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Building of the Day: 1050 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
(Photo from 2010)
Name: former Packard Automobile Showroom
Address: 1050 Atlantic Avenue
Cross Streets: Corner of Classon Avenue
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: Unknown
Architectural Style: Renaissance style showroom
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: No
The story: I’ve wondered about this building for years, and always thought it was an important facility for which ever company had it built. But information on almost anything on Atlantic Avenue is hard to come by. The architects of factories often aren’t lauded, and the newspapers rarely run features on industrial buildings, unless there is another story along with them. And the newer the buildings are, as in the middle of the 20th century, the harder it is to find anything. But when Brownstoner announced a while back that this building would become another storage facility for Storage Deluxe, one could only hope that the beautiful details on this mystery building would be preserved. Up until a few weeks ago, the façade read “Select Paper and Tablet.” But the sign covered the building’s true identity.
My on-line building source, the Real Estate Record and Builder’s Guide only goes up to 1922, and while this building could have been built before that time, I was not able to find it. I was always intrigued by the fine white glazed terra-cotta tiles on the façade, as well as the almost delicate classical pilasters, and the beguiling cherub sea creatures flanking a shield with a honeycomb and a stylized “P”. I didn’t think this had anything to do with Select Paper, but what was it?
I guess I should have been a car person, because I probably would have immediately recognized that the shield was, in fact, a grille, and the “P” was for “Packard”. Duh. Packard Motor Car Company built cars from an amazing 1899 through 1958. They produced lines of very popular and distinctive luxury cars, with some of the industry’s biggest innovations, including the modern steering wheel. A car company like that would have a showroom like this.
A search yielded me an on-line group of Packard aficionados, one of which had an old postcard of this building when it was a showroom. The quality of the image is pretty bad, but it shows the building as it was originally, with large windows on both the first and second floors on the Atlantic Avenue façade, and a fully equipped service station and garage on the back of the building, which faces Pacific Street. The Packard showroom first shows up on a city directory in 1925.
Packard bought Studebaker after World War II, but the smaller luxury car makers couldn’t compete with the Big Three, and one by one they went out of business. Packard found itself making a car that wasn’t up to its old standards, and soon relinquished its status as America’s luxury brand to Cadillac. By 1958, they were no longer producing assembly line cars. The Packard was gone, and the need for this opulent showroom was gone as well.
I don’t know when it became the Select Paper and Tablet Company, but when Storage Deluxe bought the building recently, they began to excavate the interior, and trim the exterior, probably in advance of covering the building in their hideous plastic sheathing. Only one good thing happened from that – the original Packard signage is once more revealed in its glory, on Atlantic Avenue. Go by there and see it, quickly. It will soon be covered, but hopefully not destroyed. Hopefully. GMAP
Lots of photos on the jump…
(more…)
05/24/2012 3:30 PM
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Hasidic Art Gallery Opens in Crown Heights
A Hasidic Art Gallery, called the Betzalel Gallery, just opened in Crown Heights at 567 Empire Boulevard. The opening reception featured drawings and watercolors by the Jewish artist Itshak Holtz. WNYC covered the new space, the first of its kind in the neighborhood, and said: “The throwback references here depict a simpler time, when families were large and lived in the Old World shtetls of Eastern Europe. It’s not quite Soho, but on Empire Blvd. and Kingston Ave., situated next to a laundromat.” The director and curator moved Betzalel from Borough Park to be closer to his clientele. The most expensive painting is asking $175,000, other paintings start from $3,000. Check out the Facebook page here.
Brooklyn’s Hasidic Art Scene Expands with New Gallery [WNYC] GMAP
05/24/2012 2:00 PM
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Building of the Day: 116 Rogers Avenue
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Carmel Christian School, originally the Swedish Hospital
Address: 116 Rogers Avenue
Cross Streets: Sterling and St. Johns Places
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North/Crow Hill
Year Built: 1906
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architect: Axel Hedman, with help from Magnus Dahlander
Other Buildings by Architect: houses, flats buildings, apartment buildings all over Brooklyn, especially PLG, Crown Heights North and South, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights.
Landmarked: No
The story: Turn of the 20th century Brooklyn was home to a large Swedish community. A study done in 1891 showed over 20,000 in South Brooklyn alone. As the community grew and people became more independent and successful, the Swedes began moving out into the rest of Brooklyn. Many settled in the Prospect Heights/Crown Heights area. Many successful Swedes channeled their energies into the community, including two of the best known Swedish-born architects of this time period, Axel Hedman and Magnus Dahlander.
Magnus only spent eight years here, between 1888 and 1896, before returning to Sweden, but in that short time, he changed the face of Brooklyn, designing some of the finest row houses and other types of buildings here. He also designed churches, and did fund raising for Swedish causes. His compatriot, and one time partner in the firm of Dahlander & Hedman, was Axel Hedman. He came here in 1880, and stayed for the rest of his life, becoming an American citizen. He too, was active in Swedish causes here in Brooklyn, and the Swedish Hospital became one of their largest projects. (more…)
05/23/2012 3:30 PM
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Info on a New Restaurant for Franklin Ave, ‘Mayfield’
I Love Franklin Ave has been following the progress of the new restaurant opening in the former Franklin Roadhouse space, near the corner of Prospect Place and Franklin Avenue, and now has some inside shots of how the construction is coming, as well as news that it will be named “Mayfield.” Here’s the scoop from the blog:
“Back in March, local residents and NYC culinary-scene veterans Jacques Belanger and Lev Gewirtzman made news with the announcement that they were taking over the former Franklin Roadhouse Space. Yesterday, they gave ILFA a tour of their new restaurant, which they’ve dubbed ‘Mayfield’ ‘in honor of Curtis,’ according to Lev. The interior already looks completely different than it once did. …Unlike at the Roadhouse, you’ll be able to sit at the bar, which will serve a full lineup of beer, wine, and liquor, and will include, between the kitchen and the booze, a raw bar. …the menu is far from settled, but they still plan to serve seasonal American fare in what Lev called an ‘everyday, casual’ setting, focused around the raw bar and whatever fresh produce comes their way. Whenever they open, I think it’s a safe bet that they’ll be hotly-anticipated, even in a budding foodie scene…”
The hope is for it to be completed by the end of the year.
A Look Inside Mayfield [I Love Franklin Ave] GMAP
Photo courtesy of I Love Franklin Ave
05/23/2012 12:00 PM
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New Businesses on Classon Near Lincoln
A string of storefronts on Classon Avenue beginning at Lincoln Place and running toward Eastern Parway have been renovated, and almost all have new tenants now. The photo above is a few weeks old, but it shows the storefront for Colour Me Silly, a paint-your-own pottery shop that has been open for at least a couple of weeks and has long lines of kids and parents waiting to get in on weekends. Directly to the north, a barbershop opened about a month ago. GMAP
05/21/2012 2:00 PM
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Building of the Day: 645-647 St. Marks Avenue
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Row houses
Address: 645-647 St Marks Avenue
Cross Streets: Rogers and Nostrand Avenues
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: early 1890s
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architect: George P. Chappell
Other Buildings by Architect: In CHN – St. Bartholomew’s Episc. Church, Pacific St; Houses on Pacific, Dean, St. Marks, New York, Bergen, Prospect, and throughout CHN. Also in Park Slope, Bed Stuy, Stuyvesant Hts,
Landmarked: No, but would be in Phase 4 of CHN HD
The story: In 1888, Hester Louise Chappell was listed as the new owner of record on this piece of St. Marks Avenue. She was the wife of prominent Brooklyn architect George P. Chappell, a prolific designer of buildings who would make his mark most significantly in this same neighborhood. St. Marks Avenue was the center of the St. Marks District, an upscale neighborhood on par with the best of Clinton Hill, Stuyvesant Heights, and Park Slope, during the last decades of the 19th century, and what better place for Mrs. Chappell to own, than the center of a posh neighborhood that her husband had a large hand in developing? But the lots on this block were not for business. George Chappell was building his wife a new home. (more…)
05/18/2012 3:00 PM
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Crow Hill Garden Moving to Dean Street
The Crow Hill Community Garden, the garden on Franklin Avenue pushed out due to a development, is moving to Dean Street. At Tuesday night’s Crow Hill Association Meeting, members explained that they’ve formed a partnership with the Dean Street Community Garden already in place between Franklin and Bedford avenues. They already moved the Arts Not Arrests art project over to the site (pictured) and all the art classes planned at the Crow Hill Garden for the summer will be held at Dean Street. The Dean Street Garden will also hold a farmers market from June 30th to October 30th.
Everything Must Go at the Crow Hill Community Garden [Brownstoner]
05/17/2012 12:00 PM
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Section of Eastern Pkwy Mural Gone at Development Site
Yesterday morning DNAinfo reported that the section of the mural surrounding the development site on Eastern Parkway and Franklin Avenue was in the process of being taken down. The photo above shows what the Eastern Parkway section of the site looked like as of around 2:30 p.m. yesterday. The mural was supposed to come down starting Tuesday, but that did not happen. The latest rendering for the 62-unit project, which was recently purchased by new investors and may see the beginning of construction in earnest sometime soon, can be seen here, though it’s possible that it is out of date. The section of the mural on the Franklin Avenue side of the site is still intact. While some in the community no doubt feel sad about the mural being removed, it is terribly exciting that a long-stalled hole in the ground will one day—hopefully sooner rather than later—be the site of new construction in which families can live.
Weeks After $8.2 Million Sale, Franklin Avenue Bob Marley Mural Comes Down [DNAinfo]
Mural to Make Way for Building on Franklin Ave? [Brownstoner]
The Latest Look for the Big Eastern Pkwy/Franklin Ave Site [Brownstoner] GMAP
Big Lot at Eastern Pkwy/Franklin Finally Sells for $8M [Brownstoner]
05/17/2012 10:00 AM
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Jazz Club Coming to 960 Atlantic Avenue
Last week Community Board Eight approved a full liquor licence for a nightclub coming to 960 Atlantic Avenue, between Washington and Grand avenues. It will be two floors with a capacity of 175 people. On the first floor, the owner plans to host blue note jazz acts. The second floor will only be used for private events. “This will bring life to an otherwise desolate strip,” one community board member told the rest of CB8. There will be no bottle service, no outdoor space, and there will be security service outside. For now, the biz is going by the name Milk River. GMAP
05/16/2012 2:00 PM
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Opening Day for Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitors Center!
Last week there was a sneak peek for media of the new Brooklyn Botanic Visitors Center, and today it opens to the public. The project was designed by the firm Weiss/Manfredi. According to a rep for the institution, the mayor will be on hand to cut the ribbon today. Contractors were sprucing up the grounds this morning, and hopefully the slight drizzle that may attend the ceremony will bolster its verdant roof.
BBG’s New Visitor Center About to Open! [Brownstoner]
05/16/2012 11:00 AM
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Mural to Make Way for Building on Franklin Ave?
On Sunday, the Crow Hill Community Association sent out the following message: “After over 2 and a half years, our beloved neighborhood mural is being partially dismantled. We have just been informed by the developer of the site that they are taking down the Mural on the EASTERN PARKWAY side of the site. If you want your panel- you must come tomorrow morning at 8am to get it. Talk to Tom on the construction crew- by the way- he was nice enough to give us a heads up that they were coming down. If you are there they will do their best to take the panel down with out damaging it too much…. If you want a panel that is not yours- Ithat may be ok too….but check with the artist….If you can’t come at 8am- you can come later- the panels will be set aside for the day- they just might not be in great shape.” We stopped by the site yesterday afternoon, which is on Eastern Parkway and Franklin, and although a couple of the panels on the Eastern Parkway side had been removed, the contractors on the job said they would be put back into place because “we need to hide the site.” Murals are always wonderful displays of community creativity, particularly so at stalled construction sites, but when the mural does eventually come down for the 62-unit project that is in the works, a building with people living in it is always better than a neglected hole in the ground. Click through for a couple more photos of the mural as it was looking yesterday at 3:30 p.m.
The Latest Look for the Big Eastern Pkwy/Franklin Ave Site [Brownstoner] GMAP
Big Lot at Eastern Pkwy/Franklin Finally Sells for $8M [Brownstoner] (more…)
05/15/2012 9:30 AM
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Everything Must Go at Crow Hill Community Garden
Here’s some really sad news to start off the week: The Crow Hill Community Garden, at 730 Franklin Avenue between Park and Sterling, will be no more by tomorrow night. According to the CHCA, the lot sold and everything must be removed from the garden by Tuesday night or it is in danger of being destroyed. That means all the plantings, furniture, paving stones, and tools must be gone, not to mention the large-scale art installation done through the Art Not Arrests program. The artwork (pictured) will be dismantled Tuesday afternoon. CHCA is asking that residents stop by in the next two days and help dig up the plants to relocate them. Or, if you know of a home for displaced supplies, contact CHCA. As they said in an email: “We understand how upsetting this is, but it is a community project and as a community we will come through this stronger. Any help you can give over the next 2 days is greatly appreciated.” The CHCA will hold a meeting this Tuesday, 7:30 PM at the Gospel Tabernacle Church (725 Franklin Avenue) to discuss what’s going to happen next. It will be open to the public.
Photo via CHCA
05/14/2012 2:40 PM
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ProCreation Rental Building at 801 Bergen Sells
There hasn’t been much news about the development at 801 Bergen Street, between Grand and Classon, since the summer, when we noted that construction fencing had come down and Curbed picked up on the fact that it was going to be a rental, not a condo. Well, according to public records that hit yesterday, the structure has sold to new, Brooklyn-based investors, to the tune of $8.25 million. Meanwhile, the listings on StreetEasy show the monthly damage running from $1,600 to $2,800, and it seems that at least some of the units have rented.
Development Watch: 801 Bergen Street [Brownstoner]
801 Bergen Street Listings [StreetEasy]
Development Watch: 801 Bergen Street [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 801 Bergen Street [Brownstoner]
New Building for 799-801 Bergen [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/10/2012 9:30 AM
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Brooklyn-Stocked Boutique Opens at 679 Classon Ave
Now open at 679 Classon Avenue, between St. Marks Avenue and Bergen Street: Lady J +1, a jewelry, accessory, and clothing shop. Lady J + 1 only sells merchandise from Brooklyn artists and plans on rotating the merchandise through the store on a bi-monthly basis. A few examples of the the offerings are jewelry by Lady J Jewelry Designs and women’s swimwear by Oyster NYC. Looks nice! GMAP
05/09/2012 2:00 PM
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Building of the Day: 1267 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Flats building
Address: 1267 Pacific Street
Cross Streets: Nostrand and Bedford Avenues
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: Late 1880’s-early 1890’s
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: Attributed to Montrose Morris
Other Buildings by Architect: on same block – Bedfordshire and Imperial Apartments, on Dean and Bedford- Chatelaine Hotel
Landmarked: No, but hopefully part of Phase 4 of CHN HD. No plans present by LPC at this time.
The story: The great Brooklyn architect Montrose Morris was quite busy over here on Pacific Street. After the success of his Alhambra Apartments, on Nostrand and Macon Street, completed in 1889, developer Louis Seitz commissioned him to design several more luxury apartment houses. The result of that commission was first, the Bedfordshire, (1891) then one of his masterpieces, the Imperial Apartments. (1892) But not all architectural commissions are big, showy extravaganzas. Sometimes one has to do a couple of practical, everyday buildings in order to pay the mortgage. This flats building is one of those projects, but with Morris, he took the everyday, and made it special. (more…)
05/08/2012 3:30 PM
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Classon Avenue Reconstruction Started This Week
Signs of Classon Avenue’s big makeover have appeared! No heavy-duty work yet, just some new street markings for now. Soon to come to the avenue through Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, and Bed Stuy: parking-lane lines on both sides of the street (pictured); a single, 11-foot-wide center travel lane in low-traffic areas; two 10-foot-wide market travel lanes in busier areas; new street signal timing; and a full repaving. Check out the entire proposal from DOT here [PDF]. Great news, as this street is in dire need of some TLC.
Classon Avenue Redesign Coming This Month [Brownstoner]
05/04/2012 12:00 PM
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Condo of the Day: 904 Pacific Street, #501
This two-bedroom duplex unit at 904 Pacific Street on the Prospect Heights/Crown Heights border has had a crazy history for a new condo. According to Streeteasy, it was initially listed by Triumph Property in June 2009 for $970,000 and then reduced to $875,000 before being delisted in October; the 1,295-square-foot pad was then relisted by Aguayo & Huebener in May 2011 for $899,000 before being taken off the market in August. Then in February of this year, Apartments & Lofts put the place back on the market for $775,000, where it sat until this week when it received a price hike back up to $875,000. Whip lash, anyone? It actually looks like a nice place to us and the common charges are $692.
904 Pacific Street, #501 [Aptsandlofts.com] GMAP P*Shark
05/03/2012 12:57 PM
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Big Addition in Store for 355 St. Marks Avenue
Over the weekend Brooklynian commenters did some digging on plans for 355 St. Marks Avenue, between Grand Avenue and Washington Avenue, and it turns out the modest townhouse will be replaced by something grander in size and scale. Says one commenter: “Turns out the owner has bigger plans for 355 – MUCH bigger. The zoning diagram filed in January shows a huge expansion to a five-story, four apartment building that’s 20 feet taller and more than triples the building’s floor space from 2,576 to over 8,000 square feet.” When the discussion turns to the architect, the commentary gets even more negative. Tough luck though: DOB has already approved plans for the super-sizing. Not only that, but construction’s already started. See a detail from the zoning diagram after the jump. GMAP (more…)
05/01/2012 12:00 PM
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New Bar Open on Franklin Avenue
A bar named 739 Franklin opened exactly two weeks ago on Franklin Avenue, near the corner of Sterling Place. I Love Franklin Avenue has already covered it extensively. When we checked it out yesterday, we learned that it is a neighborhood bar owned by nearby residents who are looking to evolve depending on what their clientele would like to see offered. There are four beers on tap, but specialty cocktails are the main order of the day; there are happy hour specials ($4 pints) and food will eventually be served. There are a couple more photos of the space on the jump. It has a large back room with a projection screen, and events such as movie nights will be a regular feature.
739 Franklin [Official Site] GMAP (more…)
04/20/2012 2:00 PM
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adam_dahill
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM