Historic District
May 22, 2008
Landmarks Rejects Plan To Turn Courtyard Into Garage
The Landmarks Preservation Commission still doesn't like the Pinnacle Group's proposal to turn Riverside Apartment's courtyard ino a 134-car, two-level parking garage (for rendering of the proposal, click here). Landmarks spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon wrote us, "The [Tuesday] hearing took about 2 hours, and the vast majority of people who testified opposed the propject. The Commission said the proposal needed to be substantially reworked, but took no vote. The Commissioners said that the apartment complex represents a significant improvement in affordable housing during the last decade of the 19th century. They said allowing the garage to be built in its proposed form would dishonor the spirit and socially conscious intent of the complex. What sets the complex apart from earlier tenements is that it occupies only half of the lot its built on to maximize light and air into the apartments. The garage would derogate from the purpose of the building, depriving residents of open space. No date was set for a return." Riverside tenants have accused the landlord of planning to turn the building condo (which Pinnacle denied) and of planning to profit by sharing the garage with Brooklyn Bridge Park-goers. For Landmark's decision on the BAM Cultural District streetscape improvements, click on the jump...
Preservationists Scuttle Brooklyn Heights Garage [NY Sun]
Garage Plan for Heights Building Rears Its Head Again [Brownstoner]
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May 5, 2008
Developer to Air Out 345 Adams Street
There are portions of 345 Adams Street, a city-owned building mainly occupied by the Department of Finance, that sunlight has never touched. Other parts, as in the last eight feet of the building's magnificent 16-foot ceilings, were blocked after the hideous but energy-efficient drop ceiling trend hit the nation by storm. But that will change now that Muss Development owns "the disgustingly ugly, city-owned office's" first two floors, 35,000 square feet, which the adjacent Marriott and Morton’s Steakhouse landlord intends to make beautiful and rent as retail space. Greenstone Realty CEO Robert Greenstone said Muss would remove the mezzanine and carve windows into the first two floors extending from Morton's to Willoughby Street. A third floor of "knock out windows" would be added in case the city wants to use them and sidewalk lights would illuminate the building at night. "We were going to put sconces on the walls but it looked too ordinary," said Greenstone, who is marketing the space. He provided us with renderings of the $18 million renovation that he said would be split between two high-end retailers. Of course Apple was brought up, but this time it's totally serious. (Did anybody really think the ultra-sleek iGadget manufacturer would move into the landmarked One Hanson Place, which though magnificent inside, is as far from the Apple aesthetic as possible before teetering into the viking look?) "They love iconic corners," Greenstone said of Apple, which he's worked extensively with in the company's effort to find their first Brooklyn throne. He said "One Hanson Place looks iconic but it's not iconic," mainly referring to what's outside (this is where architecture becomes important ). But 345 Adams Street is across from Borough Hall, Cadman Plaza and Brooklyn Heights, making it a top contender for "that iconic corner," said Greenstone. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, see jump for pictures of what's outside those future windows, taken from 16 Court Street ...