October 30, 2009

Mattress Company Out, CoHousing Up In the Air

An eagle-eyed reader snapped this photo of some action at the mattress factory at 1901 8th Avenue. Why is this notable? It's the same building that the Brookyn CoHousing group spent much of the last year planning to buy and renovate for their experiment in communal living. Unfortunately, though, the CoHousing deal is not a done one. From what we hear, the owner of the property ran out of patience as the bank kept raising the financing hurdles for the CoHousing group and sold the property to another buyer recently (nothing is filed in public records yet). As we understand it, there is still the possibility that the new owner could work something out with CoHousing, but in the meantime the group is still looking for alternative sites. On the jump, a photo of the interior of the mattress factory from a few months ago.
More Trouble for CoHousing Group [Brownstoner]
Banks Throw Co-Housing Project a Curveball [Brownstoner]

Continue reading "Mattress Company Out, CoHousing Up In the Air"

September 29, 2009

Curb Cut-apalooza at The Minerva

Last week's brouhaha over a possible curb cut on a landmarked block of Prospect Heights prompted one reader to send in an update of a mega-curb cut in Greenwood. Over at 614 7th Avenue (the former Minerva site), all eleven new townhouses have their own garages, though most of them double up for curb access, which could make for some tight angles when there are cars parked on the street. But at least they tried to not take up all of the street parking.
614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]

September 3, 2009

Development Watch: 4th Avenue Best Western

Despite a partial Stop Work Order that's been in place since December, the Best Western at the corner of 26th Street and 4th Avenue in Greenwood Heights has risen to six out of an ultimate ten stories. According to the management company's website, the hotel's slated to open next Spring, a prediction that seems a little optimistic to us.
Development Watch: Best Western Hits 4th Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

July 31, 2009

614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later

When we last checked in on 614 7th Avenue, the cluster of eleven new townhouses on the site that once upon a time generated controversy over a plan to put up a building that would have blocked the statue of Minerva's view of Lady liberty, we ran a rather unflattering photo of one of the facade along with the comments of a reader who was unimpressed with the construction quality. Now another reader has sent in a photo of the finished product which we thought was only fair to share with you.
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]

July 23, 2009

300 20th Street Hits the Market

Poor Greenwood Heights residents. The best they can possibly hope for when it comes to new development is mediocrity and we're not even so sure this new project at 300 20th Street that just launched its sales effort makes it over that descriptive hurdle. On the plus side, the four-unit building has generously-sized windows and avoided any odd brick choice; on the minus side, these interiors feel so generic it's hard to muster any excitement. All four units are two-bedrooms, with two of them priced at $549,000 and two of them at $624,900. Predictions?
300 20th Street [Brownstone Real Estate] GMAP

June 30, 2009

23rd Street Tear-down Hits Rental Market

Remember back in 2007 when we told you about a cute woodframe house at 312 23rd Street that was getting torn down by a developer? Well, its replacement building is now finished and, not surprisingly, the developer has had to abandon plans to sell the units as condos. One apartment is on the market so far—a one-bedroom with yard and rec room for $2,500.
312 23rd Street Rental [Corcoran] GMAP
Documenting 'Tear Down & Build Up' on 23rd Street [Brownstoner]

June 22, 2009

Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue

After years of struggle, the development site at 614 7th Avenue that caught media attention for its potential to block the views from the Minerva statue in nearby Green-Wood Heights Cemetery to the Statue of Liberty finally ended up with a design that both DOB and the community could live with—eleven 14-foot-wide townhouses. Though not completed yet, they've been on the market since January, now for $999,000. A tipster walked by last week and was not particularly impressed: Along with this photo of the townhouse at the corner of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue, here's what he had to say. "No rebar in this wall, many holes cut, many filled in and now, wacky windows." Update: In the name of fair and balanced coverage, we've posted a photo below from Denton of the front of this development.
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]

June 12, 2009

Kitchen Bar Out, Lot 2 In

A tipster wrote in earlier this week with news that a new restaurant was in the works at 687 6th Avenue in Greenwood Heights in the former Kitchen Bar digs. Seems he wasn't the only one to notice the new sign above the door: A commenter on Brooklynian notes that the folks behind the coffee shop down the street were planning some kind of organic restaurant for the space. GMAP

June 10, 2009

CB6, Fifth Avenue BID Going After Bike Lane

The Fifth Avenue BID wants to do away with the bike lane that runs from Carroll Street to 24th Street, and Community Board 6 is listening, reports Streets Blog. The BID argues that the bike lane makes it too difficult for trucks to make deliveries to the many businesses that line the avenue and that more tickets are getting issued as a result. CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman has suggested a compromise—downgrading from a full-fledged bike lane to sharrows, lighter-weight markings. "The proposed scenario wouldn't do anything to help delivery drivers find curbside spots," writes the blog, "but it would force cyclists to kiss their dedicated space goodbye." Streets Blog thinks the answer lies in a fledgling program that's been experimented with along Fifth Avenue that makes metered parking more expensive at peak times.
Fifth Ave BID, CB6 Take Aim at Park Slope Bike Lane [Streets Blog]

May 29, 2009

Co-Housing Building May Be 'Most Energy Efficient' in NYC

The Brooklyn co-housing group's building at 1901 Eighth Ave is slated to be one of the greenest buildings in the city, according to the project's consultants: "The method of construction the group has adopted is called 'Passive House' or, as it is known in Germany where it originated, 'PassivHaus.' According to [co-housing spokesperson Alex] Marshall, it involves a set of techniques resulting in a nearly air-tight building that simultaneously is supplied with clean, fresh air. Often heating and air conditioning is unnecessary beyond minimal levels, he said, and energy use can be a tenth of what it is in an average building." The are only a handful of private homes in the U.S. that meet 'PassivHaus' standards. The co-housing group is now composed of 16 families and has space for 14 more, said Marshall.
Windsor Terrace Cohousing May Have Greenest Building in NYC [Eagle]
Brooklyn Co-Housing Lands in Greenwood Heights [Brownstoner] GMAP
Rendering from Brooklyn Co-Housing Website

May 4, 2009

Brooklyn Co-Housing Lands in Greenwood Heights

It was a big disappointment when the Brooklyn Co-Housing group had to walk away from its plans to take over the Carlton Mews project for financial reasons back in January. Good news though: The group has found a new home in Greenwood Heights. More specifically, we have learned that the Brooklyn Co-Housing went into contract in early March on the 40,000-square-foot former mattress factory at the corner of 19th Street and 8th Avenue. The group's website has a sketch of the building posted and has been working with Ken Levinson, the architect from Carlton Mews, to carve out 29 separate co-op apartments along with common dining, guest and recreation areas. So far 15 households have come aboard. The closing should happen in early June.
Fort Greene Co-Housing Deal Falls Apart [Brownstoner] GMAP

May 1, 2009

Development Watch: 214 25th Street

In response to a report from a neighbor about a collapsing parapet, the DOB slapped the conversion project at 214 25th Street in Greenwood Heights with a Full Stop Work Order on Wednesday (even though not much work has been going on). (We even hear that a homeless guy has been camping out here.) The action followed an "Emergency Declaration" two weeks earlier based on unsafe work conditions. Now the big question is whether HPD will step in and have to tear the whole thing down. GMAP DOB

April 29, 2009

Cherry Blossoms Galore in Green-Wood

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden isn't the only public space in Brooklyn for enjoying the early-blooming cherry blossoms this year: Green-Wood Cemetery sent out an e-blast yesterday touting the particularly scenic landscape at the 478-acre spread. Not only that, but admission is free every day! Call 718.768.7300 for more info.

April 10, 2009

Breaking the Rules in Greenwood Heights?

A concerned reader forwarded us this rendering of a new building currently going up at 668 6th Avenue in Greenwood Heights. What's the problem, you ask? According to R6B zoning, which this falls under, the height of the facade wall is limited to 40 feet. In this drawing (and in the building permit) it's 50 feet. Whoops. Then again, it shouldn't be that surprise that the envelope is getting pushed: The architect is a graduate of the Scarano School of Architecture, having earned is stripes at the original 614 7th Avenue. GMAP P*Shark DOB

February 26, 2009

Closing Bell: Green-Wood Cemetery Trolley Tour

Back by popular demand is the Green-Wood Cemetery Trolley Tour. On Sunday, April 26, Alexandra Kathryn Mosca, author of Images of America: Green-Wood Cemetery, returns to give her guided tour honoring Green-Wood's "Who's Who" of 19th-and early 20th-century New York. The event is $20 and according to BrooklynBabe will probably sell out fast like last time so reserve your seat now. To reserve, call (718) 768-7300 or online at greenwoodcemetery.org.

February 20, 2009

What's Up with 718 6th Avenue?

The new, and not very attractive, apartment building at 716-718 6th Avenue at the corner of 23rd Street looks finished but we can't dig up any effort to market the units either as rentals or condos. Anyone know what's going on with it? On a related note, CB7 just passed a resolution supporting the installation of a 3-way stop at this corner. GMAP P*Shark DOB

February 3, 2009

Streetlevel: C-Town Takes Over in Greenwood Heights

There's been a changing of the grocery guard in Greenwood Heights: National Supermarket is no longer holding watch at the corner of 25th Street and 4th Avenue. In its place: C-Town. Our tipster got a peek in the window and says it looks like the store is just days from opening. There's also some storage and office space on the second floor, we gather. How do the locals feel about this change? GMAP

February 2, 2009

Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'!

The development at 614 7th Avenue, an earlier design of which caused headline-grabbing outrage over the views it would have blocked between the Minerva statue in Green-Wood Cemetery and the Statue of Liberty, is moving along and the listings are already on the Corcoran site. In its current incarnation, the project is composed of 11 townhouses. The 14-foot-wide houses are priced at $1,100,000, if you can believe it. Hard to see how that happens. A close-up of the facades is on the jump.
614 7th Avenue [Corcoran] GMAP
322 23rd Street [Corcoran] GMAP
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner]
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]

Continue reading "Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'!"

Streetlevel: Vin Rouge Goes Dark

Less than two years after it opened at 629 Fifth Avenue in Greenwood Heights, much-loved ("a reason to love gentrification," one Yelper said) wine bar Vin Rouge closed its doors this weekend. According to a post on Brooklynian, the shuttering has something to do with a rent dispute as well as the declining economy, which can't be helping spots like this. Any other closings in this part of town recently? GMAP

December 29, 2008

Closing Bell: Green-Wood Cemetery in Winter

Lost in Brooklyn has been snapping winter photos of his favorite stomping grounds—Green-Wood Cemetery. We've got a few here. Click here for the entire series.

December 19, 2008

Trouble At at Fourth Avenue Tower-to-Be

683 Fourth Avenue was originally to be a 10-unit, 10-story tower, per the permit filed in 2006. The architect? Mr. Scarano. We found this rendering on the Cardinale Web site, claiming a 20,000 square foot project consisting of "12 units and stories of residential condominium space with units available in 2009." The date seems unlikely. There's a stop work order on the property, for one thing. Also, wasn't that Scarano fella being sued? GMAP DOB

Coggan + Crawford on 21st

There's a bit of a building boom on 21st Street, with a mixed bag of new construction. On the brighter side, the once Brooklyn-based firm Coggan + Crawford (they've since moved to Starkville, Mississippi) is already responsible for a green condo building next door, at 270 21st Street, which won an award from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce last year, and now they're making progress on 272, a four-story, four-unit condo in the making. Front and back renderings to the right. The developers are Chris Giancola and Lawrence Vento, also responsible for 270. Nice that they're trying a very different look. GMAP

December 16, 2008

Development Watch: 182A 26th Street

Just next to the future Best Western, on 26th Street and 4th Avenue, the building boom is still healthy. This building, the former site of an aluminum sided row house before it was demolished 10 years ago, went up fairly quickly, considering the first new building permit was issued in early 2007. The project's only endured two complaints, the last one in February claiming they failed to safeguard the site. The permit calls for a four-story building, though doesn't specify the number of units. The architect is Astoria-based Georgios Georgopoulos. Anybody know his work? Thoughts about this building? GMAP P*Shark DOB

December 15, 2008

Streetlevel: Café for Greenwood Heights/South Slope

A tipster kindly alerted us to Roots Cafe, a new coffee shop set to open soon at 639 A Fifth Avenue, between 18th and 19th Streets. "The owner is waiting on final permits to go through to open. Hopefully soon. He has had the store open a few days so people in the neighborhood can come in and check it out before it opens. Meet and greet type stuff. The decorations are pretty awesome. Very inviting atmosphere." Good news considering the loss of some other beloved cafés. GMAP

December 4, 2008

Development Watch: Best Western Hits 4th Avenue

Let's hope Brooklyn continues to grow as a tourist destination. The transformation from street of auto shops (see old building on right) to street of accommodations continues. Yet another hotel is going up, this one a Best Western at 764 4th Avenue, on the corner of 26th. The news came from a tipster who spotted the announcement on the Marshall Management Web site. The new building permit, filed in November of 07, calls for a 10-story building. Recently there's been some excavation, and the day we went by things were in full swing. GMAP P*Shark DOB

Greenwood Heights