Trends
April 28, 2008
At Toren, Even the Parking Goes Green
The New York Times name-checked Toren (a Brownstoner advertiser) in an article this weekend about the growing trend of developers using green features as a marketing tool. It used to be, even if developers used green building techniques, they weren't mentioned because "buyers associated that type of construction with lower-quality design or a lack of comfort." Now, green is the new black in New York City (though we doubt the same will be true for clothes, except on St. Patrick's Day). “There’s no question green adds a competitive advantage," Donald Capoccia, managing principal of Toren developer BFC Partners, told the Times. His development (where 15 of 240 units have sold since going on sale earlier this month) is aiming for gold LEED certification, second only to platinum in the environmental design rating system. And while the city dilly-dallies about finding a location for new power plants (there are currently none in the pipeline), Toren's energy will be supplied by five on-site 100-kilowatt generators. The green-focus doesn't end there for the building. In the hierarchy of parking lots, there once was only two categories: handicap and non-handicap. Toren has added one more: Hybrid. Bill Ross, director of Development Marketing at Halstead Brooklyn, told us hybrid vehicles will "get premiere parking so they don't have to wait as long" in the new parking garage, which is on the second and third floor (and not underground) because of an abandoned train station below. Take that, gas guzzlers!
When to Shout ‘Eco-Friendly’ [NY Times]
Closing Bell: Could The Toren Land the Mac Store? [Brownstoner]
SOM-designed Toren About to Hit the Market [Brownstoner]
April 3, 2008
Sex and the Brooklyn
It makes you wonder: Now that much of Manhattan has turned into a theme park version of "Sex and the City," would Carrie Bradshaw and the gang still live on the island? Probably not, since Manhattan is as played out as a pair of last season's Manolos. "It's expensive, and it's not what it used to be," Sarah Jessica Parker tells the Daily News. "That's why the outer boroughs are so desirable. The outer boroughs are pretty sexy. It's just a matter of time before they have their own shows." According to the article, "If 'Sex' were starting over today, Carrie would rock out Carroll Gardens. BFF Miranda started out in Park Slope, but later, she's bound to settle down with Steve, Brady and a brand new car in spacious Red Hook," while Samantha would roost in Long Island City and Charlotte would play house in Riverdale. The article has quotes from Brooklyn residents who say stuff like, "Carroll Gardens or Williamsburg have a little bit of the hip edge that Carrie has, so she'd be able to get away with her funky outfits and no one would think twice about it." Hip, edgy, less expensive than Manhattan: You heard it here first, folks. Also, the apocalypse is nigh.
Trendsetters Set Their Sights on Hip Alterna-Nabes [NY Daily News]
Photo by spinachdip.