Development Watch: 518 Meeker Avenue
We remember scratching our head as we’d drive by this building on the BQE, wonder who was going to pony up for those views. At that stage, when it was nothing more than cinderblocks, we assumed it was going to be another complete sh!t sandwich of a building. And while we still can’t imagine who’s…
We remember scratching our head as we’d drive by this building on the BQE, wonder who was going to pony up for those views. At that stage, when it was nothing more than cinderblocks, we assumed it was going to be another complete sh!t sandwich of a building. And while we still can’t imagine who’s going to live here or why the windows aren’t biggger, we have to say we kinda like the fact that the architect, who’s none other than Robert Scarano, decided to have a little fun and give this otherwise drab stretch a splash of color. The 10-unit residential building looks more like something that would spring up in an outer neighborhood of a European city. But at least it’s not a Fedders special. It also looks mezzanine-free. GMAP P*Shark DOB
Whoever lives there might be able to make some extra scratch doing live traffic feeds of the BQE. Assuming, of course, they don’t choke to death on the exhaust first.
I think Jon is suffering from a kind of architectural “Stockholm Syndrome”. If you’re forced to feed at what seems to be a never ending buffet where every tray is filled to the brim with steaming hot shit sandwiches you will gladly thank your captors when they finally offer you an icy cold glass of piss. In this case the sandwiches are cut on a nice diagonal with the crust cut off.
You are all crazy. Have you seen the neighborhood?? It is all ugly, this looks better than most.
I drive by this a lot (on BQE) – I like the use of stone facing on the elevator shaft. It is a nice touch you don’t see much here. I’d take this design over the still vacant hodge-pode at the corner of Fulton and Classon. I personally don’t know why people are so intent on understanding what Mr. Brownstoner likes. For all I know there are multiple people posting under his monicker (as in Mr. Brownstoner [TM]). The location is horrible – unless those windows are triple paned. But unless we are going to create vegetated hillocks around the BQE or create highrise factories, someone is going to live there. It won’t be me, but it could be worse. And yes, that is sometimes my standard about buildings in particularly loathsome locations. Actually my complaint about the projects going up in that part of Williamsburg is that they are too small. What’s needed is a bold statement. Hey, maybe we can relocated Atlantic Yards right next to the BQE. Maybe even over the BQE. Very mid-century modern design like that which was planned for the Cross-Manhattan Expressway slated for SOHO and the Village!
My husband and I have a good laugh about that building everytime we drive by on the BQE; you can almost reach out and touch it from the highway. Where they get people to rent or buy these things God knows.
Holy cow – that’s ugly!
I’d rather live in a sh!t sandwich
I might have said this already…
I live down the block from this and go by it every day — it’s not that bad, considering what Meeker is like. BUT as I was doing so one fine morning, a truck drove by on Meeker and fired off a cloud of exhaust. This was in the early stages of construction, so the windows weren’t in yet, and the exhaust just blew right into every floor of the building. It was awful; you could see the whole thing.
Those windows might as well be locked shut, is what I’m saying. Meeker is a big truck route, not to mention the damn BQE.
Brownstoner – please have yourself immediately checked for schizophrenia – the only other person who had such widely inconsistent opinions on things is currently in the G-building of King’s Co Hospital!
This building is hideous – it is 3rd world cinderblock construction, has no windows (then again it is right up against a highway), it has A/C sleaves all over the place, is covered in the cheapest looking blue siding I have ever seen and the stone ‘tower’ looks like it was 1/2 way built and then they ran out of bricks and had to finish it while under shelling from insurgents.
How can you say this building is ok while panning the all brick building on 9th and Smith and a similar Scarano design on State (which actually has windows and no A/C sleeves)