139 15th Street

Earlier this month a demolition application was filed for this Italianate style wood frame house in Gowanus. The building, at 139 15th Street, is small, only 20 by 30 feet on a 22 by 95 foot lot.

However, the lot has a FAR of 2.93 according to building permits. A developer can build a 6,164 square foot building on this relatively small lot.

And it seems that is exactly what is going to happen. Way back in 2011 plans were filed for an eight-unit building with five stories, if you include the penthouse.

It will be 6,164 square feet, according to the application. The building last sold in 2010 for $330,000.

The building is attached to an identical frame house, which has not sold recently and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The pair were likely built in the mid-19th century.

On the other side, a nine story tall, 17-unit building went up and started leasing last year at 546 4th Avenue. Pictured below, it is part of the fast-moving development taking place along 4th Avenue.

The older building is another in a long string of wood frame houses to meet the wrecking ball in recent years. Those on larger lots or with favorable zoning such as this one are the most vulnerable.

Slew of Wood Frame Houses Slated for Teardown Across Brooklyn [Brownstoner]
Wood Frame Coverage [Brownstoner]
Top photo by Nicholas Strini for Property Shark; bottom photo by Cate Corcoran

546-4th-avenue-062315


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