot at Brooklyn Academy High School at 832 Marcy Avenue. On Sunday, the action shifts to Prospect Heights, where ten homes—including three architects' residences—will be open for viewing. The self-guided tour goes from 12 to 5 p.m., and you can purchase tickets ($20 ahead; $25 same day) at Forest Floor Antiques at 659 Vanderbilt Avenue. For more info., call 718-393-7653 or visit their website.

October 14, 2009

2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

The developer of 2 Lefferts Place (at right) deserves some kind of medal or something. Though the property is not within the Clinton Hill Historic District, he still made every effort to build a contextual new building, down to the cornice (which actually looks a little big) and the choice of brick. Hopefully his choices will be rewarded by the marketplace. Meanwhile a few lots down across the street, at 19 Lefferts Place (photo on the jump), a developer's effort to create some kind of penthouse apartment has just marred the otherwise charming stretch of facades. Nice goin'.
Development Watch: 2 Lefferts Place Gets Windows [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 2 Lefferts Place [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Mini Flatiron Building Coming to Clinton Hill [Brownstoner] DOB

Continue reading "2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations"

October 9, 2009

Open House New York: Much More Than Houses

The seventh annual openhousenewyork event will take place this weekend; all told, there are over 350 events in all five boroughs showcasing New York architecture and design, and the scheduled tours and talks span a wide array of cultural key points. The line-up in Brooklyn, for example, includes a tour of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel, BAM, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Lyceum, the City Reliquary, Tom Otterness' studio, and a long list of historical sites that may or may not be on your radar, such as the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, the oldest home in New York City, or the St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. For the full (very full) listing, check out openhousenewyork's website. And did we mention that it's free?

October 2, 2009

The Venetian Unveiled

We took a look at The Venetian, Gravesend's attempt at classical opulence, last year when it was still in the throes of construction. A reader just sent in this photo with the news that all the scaffolding and other construction paraphernalia had recently been removed. Honestly, we're not entirely sure what to make of it. We had been assuming it would be entirely mock-worthy but it looks a lot better in reality than we had expected. We don't care much for the roof or those rounded upper corners but the lower floors actually look decent. Plus, judging from the renderings, the interiors are also not as garish as we would have thought. Of course, the whole thing rides on the choice of materials, which is hard to judge without being up close. We've got no idea about sales status, though last year Gowanus Lounge reported that condos there were asking $1 to $4 million. What do you think?
The Venetian: 16th-Century Living, Gravesend-Style [Brownstoner]
$2,000 a Foot in Gravesend? You Betcha [Brownstoner] GMAP

September 10, 2009

Ourousoff Weighs In On Barclay's Center Design

The results, unveiled on Wednesday, are somewhat more promising. Some of Mr. Gehry’s original ideas, like opening views from the sidewalk into the arena, have been restored. Mr. Ratner has reduced the size of the structure, moving team offices to another site. And Shop has wrapped it in an appealing rust-colored steel skin, which will make it less harsh on the eye. But it still falls short of the high architectural standards set by the design the city was originally promised. And too many questions remain unanswered about the overall plan — in particular, when and whether Mr. Ratner’s company, Forest City Ratner, will ever build the surrounding buildings, and, assuming it does, who will design them. Without them the cohesion of the original plan falls apart. - New York Times, 9/10/09

September 4, 2009

Bay Ridge McMansion

Returning from our refinancing closing a couple of weeks ago, we drove down Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge for a few blocks. There were some very charming houses we saw. This one at the corner of 86th Street was not one of them.

August 20, 2009

How the Argyle Greets 4th Avenue

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Following in the footsteps of another 4th Avenue ~~masterpiece~~ new condo, the Crest, behold the latest grate addition to the Park Avenue of Brooklyn's streetscape, this time c/o the Argyle. Jane Jacobs would love this! GMAP

July 16, 2009

Starchitect Power at Brooklyn Building Awards

The annual Brooklyn Building Awards ceremony, the results of which we told you about last month, was held last night at Stage 6 of Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. As you can see from this photo, the event had some serious star power in the form of internationally renowned architect Richard Meier. After food and drinks on the 4th floor terrace, the crowd adjourned to the third floor where Meier received an award in the Residential Multiple Dwelling category for On Prospect Park, the glassy, modern structure overlooking Grand Army Plaza; other winners included Galapagos Art Space in Dumbo and Brooklyn Children's Museum in Crown Heights. For a full list of awardees, click here.

July 7, 2009

BBG Visitor Center Design Unveiled, Award Announced

Yesterday the Brooklyn Botanic Garden gave the public its first views of its new Visitor Pavilion and announced that the design by Manhattan-based Weiss/Manfredi had won the Award for Excellence in Design by the Public Design Commission of the City of New York. There's lot of detail (and more renderings) over on the BBG site about the environmentally-friendly building, but the center, to be located at 900 Washington Avenue, will house new garden shop, an orientation room for tours and classes, an information desk, an event space, a refreshment bar, and restrooms.
A New Visitor Center [BBG]

June 24, 2009

It Came From 4th Ave: The Electryifying Conclusion!

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When we last checked in on the 4th Ave sliver at the corner of Carroll, the rental building's facade was sporting a snazzy new layer of cinder blocks. More recently, however, the cinder blocks have been covered with the same materials used on the side of the building—though the colors of the two sections of street-level facade are now different, and it's unclear when, if ever, the discrepancy will be remedied. Still: Progress! The other new thingamajig on the structure is a gated garbage can area that may well turn out to be the best looking thing about this building.
It Came From 4th Ave! [Brownstoner] GMAP

June 19, 2009

The Last of the Bungalows

How far Far Rockaway has fallen. (The Rockaways are technically in Queens but we're making a rare geographic exception in this case.) In the 1920s, the seaside community was a popular summer spot for the New York elite. Now, as these recent photos from the intrepid photographer Nathan Kensinger show, the beachside bungalows that define the Rockaways in the public's mind are largely abandoned, though some are occupied by squatters and others are being used for illicit activities like dog-fighting. Sad, indeed. Check out the Kensinger website for more interior and exterior photos.
Far Rockaway: Abandoned Bungalows [Kensinger]

Brooklyn Building Awards

When the Brooklyn Building Awards dinner is held on July 15, twelve projects will be honored, including the 221 McKibbin Street Industrial Center (left), the Perry Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (top right) and Greenpoint's Block Building (lower right). To have qualified for recognition, a project must have received its C of O or TCO by December 31, 2008. Other winners include the Galapagos Arts Space, the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Morris Manor. A complete list is provided on the jump. For more information about the winners or the awards ceremony, please contact Lori Raphael at the Brooklyn Chamber, (718) 875-1000 ext. 140.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Building Awards"

June 11, 2009

Scarano Opens Up to The Brooklyn Paper

Embattled architect Robert Scarano found the time to sit down with The Brooklyn Paper recently. Of course, that wasn't so hard given that he's gone from getting 600 projects a year back in 2006 and 2007 to "basically doing zero" now. He did have plenty thoughts about some of the higher-profile projects in the borough. On the new design for the Atlantic Yards Arena: "It’s a more buildable job... It’s not a great anchor, because it’s a lower-scale building." On Downtown Brooklyn: "The Oro is a typical 1980s design and it doesn’t speak well for the skyline. But the Toren is not a bad job." On Fourth Avenue: "They put up solid street walls and no storefronts. They isolated the street scene from the buildings." On Richard Meier: "There’s a tremendous slavery to Modernism in what he’s doing. But at least they’re trying to raise the bar and that’s what we’re trying to do, too."
Checkin’ In With…Robert Scarano [Brooklyn Paper]