November 19, 2009

Development Watch: Turnaround at 424 Waverly Avenue

What a difference two years makes! The owners of 426 Waverly Avenue purchased the aesthetically-challenged structure back in September 2007 for $1,166,000 and set about restoring it to its original glory. And what a job they've done! Hip, hip, hooray! GMAP DOB
2007 Photo from Property Shark

November 17, 2009

Development Watch: Grandma's House No More

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 A year later it had been replaced by a plywood box.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]

November 16, 2009

Closing Bell: Gradys Collective on Fulton

As Clinton Hill denizens may have already noticed, a new boutique opened up about a week ago at 923 Fulton Street. It's called Gradys Collective and is the brainchild of Lashunda Davis, founder of the Cure Beauty Bar next door. For a look at some of the merch, check out this blog post. Great to see this kind of thing on Fulton! GMAP

November 13, 2009

Big Turnout for 437 Waverly Auction

There was a big turnout and lots of bidding yesterday at the auction for the shell of a house at 437 Waverly Avenue in Clinton Hill. The first round of bidding was done privately on paper, with the highest bid coming in at $415,000. At that point, the public bidding started at $415,000 and quickly worked its way up to a winning bid of $540,000, well above what we thought it would go for (and far above the pricing widget average of $382,448. Surprised?
Waverly Shell Coming Up for Auction [Brownstoner]
437 Waverly Avenue [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark

November 12, 2009

Co-op of the Day: 40 Clarkson Avenue, #4F

If you're looking for a large prewar apartment for under $350 a foot, this co-op at 40 Clarkson Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens could be worth a look. The three-bedroom pad has over 1,200 square feet of space and a new kitchen to boot. The monthly maintenance is $1,000, pretty reasonable given the space, but you don't get a doorman with that. The location is good in terms of proximity to the park and the Q train. What's this particular block like?
40 Clarkson Avenue, #4F [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark

November 10, 2009

Waverly Shell Coming Up for Auction

As Clinton Hill Blog noted last week, the shell of a house at 437 Waverly Avenue is coming up for auction on Thursday. The house has become part of local lore, as it's sat vacant for the last decade. The same family lived there for 80 years before that but they never recorded the deed which is why it's been unable to be sold for so long; the ownership issues are now sorted out and the elderly daughter of the original owners will receive the proceeds. From what we gather, a recent engineer's report says that the building is structurally stable and that the front wall is in good shape as are most of the beams; however the roof and back wall need repairs. Bidding is expected to start around $450,000 but anything is possible. The auction takes place this Thursday at 2:30 pm in State Supreme Court, Part 76G, Room 575. It is an "as is" sale with no contingencies; the closing will be within 30 days.
437 Waverly Avenue [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark

November 6, 2009

Development Watch: Pratt Myrtle Gets Glassy

Pratt's new seven story academic and studio building at 524 Myrtle Avenue is moving along at a steady clip. When we checked in back in July, there were three stories on steel framing up and now all seven are up and there are some windows to boot. Sounds like a Fall 2010 opening is a lay-up.
Development Watch: Pratt Myrtle Rising [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Rat at Pratt [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Pratt Myrtle [Brownstoner] GMAP
Pratt Starts on New Myrtle Project [Brownstoner] P*Shark
Pratt Reveals Plans for Myrtle KFC Site [Brownstoner] DOB

Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

There's been a lot of speculation (in a neighborhoody, chit-chatty sort of way) about the sports bar that's going to be opening soon on Fulton Street between Vanderbilt and Clinton Avenues in Clinton Hill, so we were interested to receive the photo at right yesterday of the new signage being installed. Just to make sure they we're only going to 11, we rode by this morning to regard the handiwork ourselves and, sure enough, the name's "Chance 11"—anyone have any ideas what that might be a reference to? The sign might be a little flashy for our taste but at this point we're 100% rooting for any business that can generate foot traffic and stimulate the local economy in this part of town. On a related note, this block as a whole has really come a long way in the last few years, hasn't it?
Streetlevel: Sports Bar for Fulton [Brownstoner] GMAP

November 4, 2009

Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

Another church—just what the neighborhood needed. After years of lying fallow, it appears that the steel frame at 145 Clinton Avenue is finally getting some walls; the job was initially applied for in the early 1990s and the steel frame has been there as long as we can remember. The Celestial Church of Christ, which has headquarters facing Waverly Avenue and owns the entire through-lot, is the entity behind the job. It's really too bad that at a time when there are plenty of dwindling congregations in the area having a difficult time maintaining beautiful old churches that resources are being allocated to building a new structure that's sure to be an aesthetic bummer. GMAP P*Shark DOB

November 3, 2009

Co-op of the Day: 126 Greene Avenue, #2W

We've walked by 126 Greene Avenue (at Clinton) a zillion times but never seen the interior of an apartment there. Until now. Corcoran has a new listing up for a two-bedroom apartment at the 19-unit prewar building and it looks to be a beauty. The second-floor pad has high ceilings and lots of original detail. The location and finish choices of the kitchen are the only things that don't get us jazzed. The maintenance on the 1,000-square-foot apartment is a low $662 per month. Given all that, what do you make of the asking price of $599,000?
126 Greene Avenue, #2W [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

October 29, 2009

Closing Bell: Halloween in Clinton Hil

While many Brooklyn neighborhoods have long-standing Halloween traditions, one of the best has to be the annual makeover and performance at 313 Clinton Avenue. This year, the circus-themed event will take place every half-hour between 5 and 8 p.m. Other events in the area include the Fort Greene Park Halloweed Festival from 12-3 in the park, the Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest at 11:30 on the steps to the monument in the park, and the Society for Clinton Hill Halloween Walk which kicks off at 5 p.m. at the corner of Dekalb and Hall.

October 26, 2009

Streetlevel: Jiu-Jitsu Coming to Myrtle

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which already has two locations in South Brooklyn, is opening up a new studio in a storefront at 412 Myrtle Avenue between Vanderbilt and Clinton Avenues in Clinton Hill. We got a peek inside and it looks like it's going to be a big open space on the main floor with showers and lockers downstairs. Another nice feather in the cap of Myrtle Avenue. Come on, Fulton! GMAP

October 23, 2009

20 Clifton Place Sells, Kicks Widget's Ass

The widget underprices again! We've gotten used to the pricing widget being off by 10 to 15 percent, but in the case of 20 Clifton Place, a three-family in Clinton Hill that was on the market last spring for $899,000, it was off by 20 percent. The average reader prediction was for a selling price of $679,708 and the house closed on September 24 for $850,000. Quite a difference! Meanwhile next door, 22 Clifton Place, which never was a House of the Day, also closed last month for $1,200,000, quite a bit below what it was asking when it was an Open House Pick back in 2007 and in 2008.
House of the Day: 20 Clifton Place [Brownstoner] GMAP

October 22, 2009

Closing Bell: Fulton BID in Action!

This must be their first day in action, because two readers sent in photos of Fulton BID employees doing their best to up the quality of life along the somewhat beleaguered commercial strip. Second photo on the jump. Good stuff!

Continue reading "Closing Bell: Fulton BID in Action!"

October 21, 2009

House of the Day: 544 Washington Avenue

The two-family house at 544 Washington was recently renovated and appears to be in move-in condition. The only catch is that they have to find a brownstone buyer who doesn't give a hoot about original details and is happy with a Home Depot-esque kitchen. Another negative is that this block of Washington has a lot of traffic on it. On the plus side, the taxes are quite low at $1,800. What do you make of the asking price of $1,375,000?
544 Washington Avenue [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark

October 20, 2009

Closing Bell: Another Curbside Memorial

On the way to the office this morning we pedaled past this small memorial in front of 97B Vanderbilt Avenue, site of last evening's shooting. As The Local reported, a 28-year-old man who lived there was shot by a 20-year-old man who fled the scene. As of earlier today, he had not been apprehended.

October 19, 2009

Getting Close on Grand?

The coffee shop/book store (or whatever it's gonna be) at the corner of Clifton Place and Grand Avenue in New York looks like it may be getting close to opening: One night last week the new recessed lighting was blazing away. About time! It's only been, what, like four years?
Closing Bell: Clues on Clifton and Grand [Brownstoner] GMAP
Competition for Choice on Grand Avenue? [Brownstoner]

Dim Hopes for CNR's Senior Center

As we mentioned last week, CNR Healthcare was hoping to get special upzoning and build an outsized supportive services facility on Lefferts Place in Clinton Hill. At a community meeting held last Thursday with politicians who supported the idea, locals fought back passionately, according to The New York Times. “Our concern isn’t with the low-income housing for seniors; the project itself is an amazing and important project,” said John Katsos, president of the civic association. “We just feel that a project at that size and design is not inclusive of the community. Rezoning will set a bad precedent by opening up the entire block to massive development, and we’re all private residents.” In the face of community backlash, the politicians wobbled, and CNR said that it would not pursue the development project without support from the community. “We have to go back, assess what we learned tonight and figure out what our next steps are,” said Mitch Korbey, a lawyer representing CNR. GMAP
Prospects Dimming for Lefferts Senior Complex [The Local, NYT]
Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight [Brownstoner]
Lefferts Place Threatened by Healthcare Developer [Brownstoner]

October 16, 2009

270 Greene Avenue Hits the Market

Surely one of the ugliest buildings to be built in Clinton Hill ~~in recent memory~~ ever, 270 Greene Avenue finally hit the market after three years or so in the pipeline. DOB permits say that the building has six apartments, but only four are currently listed on StreetEasy. Prices range from $479,000 for a 987-square-foot two-bedroom to $635,000 for a 1,266-square-foot two-bedroom. Needless to say, we'll be surprised if these sell anytime soon for anywhere close to ask. Update: It looks like there is a stand-alone website up; there are also photos of the interiors viewable in the individual listings (like this one) that are much nicer than you'd think judging from the exterior.
270 Greene Avenue: Not a Good Looking Building [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 270 Greene Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

October 15, 2009

Streetlevel: New Fulton Restaurant Has a Name

The new restaurant venture at 946 Fulton Street at Cambridge Place is coming more into focus. Earlier this week a sign with the name Buka went up in the window. There's a spot by the same name in Washington, D.C. that serves African food, so maybe that's what's in store here as well.
New Restaurant/Bar for Fulton Street [Brownstoner] GMAP

Meeting About Special Lefferts Rezoning Request Tonight

We only just found about about this, probably because the organizers don't want the Brownstoner crowd showing up, but there's a meeting being held tonight about CNR Healthcare's proposal to get a special upzoning of a block of Lefferts Place to enable them to build an outsized supportive services facility on the otherwise residential block. There's a great deal of opposition from people who own homes on the neighboring two blocks. As we reported back in July, the company has shown an unwillingness to work with residents to find a more palatable solution, preferring instead to try to ram the rezoning down their throats. More than 200 people have signed the petition against the upzoning. The meeting takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at the senior center at 966 Fulton Street between Grand and Cambridge.

Closings and Move-Ins at 420 Classon Avenue

After a lengthy delay for much of this year, people are finally living at 420 Classon (aka The Hawthorne), the affordable housing conversion brought to you by the Pratt Area Community Council. We noticed that the first three closings hit public records last month, and a PACC rep told us that six families have already moved in. Another five are expected to move in over the next two months.
420 Classon Avenue Almost Ready for Lucky Winners [Brownstoner]
420 Classon Avenue: Waiting for the Lottery Results [Brownstoner]
Lottery for 420 Classon Avenue Kicks Off [Brownstoner] GMAP
Development Watch: Windows for 420 Classon Avenue [Brownstoner]
Present from PACC: 420 Classon Rendering [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: PACC on Classon [Brownstoner]
The Future of 418-422 Classon? [Brownstoner]

October 14, 2009

Development Watch: 28 Quincy Street

Since we last checked in on 28 Quincy Street, the most visible sign of progress is that the building now has its facade. More remarkable, however, is that this 12,000-square-foot development will only have two units! Wow. Update: A reader wrote in to say that he thinks there some kind of arts space planned for at least the ground floor, so maybe those apartments won't be quite so big after all.
Development Watch: 28 Quincy Gets Glassy [Brownstoner] GMAP
Development Watch: 28 Quincy Street [Brownstoner] P*Shark
A Double Dose of SWO for Quincy Street [Brownstoner] DOB

Fulton BID Gets a Leader

We're still waiting for official comment but we thought folks in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill would want to hear the news that the Fulton BID has appointed its first director. Phillipp Kellogg, a former head of the Fort Greene Association, and a longtime resident of the area has gotten the nod. Great news as far as we're concerned! We hear some of the streetscape improvements are already in the works...Bring it on.

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