Horror Show Friday: Mutant Facade Repair
We were biking through Wallabout earlier this week and were struck by the rather odd design choice at 33 Vanderbilt Avenue. For some reason, someone decided to put a layer of screamingly new brick on the lower half of the facade. What possible reason—other than pure bad taste—could account for this decision? Is it cheaper…
We were biking through Wallabout earlier this week and were struck by the rather odd design choice at 33 Vanderbilt Avenue. For some reason, someone decided to put a layer of screamingly new brick on the lower half of the facade. What possible reason—other than pure bad taste—could account for this decision? Is it cheaper than repairing the existing facade? GMAP
Maybe I’m opptimistic but I think it is a work in progress – and I agree it is probably a “new facade” which is cheaper than replacing the old one.
Which leads me to the question how is putting a brick facade on a brick facaded building – destroying architechtural history????? Yeah maybe if it only goes 1/2 way it is ugly but it far from a destruction in any event. I also agree with WHAT on this – how about calling the home owner and finding out what the deal is before trashing someones home on your website – just b/c this is a “blog” doesnt mean you cant do even a little bit of reporting before you attack someone….
ENY- aww shucks. I like you too, and I’m actually agreeing with you. While I don’t like the idea of taste trashing, I really did want to respond to why the facade was done this way. Having rube goldberged many an item, I can totally understand why the homeowner would do the faced as he did. And I don’t like the spin Jon put on it at all. Especially since, if we’re talking taste, I live in a glass house myself 🙂
ENY- again- i was speaking for myself, from my point of view, about how and why I would answer. No where do I say anything about brownstoner’s reason. Since I can’t do the Vulcan mind meld it would be presumptuous of me to speak for him. And so I didn’t.
Dewy eyed flowers of the upper middle class, they want to rebel against their “brash bourgeois” upbringings intellectually, but without sacrificing material comforts.
Come on Mr. B., we need a posh person’s house interior to trash next. Just so we can put rest to the knee-jerk “elitism” charges.
“Maybe I could have been clearer but If I thought it was ok for him to do that, I would have said so plainly and in no uncertain terms – as you well know :-)”
How would I know that? Look, I’m not trying to start a fight – I respect you and think you are a respectful person as well. I just think we disagree on this matter. Not a big deal in the overall scheme of things! You’re OK in my book.
benson- and damn proud if it! (er, I think.) 🙂
“ENY…um…. actually I never stated that.”
Your post (please note the first sentence): crimsonson- this is a sad example of how to destroy the beauty and value of your house- not a commentary on taste. I don’t know if the job is finished or not (if it’s not, where’s the scaffolding?) but it can’t be a good idea to leave it this way. I’d be wondering about water collecting and sinking in behind the new brick since it doesn’t look like there is anything topping off the new brick. That could cause some serious damage over time.
Right, why is that?