Decent Townhouse Reproductions?
As many of you will no doubt recognize, these “modern” brownstones are on Cumberland and Fulton in Fort Greene. Whenever we drive by, we always think to ourselves, “Hmmm, those aren’t so bad.” We don’t know much about them–when they were built, by whom, under what program–but think they are a reasonable effort at fitting…
As many of you will no doubt recognize, these “modern” brownstones are on Cumberland and Fulton in Fort Greene. Whenever we drive by, we always think to ourselves, “Hmmm, those aren’t so bad.” We don’t know much about them–when they were built, by whom, under what program–but think they are a reasonable effort at fitting in with their environment, especially since they were probably built as part of some government-funded program. What do other people think? Are there better examples of “new build” townhouses out there we should take a look at?
I love the buildings known as the village of Atlantic commons.They added much needed character to a once dilapitated neighborhood.I happen to own one of them and if I decided to sell mine know it would be in the 1.2 to 1.5 million dollar range.Several homeowners have already had their homes appraised in the 1 to 1.2 million dollar range.Are the buildings worth this money you ask? Why not over 3,000 sq ft of space a place to park your off the street and a decent sized back yard.You are walking distance from the 3rd largest mass transit hub in all off New York City the Pacific st./Atlantic ave.Train station.The first and second transit hub respectively are Grand Central station and then Times Square station.What is the real estate worth near these train stations.Alot more than 1.5 million.If I a Civil servant want to sell my home in the open market for top dollar why can’t I.Just because my house isn’t a 100 years old come on now.Isn’t real estate about location and location.So let me understand this you can sell an apartment in the Greene ave. Condos for 1,000$ a square foot or about 1.2 million dollars for 2 bedrooms but I can’t sell my house for 1.5 million dollars.Give me a break.Don’t hate the player just hate the game.If you don’t have the money thats fine but don’t bash my neighborhood.You should just understand the dynamics in real estate you sell to the highest bidder.
thanks euskaria, great info. i’ve always passed those houses and wanted some more info.
i think that these homes are a great way to bridge the gap between $1MM brownstones and increasingly unaffordable 1-2 BR apartments.
they are not on the list of places i’m looking at in terms of buying, but i agree they make a much better addition to the neighborhood than something like the greene house condos.
Not liking to be accused of posting information without factual basis, I succumbed to the last refuge of blog commenters…actually doing some research.
According to a 1997 NY Times article by Alan Oser, Rose Associates in the 1980s planned to develop a condo community of 650 apartments in 4-story ‘brownstone-like’ buildings with a central community park in that area. SOM did the master plan, which called for a crescent-shaped street at the center of the park–the city demapped a portion of South Oxford to make way for it. Two large office towers were also planned.
However, the condo and office markets collapsed before construction could begin. Forest City Ratner (!) took over from Rose as the developer and proceeded to develop 400K sq.ft. of stores where the offices were contemplated (Atlantic Center, I presume).
The article goes on, “After examining alternative housing plans, Forest City turned with city encouragement to the NY Housing Partnership’s program for moderate-to-middle-income home development. The Hudson Companies, a Brooklyn developer experienced in Partnership housing production, was brought in as the builder. The decision means fewer housing units over all, subsidies make the prices affordable, and an income limit on buyers, though not renters. Ultimately there will be 417 to 450 dwelling units, all in three-family buildings…”
“The first 53 houses were built and occupied off Fulton Street in 1994 and 1995 as Phase One. They sold for $225,000. Last year the 54 houses of Phase Two started construction. They sold for $235,000. Families are currently moving in…”
“Architecturally, the residential section is emerging with little of the panache of the original design. In that design, higher residential density as well as higher contemplated sales prices made it possible to bring in greater design elements for a higher-income buyer. Nevertheless, the design standards at the Village at Atlantic Center exceed the routine. There are orange-red all brick fronts, cornices that mimic historic styles, bay windows on some buildings, and precast details. The site adjacent is the Fort Greene Historic District and the NY State Historic Preservation Office approved the design.”
“For buyers like Cheryl Washington, a 33-year old school teacher at P.S. 81 in Bed-Stuy, they are the buy of a lifetime. Ms. Washington said she saved assiduously over 10 years to be able to buy a house, often working three jobs…Two weeks ago she moved into a new house on Cumberland Street with, with her sister Karen…taking one upstairs apartment and her mother taking the other. They had lived for 30 years in public housing in Bedford-Stuyvesant.”
I’m neither a Ratner booster nor a huge critic. I think Atlantic Center is a disaster and Atlantic Terminal marginal. That said, I’d rather have more development like Atlantic Commons than like the Green House condos.
I have to agree with the post about the tendency of people on this board to exert blame on Ratner or Forest City without factual basis. I don’t even agree with what Ratner is planning on doing with the Atlantic Yards. I live in Clinton Hill & applied for these through Partnership for Housing for NYC. It is frustrating to read the misinformation posted on this board on a regular basis.
I can’t remember original asking but when I was offered the 2nd phase in 96 the price had inreased to 395k. Since these were part of a Housing Preservation program HHI was limited to 72k, so that was a stretch.
Ick! I say again, but then I purhased an 1899 limestone in Prospect-Lefferts Garden.
Check out the corner of Myrtle and Nostrand, some new townhouses that are better than many new ones.
Apparently, anyone who has anything negative to say will blame whatever they don’t like on Ratner or Forest City, whether they have any factual basis for the assertion or not. The last post is the only one (along with a previous one) that has accurate info. They were Partnership for NYC moderate-income developments, and were built by Hudson Companies.
I’m not sure if these are “better” (or even if they’re “townhouses”!), but there’s this newish development on Butler Street (I think…) between Smith and Court Streets–closer to Smith, around the corner from the Berger F stop. I go back and forth as to whether or not their facades blend with the older brownstones on the block, whether or not they’re ugly, benign, or OK looking. They’re fairly ornate and upscale, but in that “modern desperately trying to capture classic” kinda way. Maybe I don’t like them simply because they’re new or because they look overly bourgey, neither of which is a very good reason. I’m torn. (FYI: I’m no student of design or architecture. Obviously.)
To me, they always look like the “low-rise” projects in The Wire. I kind of hate them, actually, because they make this minor effort to look like brownstones, and sort of say, “eh, good enough.” Seems very Ratner to me.