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Finally, some action at 1255 Bushwick Avenue, where Brookland Capital has been planning a conversion of the former St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church into apartments. The developer has been steadily chipping away at the old building, and now it’s down to just a facade.

It’s braced in place, and ready for a foundation to be dug and an addition to rise behind it. The property is extensive and goes back deep into the block, wraps around the house next door, and continues out to the next side street.

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When Brownstoner first published the rendering, commenters were split on the design. Later the company told Brownstoner its plans had taken a different direction.

But the rendering posted on the fence hasn’t changed, and we expect the design hasn’t either.

Plans here call for seven stories, 32 units and 16 underground parking spaces. There will be 21,897 square feet of residential space in all, averaging about 1,368 square feet per apartment. They will almost certainly be condos, Brookland Capital’s specialty.

Appropriately, the project was filed as a new building, not an alteration, even though Brookland Capital is keeping part of the old building and didn’t file for a demolition permit.

Brookland Capital is one of the most prolific developers in Brooklyn, with more than 40 projects going on at any time. The firm specializes in small and medium-size condo developments and was able to continue building condos during the downturn because of its private offshore sources of financing, cofounder Assaf Fitoussi told us.

Issac & Stern Architects are designing, as previously reported. They specialize in small and medium-sized masonry buildings, and work frequently with Brookland Capital.

Brookland Capital purchased the property from the church in 2014 for $1,950,000, as previously reported.

Brookland Scraps Controversial Church Addition for New Building on Bushwick Avenue [Brownstoner]
Four-Story Modern Addition Planned for Bushwick Church Conversion [Brownstoner]
Brookland Capital Coverage [Brownstoner]

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A previously published rendering, above.

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What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Are you sure you are talking about the former St. Marks Lutheran Church? That ediface, which is also being converted into condos, is situated just north of the Bushwick/Myrtle intersection. The former church noted in the picture is situated many blocks to the south. While both buildings were once Protestant Churches, the pictured one was not of the Lutheran sect – and was not named St. Marks. Given the number of old churches being re-used on Bushwick Avenue, this is probably not a terribly bad oversight.