Kensington
April 15, 2008
Work Stops At Caton Place Condos
Less than a year ago, workers were laboring over Labor Day to finish 23 Caton Place in Kensington, also known as Caton on the Park. Now, locals report that workers haven't been on the site for more than 10 days. But they probably aren't on vacation. According to the Department of Buildings, yesterday a full Stop Work Order was issued along with a 10-day letter of intent to revoke the developer's application, with 40 percent of the work completed. The referenced violation was blank last we checked. But there were several other violations listed with the Environmental Control Board. Here are a few: One day, inspectors found "diesel cans and gasoline cans stored on sidewalk open to pedestrians and children" and "concrete pour spilled over into [backyard]." On another day, a crane ball was left looming over public space. And on a separate occasion, inspectors found the sidewalk along E 8th St, about 100 feet in length, broken and full of debris. If completed, this eight-story building designed by Karl Fischer would have had 107 apartments. Anyone know what's going to happen now?
At 23 Caton Place, Laborers Labor on Labor Day [Brownstoner]
April 14, 2008
417 Caton Avenue Going For Another Flip
Neighbors are no doubt eager to see something built on this Kensington lot at Caton Avenue and 5th Street, supposedly complete with approved plans for luxury condos. City records indicate work was started on the property in 2003, but demolition didn't move very fast—two years later, a partially demolished building still existed on the seemingly abandoned and unsecured construction site. Meanwhile, the property has been bought and sold three times. In 2003, it was sold for $125,000. In 2004, it was sold for $900,000. And one year later, it was sold for $999,000. Now, it's on the market for $1.35 million. It looks like the current owner re-filed plans, but a Stop Work Order pre-dating the sale is still in place, which says: "This is a corner property and there is a construction site that is not closed off thre [sic] is a open gate and debris are falling all over the sidewalk on East 5 Street. Site has been abandoned for months." Coldwell Banker realtor Devonne Johnson said the 6,000-square-foot lot, listed for $1.35 million, has approved plans for a three-story, 10,000-square-foot condo building with six units (they weren't found). She said the owner, who could not be reached, "wants to free up capital." The property has been on the market for several months, and Johnson said she may have an interested buyer. According to the listing, the "community is eager to see this project built." But it doesn't seem like the best timing. What do you think the future holds for this corner lot: surface parking, another flip or new condos? P*Shark DOB
March 13, 2008
Development Watch: 23 Caton Place
The Karl Fischer design at 23 Caton Place in Kensington has topped out and most of the walls have been framed out. The 107-unit project, which is right across from the Kensington Stables, is being brought to you by developer Moshe Feller. Feller and Fischer have some other projects in the works over in Greenpoint. Presumably the Caton Place property will be on the market by summer at this rate.
At 23 Caton, Laboring on Labor Day [Brownstoner]GMAP P*Shark DOB
March 6, 2008
Co-op of the Day: 81 Ocean Parkway
Why are sponsors so consistently incapable of doing a sensitive renovation? A coat of white paint, a few gallons of polyurethane and a Home Depot kitchen and they're done. At least in the case of this three-bedroom, two-bathroom place at 81 Ocean Parkway in Kensington the apartment had some good bones that even a sponsor couldn't mess up. And given the asking price of $575,000 (and low monthly maintenance of $743), we bet buyers will be willing to swallow that eyesore of a kitchen.
81 Ocean Parkway [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark
March 4, 2008
Brooklyn Post Offices: Endless Bummer?
Is every single post office in Brooklyn a nightmare? Seems like it. There's consistent bitching (that we hear, anyway) about three in particular. Here's the latest on the most-loathed po's:
Kensington: Councilmember Bill De Blasio continues to work toward building a new post office for the neighborhood, which gained Internet fame via a You Tube vid last year. "We have been working closely with the Brooklyn Postmaster, Community Board 12 and the community," says De Blasio. "There are still complaints regarding postal service in 11218 but I have also heard some positive feedback.We would love to see a new post office in the neighborhood or a commercial postal unit in one of the local retail stores. This community is growing at a rapid pace and business owners and residents at the very least deserve a functioning postal facility."
Park Slope, 9th Street: The Brooklynian folks have a thread devoted to this place's suckitude. Comments range from this observation, "The line to pick up a package that you missed because they can't ring the correct bell is miles long. Usually 50 people waiting in the pick up line every weekend. Then it takes an average of 5-15 minutes for them to locate the package at the post office. How hard is it to have two people or more working the pick up line on Saturday's." to this one, "What do you expect from people who smoke too much crack (as i learned when i went to a party held by people who worked for the Brooklyn Post Office)?"
Boerum Hill, Atlantic near 4th Ave.: This is another neighborhood where there's noise about replacing the post office. GL reported the latest complaints about the facility yesterday, with one person saying they "had a horrendous, Third World experience at the Times Plaza" and another writing, "I have never had a package or letter that needed to be signed for delivered by them!"
So. Are there any halfway decent post offices in this borough?
A Drive to Replace the Post Office [Brownstoner]
Return to the Times Plaza Post Office: Not Fixed [Gowanus Lounge]
9th St Post Office [Brooklynian]
January 17, 2008
Condo of the Day: 150 Ocean Parkway
While the design of this 2003 condo building at 150 Ocean Parkway isn't likely to get potential buyers too excited, we think the developer deserves credit for lining up the facades and rooflines. Respect for surrounding buildings is a rare thing in this development climate! That doesn't mean that the price on this resale one-bedroom is a good one, though. The 630-square-footer is asking $349,000, or well over $500 a foot. According to PropertyShark, only one other unit has sold in that range, and it was back in 2006. Think this has a chance?
150 Ocean Parkway [Orrichio-Anderson] GMAP P*Shark
January 11, 2008
Rentals of the Day: Kensington Picks From Craigslist
A couple of years ago, we knew a lot of people who were moving to Kensington because rentals there were significantly cheaper than in lots of other parts of Brooklyn. When we checked out Craigslist for this batch of rentals, though, none of the apartments seemed like steals. Are there still deals to be had in the area? Here's what we saw, clockwise, from upper left:
1. Mult. 1-bed, 1-baths, 600-850-sf, terraces, $1600-1700; 955 Coney Island Ave.
2. 2-bedroom plus study, EIK, remodeled bath, $1,900; East 5th St. at Ditmas
3. Spacious studio with new kitchen, wood floor, $950; Ocean Pkwy at Ave. C
4. 1-BR plus office, apx. 1,000-sf; prewar detail, $1,675; East 10th St. at Caton
5. 4-bed, 2-bath, gut-renovated floor-thru, $2,800; Beverly Rd. at East 7th St.
December 12, 2007
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
A New Bar and Music Venue on 7th?
"According to a couple of sources, 7th street between 2nd and 3rd aves will soon be home to a new musical venue run by the good folks at Union Hall. Given the problems that I've heard about with their current location - i.e. noise complaints, it makes sense to open something in a location where noise is not an issue." [Food of the Future]
Luger's Mystery Room Opening Soon
178 Broadway, Williamsburg; (718) 387-7400
"Upon walking into Lugers in Brooklyn tonight I had noticed a big plaid curtain to the right of the bar. Looks as though the mystery room which I have inquired about many times before on the site is set to open by weeks end. The manager Tom has told me the it will open by the end of the week but he still has to see it to believe it himself, the project has been ongoing for over 5 years and has been held back numerous times due to environmental issues. Right now the room is filled with tables and chairs and is completely lit with lights." [Eater]
Tanoreen Will Relocate Within Bay Ridge
7704 Third Ave., nr. 77th St., Bay Ridge; 718-748-5600
"Tanoreen has decided to expand to accommodate all its new admirers, acquiring the lease on a nearby space twice its size. 'We're really tight on the weekend, and our lease is up. So now is the time to make the step,' chef-owner Rawia Bishara tells us. 'It will be four to five months, but we won’t be closing; we're going to move right from the one location to the other one in late spring.'" [Grub Street]
The best jelly doughnuts ever, a new wine shop in Windsor Terrace, and a mysterious new development in the Slope...
December 7, 2007
Condo of the Day: The Residence at Windsor Terrace
This new condo on the Windsor Terrace-Kensington border hit the market a couple of months ago, with Corcoran touting its “elegance, affordability and style.” How so? The eight units evidently have seven-foot windows, crown molding, Jacuzzis and “luminous white marble countertops”; in terms of affordability, the pricing is a touch higher than at other new developments in the area, like Park Circle. Two-bedrooms are asking between $509,000 and $560,000, or around $575 to $600 a square foot. (At Park Circle, which is about seven blocks away and has larger units, prices are running in the mid-$400 to mid-$500-a-foot range.) Since there are no interior pics on Corcoran’s website, it’s hard to judge whether the finishes transcend the ho-hum exterior and justify the prices. Anyone scoped them out?
Fort Hamilton Pkwy Listings [Corcoran] GMAP
October 23, 2007
Video: An Introduction to Kensington (and Environs)
We came across this video about Kensington produced by Turn Here and thought it was a fun intro for those of you who may not be all that familiar with life on the other side of the park.
Kensington Video [YouTube]