Checking in with the Fairway Lofts
We received an inquiry from a reader yesterday about the status of the condos above the Fairway market at 480-500 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook. The reader recalled reading that developer Greg O’Connell was planning to carve 45 apartments out of the former industrial space. “The units look nearer to completion than several other…
We received an inquiry from a reader yesterday about the status of the condos above the Fairway market at 480-500 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook. The reader recalled reading that developer Greg O’Connell was planning to carve 45 apartments out of the former industrial space. “The units look nearer to completion than several other condo developments around the area that have had plans and prices available for a while!” vents the reader. “The frontage is being landscaped now, although perhaps to make the fairway entrance look better. The windows look good and the ceilings/views are awesome. The water taxi stop right plumb in the middle of the frontage looks functional.” So what’re they waiting for. Time to sell some condos!
O’Connell is also rumored to be behind the local business group that’s blocking the Imlay Street condo development. The Manhattan Institute recently said that this development is the best use of the area next to the cruise ship terminal. (http://www.manhattan-institute.org/cgi-bin/advemailit/emailit.cgi?title=The_Queen_Mary_2_Sails_into_the_Brooklyn_Waterfront_Wars?&doc=http://www.manhattan-institute.org/email/crd_newsletter04-06.html)
One wonders why he would object to a similar mixed-use project, because it will only raise the value of the neighborhood in general, but maybe he doesn’t want the competition. For 15 years he’s been the only developer in Red Hook and now others are coming in and maybe he doesn’t like it.
The other reason for opposing that project I’ve heard is that if the condo project is stopped, the owner will most likely be forced to sell the property for a loss, at which time O’Connell will buy it and develop it himself.
I accidentally found this a few moments ago, on Greg O’Connell:
http://www.thirteen.org/nyvoices/ features/valuelife.html
O’Connell gives money and space and support to BWAC. He busted a city councilman for demanding bribes. He’s lived and worked and busted his ass in Brooklyn his whole life.
He’s a hell of lot better than Ratner. Give the guy a break.
Greg O’Connell is evil. Red Hook needs new housing, not necessaryily luxury condos, but he throws his power around to block any and all residential projects so that he can have a monopoly on all his resenditail units with no competition. He’s stunting business growth in the area, just for his personal interest, and claims it’s in Red Hook’s interest.
Any affordable/subsidized units?
Don’t know when he started buying but the building with the Art Studios was already rented. I liked him very much,and a lot of people spoke very highly of him so I have to say I’m sorry to hear this.
do you when he started buying?
Yes it does. When I knew him he had a great reputation and seemed to really care.
Easy on the hagiography for Greg O’Connell. The man plays rough, and he’s not always very honest. Let me give you two anecdotes. O’Connell has for a long time wanted to buy a house directly across from the Fairway parking lot. (As a side note, the house belongs to the brother Sunny’s bar owner. But I digress.) The owner did not want to sell, O’Connell proceeded to tell him “fine, you don’t want to sell, I am going to block your view with the new power plant building for the Fairway.” And he proceeded to build the power plant directly in front of the house, in an odd, out of the way spot on the parking lot. Another time, O’Connell voted with Community Board 6 (he’s a member) to demand changes to a storefront gate on a business in Cobble Hill. Turns out he owns the building at the other end of the block with the same violation. When confronted by the daily news he lied and said he didn’t vote against the woman. When the reporter was informed that indeed he had cast a vote against her, she checked and confirmed with Gerry Armor, Community Board 6 chairman that he had indeed voted against her. He lied about a petty thing, says a lot about a guy no?