1067 Fulton Street: The Plague Spreads
We wanted to give this development at the corner of Classon and Fulton the benefit of the doubt. Really we did. Given the location, it seemed like a real opportunity to be a beacon of hope on this stretch of Fulton and set a positive tone for new development further east. Unfortunately, our hopes could…
We wanted to give this development at the corner of Classon and Fulton the benefit of the doubt. Really we did. Given the location, it seemed like a real opportunity to be a beacon of hope on this stretch of Fulton and set a positive tone for new development further east. Unfortunately, our hopes could not have been more misplaced. What an abomination! We understand how reasonable people could disagree about the merits of a building like this, but we can’t imagine anyone being able to find anything nice to say about this monstrosity. The design decisions on the facade, and the ground-level entry area in particular, are a disgrace. Developers like this are a menace to the future of Brooklyn–destroying the borough, one lot at a time, with short-sighted eyesores that, ironically, may even be leaving profit on the table. Interestingly, continuing a proud Brooklyn tradition, the developers of this site were cited by the DOB for working without a permit last March. We wonder what other corners may have been cut? Who are these guys anyway? Do they have other projects on their resume? GMAP
Update on 1067 Fulton [Brownstoner]
New Build at Classon and Fulton [Brownstoner]
PLEASE EMAIL THE DEVELOPERS OF THIS BUILDING AT INFO@NEWSTARTLLC.COM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE MISJUDGING THE MARKET AND RUINING A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE PROCESS.
I stand corrected.
(a) this building is fugly;
(b) if I were asked to invest in the development, and the expected rate of return on my money was large enough, I would invest, notwithstanding the fugliness, and so would all of you.
Has nothing to do with Hassidic Jews, WASP Gentiles, Chinese, Homosexuals, Women, other minority and non-minority historically disadvantaged groups or otherwise.
Bukem, You already gave us one wildly offensive post (12:06pm, with its asinine comments about the apparent predeliction of the chinese for huts and shanty towns), now you’re back with more inflammatory BS. Why on earth shouldn’t Chinese developers be in BedStuy, or anywhere else for that matter? Brownstoner: Can’t you fire this dude?
To all.
I’m a Hasidic Jew, living in Williamsburg, and let me say to you all, that first of all this building will never be for Hasidim, they will never go out so far from their neighborhood, and the balconies are not “kosher” for the use of “sukkos”, and if you check on Property shark, the names for the permits etc. are Chinese names.
So let me see now, if the same people who jump out of their chairs at any opportunity to attack us, will they rip into the Chinese as well of will it be “racist” so they will shut up, as they turned out to be fools again.
I think Oh Lord and others are correct. Why do they do it – because they can. You couldn’t build a POS like this in a more affluent neighborhood. Aside from better enforced zoning and landmark restrictions, the developers know that their target clients want a quality looking building. Ugly may be in the eye of the beholder, but a certain amount of quality will get you the kind of money and people you want. Out here in the hood, the target market may overlook a butt ugly building in order to buy into the American dream of home ownership. There may or may not be racism present, but there certainly is classism, and a basic distain of their target market, as in “they don’t care what it looks like,(or how badly it’s built), they are just dumb peasants from (fill in the blank)who are happy to buy something. Lets save the money and use what’s left over from six other projects.”
It would serve them right if they couldn’t fill the building, but unfortunately in this market, that probably won’t happen.
The ethnic arguments are daft (and offensive) — this all comes down to zoning and building codes. If the city mandated a higher aesthetic level in new construction, that’s what we would get. Until it does, this kind of fugly building will become more and more prevalent. Good looking low cost housing is an easily attainable goal. Lots of other countries manage it. Bring on the socialist revolution! That, or only let people with good taste get the money.
One solution would be for government to incentivize developers to build more attractive buildings–give a tax break for agreeing to get approval from some landmarks-like committee…
Yes, we do agree. And you are right, there is no solution. Its just unfortunate that there aren’t developers who have more than just maximizing profits in mind when they build.
I know that’s a lot to ask for, and its not like I’m out here working for free, but it is a shame nevertheless.
Build something that you would let your kids move into, and for my sake, have a little pride in your work!
Oh Lord! (great handle),
I guess we’re agreed except that I don’t see the solution that you’re asking for. There are some cases where you can make a development less ugly without it costing more, but in general quality costs, and you seem to agree. You also note that people wants homes and will buy what they can afford. So unless I’m missing something, the answer is
– build higher-quality, better-looking construction, and if it means entry-level buyers have to keep renting, so be it
or
– find some way to make developers — unlike people in pretty much any other business — accept a lower margin on what they’re selling, so they can build places people can afford that will be more pleasing to our eyes
I’m not trying to pick a fight but you had asked, “WHY can’t people build buildings that are in keeping with the neigborhoods…” I think that’s your answer: $$$.