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 don’t think that people want ugly brick homes. I think that people, (especially new immigrants) want homes, period. They are far more likely to save to buy or pool their money to buy. They end up looking for entry level starter homes. Today those homes are the Fedders we all gnash our teeth over. In some respects it is a chicken and egg problem. If these starter homes were better designed would they still be purchased? Absolutely. But when you are looking at $500k or less in Brooklyn and Queens, the overwhelming stock is unattractive Fedders. If my choice is continuing to rent an apartment to house my large family and extended family or moving into a brand new ugly house I own and can afford, yeah I’m buying.
I don’t think these folks don’t want brownstones. I think they want ownership and this is what they can get today.
Linus-
I think you are right with respect to recreating the housing stock, but I’ve seen some of these new prefabs that come much closer to the original look and feel than some of this stuff going up. I have spoted some in Carrol Gardens that fit in with the surrounding brownstones and townhouses. I also look at the rehabs the city did downtown on St. Felix. On that block they had to come in and fix all of the building foundations. As part of that process they removed most of the stoops and front yards and rebuilt them with the current version of period matching fixtures. The results are quite nice. Were they cheap? No. Do they look better? Yes.
Ferrerin05 hit it on the NOSE! i can’t even add anything else. this bldg is soooo ugly, i was totally repulsed when i walked down fulton over the weekend. SUCH a shame. the bldg looks like its about to fall over. to the person who asked is it waiting to be painted the answer is NO.
it boggles my mind how people cannot see how ugly some buidings are. I DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.
Mr. ‘Stoner: Word.
So you’re asking what there is in the culture of a certain group of Jews, what with their deep pockets and all, that makes them cheap out on the aesthetics of their homes? No, that’s not inflammatory at all. ‘Scuse me while I get my asbestos jumpsuit.
I would only note that the various condo monstrosities built in Greenwood Heights, for instance, don’t seem to be particularly intended for the exclusive use of the Hasidim, and yet they’re finding buyers too.
I didn’t say the free market would dictate whether this is ugly or not, but if it is cheap enough for people to overlook its ugnliness. If no one buys at the prices they are asking, the prices will come down on this building, making other developers think twice about building a similar piece of shit. Hence – the free market will not save this building, but it will influence whether other abominations like this are built.
Ughhh! Can’t this be stopped? I mean it appears that market forces won’t stop it or most of Queens wouldn’t exist. Market forces don’t appear to be thwarting this current plague as it explodes throughout Brooklyn either. A neighborhood is either Landmarked or left completely to the whim of these so-called developers and so-called architects to build these horrendous buildings that ruin blocks and entire neighborhoods. Does it really cost that much more to design and build a decent building? Is there really no way for city agencies to enforce a minimum design aesthetic?
I think there are plenty of examples of non-Hasidic developers building crap in this city. It’s just that the Hasidim seem to concentrate on mid-density buildings rather than Ratner-scaled behemoths or low density Nehemiah abominations.
Give the Hasidim credit at least building at a density consistant with historic Brooklyn (even if they are typically out of context with their immediate neighbors.)
Here’s a question, and it’s not meant to be inflammatory, but does the Hasidic community as a culture not place value, or place less value than others, in the aesthetics of their surroundings? Clearly a lot of the land owners in the community have made a lot of money in recent years so it can’t be a lack of funds leading to these horrible results. I would really be interested in hearing from a member of the community or somebody who really knows and can help explain, because obviously the buildings they are putting up are creating a lot of bad will for them. Is there anything in the religious teachings, perhaps, that discourages caring about such materialistic things?