Fort Greene
February 9, 2010
Stuff Actually Happening in the BAM Cultural District?
This week's issue of Crain's has an article about how steps are being taken to realize some of the long-held plans for the BAM Cultural District. First up, the newsy bit: This week BAM is expected to close on the ground-floor retail space at the Forte condo and "it will use that space to exhibit its archives and to produce other public programming." Aside from that, the story says the Theatre for a New Audience is supposed to break ground on its 27,500-square-foot facility in December, and BAM intends to start working on a new building it's constructing this summer. Work on a new park and landscaping is also scheduled to begin before the end of this year. Taken together, it's all very exciting, though as the piece notes, "the nascent arts neighborhood has had so many setbacks, it's easy to question whether these projects will be completed as scheduled, especially during a major recession." We'll just have to wait and see.
Curtain Rises on Brooklyn Arts Center [Crain's]
Fulton St. Theater Will Be New Home for Arts Orgs [Brownstoner]
BAM Theater for a New Audience Not Dead [Brownstoner]
BAM Cultural District: Alive If Not Exactly Kicking [Brownstoner]
BAM District Master Plan from DBP.
February 8, 2010
Closing Bell: Trailer Out for 'A Walk Around Fort Greene'
The trailer for a movie in production called "A Walk Around Fort Greene" hit Vimeo last week. Here's the synopsis: "A feature-length documentary about the black arts movement that exploded in Fort Greene from the mid 1980s through the 90s.The film features Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Vernon Reid, Carl Hancock Rux, Saul Williams, Lorna Simpson, Alva Rogers, Kevin Powell, Toure, Bill Stephany to name a few."
February 4, 2010
Closing Bell: Got Gentrification?
Tonight is the kick-off party for Mocada's latest show, "The Gentrification of Brooklyn: The Pink Elephant Speaks." The group show (including some artists who've been displaced by gentrification) delves into "how urban planning, eminent domain, and real estate development are affecting Brooklyn's communities and how residents throughout the borough are responding." The public is welcome at the opening reception tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at 80 Hanson Place.
February 3, 2010
Forte 100% Spoken For!
Well, that was crazy quick! The unsold units at the Forte condo on Ashland, which were transferred from developer to lender this summer and then put back on the market at massively reduced prices in November, are now all either sold or in contract. Adam Pacelli, the lead Corcoran broker for the building, says that six of the units available for sale have closed, 52 are in contract, and the remainder have pending contracts. Pacelli says Corcoran inherited 70 units to sell. (Streeteasy records confirm the numbers save for one condo the site says still isn't in contract.) When the condo went back on the market, most units were priced around $500 a foot. Surprised?
Forte Reboot Priced to Sell [Brownstoner] GMAP
Forte Officially Goes Back to the Bank [Brownstoner]
Clarett, Goldman Lose Control of Forté [Brownstoner]
February 2, 2010
(Below) StreetLevel: Newsstand for Atlantic-Pacific
A tipster sent in the following note late last week: "Saw something very exciting today. They're actually putting a newsstand within the Atlantic Avenue-Pacific Street subway station. There hasn't been one inside the station for as long as I've lived here (the only one has been on the outside of the turnstiles at the LIRR). I always thought this was an incredible waste of space (and money for the cash-strapped MTA), and found the waste particularly annoying when I wanted to grab a paper or drink between transfers. This one is right in the center of the station..." Exciting indeed. GMAP
The Verdi Inches Along
It's hardly time to break out the champagne over at The Verdi, but when you're talking about one of the more hideous buildings to hit the market in Fort Greene in recent memory, you gotta take your victories, however small, when you can: According to StreetEasy (via Curbed), three units at the beleaguered building closed at the end of last year, more than likely the ones that went into contract back in September 2008. StreetEasy also shows that another two units went into contract in December; both had most recently had their asking prices reduced to about 20 percent of initial 2007 levels. Still, it's a safe bet that these deals were done at around $500 a foot, still not cheap given the location and design. A request for further detail from the broker on the listing was ignored.
The Verdi Listings [Corcoran] GMAP
Sales with Small Discounts at Verdi [Curbed]
Prices Slashed at Verdi on Adelphi [Brownstoner]
Verdi's Sales Like Its Architecture: Ugly [Brownstoner]
At Verdi, All That Glitters Ain't Gold [Brownstoner]
New Development: Verdi on Adelphi [Brownstoner]
January 29, 2010
Streetlevel: Joya Expanding to Fulton Street
When we spotted a changing of the guard at 723 Fulton Street back in October, one commenter stated rather authoritatively that it was going to be "a Thai restaurant brought to you by an operator of a thai restaurant on Court Street south of Atlantic." Turns out that was right on the mark: Joya, the popular Court Street spot, will be expanding to the Fort Greene location, based upon an application taped up on the plywood shed. Excited?
Streetlevel: New Restaurant Coming to 723 Fulton [Brownstoner] GMAP
January 19, 2010
House of the Day: 143 St. Felix Street
This four-story Federal townhouse at 143 St. Felix Street in Fort Greene just hit the market. The three-family house is asking $1,595,000, which, if seems a tad high to us given the that it's not pristinely preserved and it's mighty close to the Atlantic Terminal Mall. Still, it's nothing to sniff at, and the fact that there are two rentals in addition to the owner's duplex means extra help paying the mortgage for an owner than only needs two floors to himself.
143 St. Felix Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
January 12, 2010
Carlton Mews Changes Hands
The troubled development site known as Carlton Mews in Fort Greene changed hands in the last weeks of the year for a price of $5,756,240. (The official transfer is posted on the jump.) The property, which was made up of three separate parcels of land (and included a former church), was originally going to be a new townhouse development into the real estate slide made it unfinanceable. Then it was going to be the site of Brooklyn CoHousing's experiment at group development, but that also fell apart due to financial realities. Now the site, which runs through the block from Carlton to Adelphi Avenues between Dekalb and Willoughby Avenues, has a new Yonkers-based owner by the name of Sprain Brooklyn Realty. Interestingly, Sprain Brook shares a CEO with Hudson Valley Bank, which was the lender on the property (to the tune of $8,650,000), suggesting that this is some kind of foreclosure in a purchase's clothing. We've got no idea what the plans for it are now. Anyone know?
Carlton Mews Cleans Up [Brownstoner] GMAP
Carlton Mews Back on Track [Brownstoner]
Carlton Mews Back to the Drawing Board [Brownstoner]
January 8, 2010
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.
January 6, 2010
Behold the Atlantic Terminal Pavilion
Only eight years after construction project began and 13 years since the design was selected, the new Atlantic Terminal officially opened yesterday. The $108 million design for the transportation hub (10 subways and five bus lines connect through it), constructed of limestone, granite and glass, features a 60-foot high atrium as its centerpiece. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Beep Marty Markowitz and Council Member Tish James joined MTA Chairman Jay Walder and LIRR President Helena Williams.
After a Delay, New Atlantic Terminal Pavilion Is Open [NY Times]
New LIRR Terminal Opens in Brooklyn [WNYC]
Brooklyn LIRR Terminal Opens [NY1]
Brooklyn Gets New Transit Pavilion [ABC Local]
Brooklyn Has New Transit Terminal Near Atlantic Yards [Star Ledger]
December 29, 2009
Closing Bell: Snowboarding on the Urban Slopes
From jsjcreative comes a video of people snowboarding in Fort Greene Park, the day after the big storm. More experienced boarders are teaching younger kids, and everyone is having a great time playing in the snow, and life is good. Unfortunately, it seems that it is illegal to snowboard in New York City parks, and rangers come over to let everyone know. Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. The people who were snowboarding, and the filmmakers who made this video, want to petition the city to change this policy. I can see where boarding off Riverside Park onto the West Side Highway would not be a good thing, but surely, there should be places in many of our parks where snowboarding could be allowed. What say you?
December 22, 2009
The Flea Popping Up in Williamsburgh Bank
We love getting scooped on our own stories! As several publications reported yesterday, The Brooklyn Flea has worked out a deal to set up shop in the historic Williamsburgh Bank building at One Hanson Place in Fort Greene this winter. The three-month, weekends-only residency kicks off on January 9th. As some readers will undoubtably be aware, the owners of the building had a tough time finding a large retail tenant given the landmarked status of the old bank interior so they've decided to turn it into an events space that will be known as Skylight One Hanson. We're obviously thrilled, not only because of the space's size, location and grandeur, but also because it will be the first time (other than an occasional Open House New York weekend) that the public has had unfettered access to view the architectural gem in many years. We're planning on having vendors on the main floor, the mezzanine and the basement. And, yes, there will be food!
Brooklyn Flea finds new winter home in Fort Greene [Crain's]
Brooklyn's Biggest Building Getting Popular Flea Market [NY Post]
Brooklyn Flea Moves Winter Market to One Hanson Place [NY Mag]
Brooklyn Flea Wintering in Brooklyn's Prettiest Building [L Magazine]
Brooklyn Flea Moves To One Hanson Place [Gothamist]
W'burg Savings Bank to House the Brooklyn Flea [Racked]
December 17, 2009
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace Showing Itself
Much of the scaffolding has come down at Atlantic Terrace, the affordable housing project next to the Atlantic Center Mall. Applications to live in the project became available in November, according to the Local.
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace Tops Out [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace Gaining Mass [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace Lopes Along [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace Rising [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terrace [Brownstoner] GMAP
AY-Area Affordable Housing: Made in the Shade [Brownstoner]
Mixed-Rate Building Next to Atlantic Yards [Brownstoner]
Strand Theater 2.0 Renderings Revealed
Details about the renovation of the Strand Theater in the BAM Cultural District were released in the summer of 2008 but these are the first renderings we've seen of the $17 million project. They come via a reader from the website of Leeser Architecture. The finished product will be about 20,000 square larger than the existing space and house two local non-profits, BRIC Arts and Urban Glass. There will be a new theatre, black box studio and art gallery in addition to classrooms and a media viewing space. When it was originally announced a completion date of next year was forecast but we have no idea if that's on track.
Fulton St. Theater Will Be New Home for Arts Orgs [Brownstoner] GMAP
December 16, 2009
Co-op of the Day: 7 South Portland Avenue, #3A
Last year, Apartment 5A at 7 South Portland Avenue in Fort Greene hit the market asking $425,000 and ultimately sold for $415,000. That unit however wasn't nearly as nice as this new listing for Apartment 3A. The half-floor, one-bedroom co-op has a light, airy feel and has recently undergone a tasteful renovation that maintained historic detail while lightening the space up. This one's asking $550,000. What do you think it'll go for?
7 South Portland Avenue, #3A [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Holy Crap! Atlantic Station Scheduled to Open Next Week!
This can only be described as the most momentous news in the history of time: The new LIRR terminal entrance at Atlantic Station is supposed to open to the public next week, according to a worker on the site. The MTA has been building the terminal at Flatbush and Hanson Place for what feels like an eternity. The worker also said that there's supposed to be a completion ceremony inside the facility tomorrow.
Atlantic Terminal Station: So Close! [Brownstoner]
A Peek Inside the Atlantic Terminal Station [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Terminal Station May One Day Be Complete! [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terminal Station [Brownstoner] GMAP
Atlantic Terminal Station Gets Glassy [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Terminal Station Starting to Show its Face [Brownstoner]
December 14, 2009
Streetlevel: Nigerian on Lafayette Finally a Go
It's been a long, hard road for EN, but the Nigerian restaurant finally opened its doors last week after a couple of years of delays. (We some some folks going in and out, though we've been unable to confirm if food is actually being served yet.) The slow timeline was due in large part to a complete disregard for Landmarks regulations upfront; after initially installing large plate glass windows with metal framing, the owner had to start from scratch with a new design and work within the LPC guidelines. Regardless, we're happy to see all that's in the past now and hope the new spot does well.
Streetlevel: Nigerian No Time Soon in Fort Greene [Brownstoner]
Streetlevel: Nigerian, Not Thai, for Lafayette [Brownstoner] GMAP
Car Alarm Incident Reveals Tensions in Fort Greene?
The Post did its best this weekend to drive a divisive wedge into the multi-culti image of Fort Greene by writing about a car alarm incident on Lafayette Avenue. In case you missed it, here's the play-by-play: Man (who turns out to be black) has a car whose alarm frequently goes off in the middle of the night; residents (plural) leave notes on car to ask him to fix his alarm; car owner does nothing to fix alarm; one of the residents, who turns out to be white, calls Council Member James to complain; James calls the car owner, who uses his anger over the changing demographics of the neighborhood and his Brooklyn cred to justify his inaction: "I don’t know what my fellow neighbors think goes on at night, but people come by and pillage vehicles! All of these little white people over here are not gonna dial 911 for a car alarm going off if it’s only once.” The article goes on to quote a older African American woman irked by the new arrivals and their wide-load strollers (never mind that the sidewalk on that stretch of Lafayette is barely wide enough to accommodate a single pedestrian), though she attributes the differences more to class than race. The article's attempt at pushing the race button feels like a stretch to us, but the one thing that does resonate is the attitude of people who've lived in any neighborhood for a long time—regardless of location or race—take towards newer arrivals who want to improve certain quality of life issues. "You haven't lived here long enough to deserve an opinion" or "If you don't like it then move" are familiar refrains. Last time we checked, though, we all pay taxes and there's no reason anyone should put up with illegal or unneighborly behavior simply because it's the status quo.
A Car Alarm, Gentrification and Fort Greene [NY Post]
December 9, 2009
Condo of the Day: 280 Carlton Avenue, #3
The brick townhouse at 280 Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene was converted into condos back in 2005 and Unit #3 sold in early 2006 for somewhere under $600,000. The 750-square-foot floor-through has just gone back on the market asking $679,000. The interiors look perfectly nice but the kicker is definitely the 400-square-foot terrace at the rear. The combined monthly charges are also low at $381. Like it?
280 Carlton Avenue, #3 [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
Avalon More Than 20% Rented and 10% Occupied
If you've noticed some lights on at Avalon Fort Greene, the mammoth new rental development at the corner of Myrtle and Flatbush Avenues, that's cuz somebody's home. There are now 78 apartments being occupied at the 650-unit project, which started marketing around Labor Day and only become ready for move-ins a couple of weeks ago. An additional 72 apartments have been rented, meaning the building's now 23% rented.
All Is Revealed at Avalon Fort Greene [Brownstoner]
Avalon Myrtle Showing Some Brick [Brownstoner]
Avalon Myrtle Passes the 3/4 Mark [Brownstoner] GMAP
Development Watch: Avalon Myrtle in High Gear [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Avalon Rising on Myrtle [Brownstoner]
Avalon is an advertiser on Brownstoner.com
December 8, 2009
218 Myrtle Has a Name: The Andrea
Thanks to a tipster, we've got this breaking shot of the new signage that just went up on the side of 218 Myrtle Avenue, the first of (hopefully) four buildings that John Catsimatidis' Red Apple group plans to build on this block. From the sign, we learn the name of the rental project: The Andrea. The website is just a landing page with a form to express early interest, so no pricing information yet.
Development Watch: 218 Myrtle Almost There [Brownstoner] GMAP
Catsimatidis' 218 Myrtle To Open in September [Brownstoner]
Updated Renderings of Catsimatidis' Myrtle Project [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 202 Myrtle Halfway There [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 202 Myrtle Rising [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 202 Myrtle Marches On [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 202 Myrtle Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 162 Myrtle Avenue [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis Tweaks Blueprints for Myrtle [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis Ready to Go on Myrtle? [Brownstoner]
December 4, 2009
City Ripping Up South Portland Bluestone
This photo was sent in earlier this morning by a resident of South Portland Avenue alarmed by the sight she woke up to this morning: A crew from the city's Department of Design and Construction tearing up of the landmarked bluestone sidewalk at the corner of Dekalb Avenue as part of the citywide effort to build out the traffic bumps on many corners. From her email:
Officially the city agency in charge of doing this work isn't allowed to destroy what is considered landmarked material (bluestone), and I've confirmed with LPC that the city has an LPC-approved permit requiring them to pour a dark (slate colored) concrete where they are creating the new bump out. What I was NOT expecting was what I saw this morning: the cherished bluestone slabs broken and destroyed, in the ACTUAL sidewalk, as they dig up the sidewalk to match the new higher height of the bump out curb. If I'm not mistaken, they have to put back whatever bluestone slabs they are forced to remove. (Still waiting from confirmation of this from LPC). I can only imagine that carefully removing and resetting old stone slabs is a very expensive and time consuming process, so I supposed "accidentally" forcing them to be chopped up and trashed is an easier solution. Man this makes me mad.
The on-site supervisor she spoke to told her DDC would reset whatever pieces of bluestone were still intact when all was said and done. From the looks of this photo, that's not a very encouraging prospect. What a botch! UPDATE: We've received word now that the FDNY is on the scene because of a gas leak relating to the removal of a lamp post on the corner yesterday. Developing...
November 30, 2009
Co-op of the Day: 101 Lafayette Avenue, #4D
This fourth-floor one-bedroom at 101 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene looks great to us—except for that kitchen, which couldn't be more characterless if it tried. Still, the co-op apartment has three exposures, generous proportions and nice layout. Given the new pricing down the street at the Forte, though, and that kitchen, the asking price of $525,000 may be a bit aggressive but probably not by that much: After all, there's not a lot of prewar apartment building product in Fort Greene and this one has a lot going for it.
101 Lafayette Avenue, #4D [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Bridgeview Diner
added February 9, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
222 Franklin Street
added February 8, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
La Petite Provence
added February 5, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Purple Yam
added February 4, 2010 12:00 PM in Ditmas Park -
Kasia's Restaurant
added February 3, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
myThai
added February 2, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Vinnie's Pizzeria
added February 1, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint, Williamsburg -
Vesuvio
added January 29, 2010 12:00 PM in Bay Ridge -
Sue Perette
added January 28, 2010 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Radegast Hall & Biergarten
added January 27, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg