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First Event at South BK Children’s Garden This Weekend
The South Brooklyn Children’s Garden, long in the works for the Columbia Street Waterfront, will open for its first public event this weekend! In the past year the garden organizers lost their lease to the city for the corner lot at Sackett and Columbia Streets, then got it back. Since inking the lease, they’ve been busy setting up 20 raised beds, planting, and launching a composting drop-off site for the community. This Saturday, April 20 the garden will hold its Inaugural Worm Festival from 10 am to 2 pm. According to them, “The first free public event of SBCG will celebrate worms for the central role that they play in the success of gardens and unveil a community composting drop-off site.” There will be worm-related arts and crafts, planting and live music. The SBCG hopes to establish itself as a physical and educational space in the neighborhood where children can learn about gardening, food cultivation, and the environment.
Photo via the SBCG’s Facebook
04/18/2013 12:00 PM
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New Build Rising off the Columbia Street Waterfront
This month the Department of Buildings issued new building permits for a six-unit, three-story building right off the Columbia Street Waterfront at 111-113 Kane Street. The lot is 4,046 square feet with a total of 8,092 buildable square feet. This Massey Knackal listing says that it’s “prime for condominium development.” The lot was asking $1,450,000 and it sold in August for $1,625,000. Above, the current state of construction. GMAP
03/25/2013 11:00 AM
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Condo of the Day: 29 Tiffany Place #4J
This FSBO that just hit the market at 29 Tiffany Place in the Columbia Street Waterfront District has a lot going for it. The two exposures, high ceilings and great views are all well and good, but it’s the original wood-beamed ceiling that is the real show stopper! Very nice. While just 1,100 square feet, the condo unit is well laid out, accommodating three decent-sized bedrooms in addition to a generous living and dining area. Asking price is $945,000.
29 Tiffany Place #4J [FSBO] GMAP P*Shark
03/19/2013 12:58 PM
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Two New Townhouses Planned for Columbia St. Waterfront
Later this month Community Board Six will hold a public hearing about two new townhouses planned for 96-98 Degraw Street between Columbia and Van Brunt Streets in the Columbia Street Waterfront District. The developers, who are listed under “The Green Witch Project LLC” and “The Other Half LLC” (anybody have any clue what that could stand for?), are seeking a variance for the build. The plan is for two, three-story, approximately 3,100-square-foot single-family homes. If you’d like to attend the public hearing, the meeting is scheduled for February 28th; the location is to be determined.
Photo via Google Maps
02/04/2013 9:00 AM
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Flooding Due to Construction Accident on Columbia Street
We heard from a tipster yesterday afternoon that during work on a construction site at 255 Columbia Street, the former Sokol Brothers Building, workers must have damaged a water main causing several buildings on the street to be flooded. A stop work order was issued by the building department yesterday because construction on the site “caused a water pipe to burst, flooding neighboring properties, entire block.” The order indicates that cellars have been flooded at 249 and 257. According to our tipster 259 is flooded too and, “two apartment buildings are uninhabitable right now – we’re not allowed in – and the grocery store is out of commission for time being.” This isn’t the first time there have been problems at the site. A Stop Work Order was issued back in June–the developer lacked a full demolition permit it needed. Anyone know anything more about the cause or the damage? Click through for more pictures. (more…)
01/30/2013 9:00 AM
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Upkeep at Affordable Building on Waterfront
A tipster sent in these photos of a building on the Columbia Street Waterfront that seems to be getting some work done. An affordable housing banner from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development hangs on the scaffolding. We thought maybe this eight-unit building at 143 Columbia Street was being converted into affordable housing, but it appears that already happened in the early ’90s and the brick facade is merely being repointed. As far as we can tell, the building was converted in the early ’90s by the Carroll Gardens Association Inc. The current owner is the South Brooklyn Renewal Housing Development Fund Corp., and the only permits filed since the early ’90s are ones for repointing and a sidewalk shed. Anyone have any more information?
12/17/2012 10:30 AM
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House of the Day: 29 Woodhull Street
We think this is an attractive building — but it’s located close to the shore in Red Hook and the approach to the Battery Tunnel. The building has five units and “is in great condition,” according to the listing, which appears to have been updated overnight. “Showings will begin in the late fall,” it says. Maybe they are doing some cleanup? What do you think of the building and its asking price of $2,195,000? Do you think recent events will have any bearing on its salability?
29 Woodhull Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
11/05/2012 1:30 PM
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Apartment Building in Motion on Kane Street
A tipster sent along this photo of work starting up at 111-113 Kane Street, an empty lot between Hicks and Columbia streets near the Columbia Street Waterfront. According to an old Massey Knakal press release, the lot (with 8,100 buildable square feet) sold for $1,625,000 this summer. The DOB issued a new building permit for seven stories and 14 units, but we found another building application for this site approving six stories and 12 units. So what’s it gonna be? Regardless of how many stories, this area isn’t landmarked so the facade will be a toss up.
10/18/2012 10:00 AM
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Revamp for Restaurant on Union Street
Just Another Brooklyn Blog profiled the revamped Lilla Cafe, on Union Street off the Columbia Street Waterfront. Recently the restaurant renovated the space and focused the new menu on southern fare. They also lowered the prices to compete with nearby Calexico. As JABB says, “An order of very tasty hush puppies is $5.50, crispy mac and cheese croquetes are $6, and a generous basket of fried chicken and fries is just $11. There is also an assortment of well-priced po’ boy sandwiches.” He gave the restaurant two thumbs up. Have any other readers checked out the new and improved spot?
Brooklyn Southern Has Soft Opening [Just Another Brooklyn Blog]
Photo via Just Another Brooklyn Blog
10/11/2012 2:00 PM
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House of the Day: 79 Carroll Street
Here’s a four-unit brick townhouse on the Columbia Street waterfront that’s being marketed as an investment opportunity, and we have to say we agree with this approach. There’s no detail left to speak of, although the interior looks cleanly renovated, and it’s only half a block from the noisy and dirty BQE. (Though there are also lots of nice restaurants and shops nearby as well as river views.) The rent roll is $120,000; all the leases are market rate and expire within nine months, according to the listing. For a $2 million ask, does it all add up?
79 Carroll Street [Realty Collective] GMAP P*Shark
09/27/2012 1:30 PM
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118 President Street Now on the Market
Realty Collective just listed four units at 118 President Street, a brownstone on the Columbia Street Waterfront. The press release says: “The 100-year-old brownstone was gut renovated in 2012 into four two-bedroom, two-bath condos of more than 1,000 square feet each, with working fireplaces, oversized kitchens with white Caesarstone countertops and under-counter lighting, and priced between $799,000 and $1,295,000.” You can see more interior shots here. Do you like the remodel? Not bad if you prefer modern finishes.
118 President Street Listings [Realty Collective] GMAP
09/13/2012 9:00 AM
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Openings on the Columbia Street Waterfront This Week
Two restaurants opened this week on the Columbia Street Waterfront. Says our tipster: “Columbia Waterfront may yet be in the early stages of a food and drinking destination renaissance. Those in the know are scrambling to lock in leases on the street early in the wave, say some some observers close to the scene. As the success of Pok Pok has demonstrated thus far, people will find you if it’s that good!” Waters Edge Diner opened at 214 Columbia Street on Monday. The owner plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maybe the best news is that the diner will open early, at 6 am. The second opening this week is Chio at 117 Columbia Street, in the former Casa di Campagna space. The New York Times wrote a brief on the restaurant, saying “The healthful Mediterranean notion that meat and fish should be mere condiments on plates of vegetables and grains will be put into practice by Alex McWilliams, the executive chef at this new Italian place in Brooklyn.” Anybody been to either place?
08/31/2012 12:00 PM
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Rental of the Day: 32 Tiffany Place
This three-bedroom loft space at 32 Tiffany Place, on the Columbia Street Waterfront, is about as raw as it gets. It needs a lot of TLC, but the high ceilings, beams and built-in shelves could really lend to an awesome space. The monthly rent ain’t cheap at $4,500 a month. What do you make of this apartment?
32 Tiffany Place [Realty Collective] GMAP P*Shark
08/07/2012 12:30 PM
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Closing Bell: Petition Asks to Make Congress Street Safer
The Word on Columbia Street posted a petition Columbia Street Waterfront residents are circulating about the traffic speed outside Van Voorhees Park. Here’s a snippet of their concerns: “The vehicle traffic at the increasingly busy intersection of Hicks and Congress Streets, specifically along the West side of the BQE intersection is a cause of large concern for everyone in the neighborhood… We feel, at minimum, there is a critical need for a stop sign and two speed bumps on Congress Street between Columbia Street and Hicks Street.” You can read the full proposal and sign the petition here.
07/30/2012 4:00 PM
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75 Columbia Street Topped Out
The headline on this one kinda says it all: The 12-unit project at 75 Columbia Street (at Warren Street) has topped out. Based on the DOB permit, it looks like there will also be nine parking spaces.
75 Columbia Street Development Gaining Height [Brownstoner] GMAP
07/11/2012 2:40 PM
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Stop Work Order for Sokol Bros. Building
The lot at 255 Columbia Street, the former Sokol Bros. Furniture store, may remain empty for a little while longer. The Department of Buildings hit the developers with a Full Stop Work Order a few weeks ago because the work being done requires a new building permit, which developers do not have. (Looks like the developers only filed for a partial demolition permit and were planning on building something new with alteration permits only.) Last week the DOB lifted the Full SWO to a Partial SWO, which allows grouting but no other work. The developers will need to get new building permits in place before major construction begins. This situation is similar to the demolition at 200 Smith Street, a lot in Carroll Gardens that remains empty more than a year after its SWO.
Sokol Brothers Building on Columbia Street Leveled [Brownstoner] GMAP
07/10/2012 2:40 PM
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Rental of the Day: 291 Columbia Street
The exterior of 291 Columbia Street is nothing to get excited about, but this two-bedroom is nice enough on the inside. Biggest perks include lots of windows and a private garden. What do you make of the $2,500/month rent on the Columbia Street Waterfront?
291 Columbia Street [Realty Collective] GMAP P*Shark
07/09/2012 12:33 PM
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Columbia St. Waterfront Lot Sells for $1.55 Million
The empty lot at 14-18 Carroll Street, just off the Columbia Street Waterfront, recently sold for $1.55 million. According to a press release from Ideal Properties, who represented the seller, the lot has more than 7,000 square feet of space. We’re told that the new owner, under the guise of 251 Columbia LLC, has not decided yet if the development will be rentals or condos. GMAP
06/20/2012 11:00 AM
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Sokol Brothers Building on Columbia Street Leveled
After the news last October that Michael Sokol had closed the business sold the building at 255 Columbia Street that had housed his family’s furniture business for over six decades to a Manhattan-based developer for $3.3 million, it was only a matter of time until the building was torn down. (Actually, it was three buildings–three brownstones that had been combined–between President and Carroll Streets, according to Lost City.) “It’s just time to go,” Sokol told the Brooklyn Paper at the time. Go he did, and now the building is gone too. A tipster emailed in this photo this morning of the demolished site. GMAP
06/06/2012 12:00 PM
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75 Columbia Street Development Gaining Height
A tipster sent along this photo of 75 Columbia Street, the new development on the corner of Columbia and Warren streets. The lot was once part of a larger development plan around Columbia and Warren but public records show the site sold since those plans. Current DOB plans call for six stories and 12 units. As our tipster says: “It will surely have nice views, until high-rises come at least.” A well-known Brooklyn developer is building the project. GMAP
05/23/2012 2:40 PM
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gr00ve
May 21, 2013 | 09:56 AM