Quote of the Day
I would think that not taking aesthetics into account is why so many of these properties are still sitting on the market but that is just my opinion. We have been looking for a house for a while and I can tell you, that if it was just about the space the developer was providing…
I would think that not taking aesthetics into account is why so many of these properties are still sitting on the market but that is just my opinion. We have been looking for a house for a while and I can tell you, that if it was just about the space the developer was providing inside (which I find great, except the kitchen sitting in the middle of the room) we would have purchased a while back. But the look outside, and not the brick or stucco turn me away. It is the fact that the house stands out too much. They are either built too far back or protrude out or the scale is just off. It doesn’t have to be a brownstone, I like brick, but at least scale it to the size of the house you are building next to. How a block looks matters, aside from cost and space provided. Just because I live in a house that was built cheaper doesn’t mean it has to look cheap.
— by BrookLynn816 in Horror Show Friday
Townhouse Lady is right, and I’ve said it before too, plenty other cities whether Jersey City or anywhere else in the country have new construction that is way better than what is being built in Brooklyn. A building simply being new is not the problem.
The plain truth is that in Brooklyn many of the smaller developers doing smaller buildings like this culturally and inherently don’t value good design. They don’t have a clue about it. It’s not even in their thinking. They do functional, not attractive. Or if it’s something they think is attractive, it’s a particular and peculiar aesthetic that’s out of touch.
totally!
*rob*
Rob, the meter cozy idea is cracking me up. Hell, you could sell them at the Brooklyn Flea. Real estate agents should buy them from you and give them out free, with their initials on them. As a little gift to the home buyers.
clearly my hometown of jersey city does rock indeed. i’d move back there in a heartbeat, but something always nags at me on the inside saying don’t do it, don’t go back to jersey… i dont know, maybe one day. jersey city really is tho a really great alternative to nyc. but im sure everyone already knows that.
*rob*
I preface this by stating that although this development is in Jersey City and NOT Brooklyn I think Liberty Harbor is an example of “getting it right”. This is new construction yet it’s in context with the rest of the neighborhood. Frankly I have no idea what these cost but I passes by it several times and at first I didn’t even know they were new.
http://www.libertyharbor.com/townhouses.php
Very funny rob.
Sometimes I think I would love to see the paintable parts of Brooklyn go all painted lady S.F.-style. Madison, WI is great for this, too. We didn’t quite have the guts to do it with our house, but S. Slope would be a prime area for it, with all that hardiplank. Stucco jobs like today’s monstrosity are also good for the bold color treatment. There’s a pretty blue stucco job on 15th b/w 4th & 5th. The west of Ireland is full of stucco exteriors painted in all kinds of bold, rich colors.
yeah i dont think ill ever get a quote of the day either, but i dont want to be one of those desperate types *cough cough BRG cough*. haha. those houses are fine they just are ugly boring beigeish colors. if they were painted all wacky colors like in san francisco or something they would look totally different. oh and those electric meters on the outside? well i think im going to try and supplement my income by starting an Electric Meter Cozy business.. customized cozies (knit and non knit) for peoples meters. ConEd could just take the cozy off when they have to read the meters. feasible!?
*rob*
Damn – I often initiate the discussions that lead to these QOTD’s, but never get the honor. Well, I never expect that Brownstoner and Lisa will bestow this honor to me, because I am often critical of their take on things.