Man on the Street: 580 Carroll
After the saga at 580 Carroll Street development was resolved, and units started selling in late April, we wanted to see what people in the neighborhood thought about the building. To refresh, it is an Enrique Norten design, built on the stretch of Carroll between 4th and 5th Avenue. The developers wanted to build three…
After the saga at 580 Carroll Street development was resolved, and units started selling in late April, we wanted to see what people in the neighborhood thought about the building. To refresh, it is an Enrique Norten design, built on the stretch of Carroll between 4th and 5th Avenue. The developers wanted to build three extra townhouses on the front lawn of the five story building, but were denied by the Board of Standards and Appeals. Passers-by were just asked their general opinion of its place in the neighborhood.
Beth, a resident of Carroll Gardens, said, “I think it’s great. I’m not upset about modern additions to the neighborhood at all.” She thought that as long as a building was responsive to the neighborhood, and it “wasn’t an imitation of some brownstone,” she approved.
Matt (not pictured), in Accounts Payable and a Park Slope resident, considered the building intensely before reaching his decision: “Um, no.” When asked to clarify, he said “This would fit somewhere else better, probably Manhattan. On such a small street, with the brownstones, it doesn’t quite fit.”
Sirin, a TV Producer, said: “It’s better than what I see in Williamsburg.” It reminded her of a building in Europe or Miami, but she says, “Because the buildings in my neighborhood are very, very ugly, this is okay. It doesn’t go well with this neighborhood, but I guess they tried.”
Anne and Richard, self-professed “Park Slope old timers” were also hesitant. “I don’t know,” said Richard, “Is it strong? It doesn’t look as strong as brick.” Anne didn’t like it but said, “Progress goes on.” They both worried about parking problems the building may cause.
A fairly lukewarm reception from Park Slope passers-by. Brownstoners, any final aesthetic opinion on 580 Carroll?
Bullshit Bauhaus…Ah slopians.
I’m a big fan of modern architecture in historic contexts (or blocks in this case), and I’m also a fan of TEN Arquitectos in general. That being said, this building falls flat for me. The lines are nice, but I’ve walked by it a few times and always think, “Is it finished?” The materials look decidedly unfinished and unpolished. The wood on both street frontages is going to look like poo in no time.
“What, Mr. B, there aren’t enough knuckleheads on this blog to be heard from that you have to go and give a microphone to every idiot on the street?”
What exactly distinguishes the street “idiots” from the blog-posting idiots? I don’t see a problem, except with this format we can see images of the street “idiots.”
In person, I think the exterior looks cheap and tacky.
It might look good on a beach, though.
With the all glass front where are the Fedders Boxes supposed to go?
Thank you DIBS. I couldn’t have said it better.
What, Mr. B, there aren’t enough knuckleheads on this blog to be heard from that you have to go and give a microphone to every idiot on the street?
I like this building very much; as I’ve commented before, it’s really one of the few options out there apart from One Grand Army Plaza for buyers of high-end modern in the Park Slope area. My only quibble is the small size of the bedrooms. What’s really unfortunate here is the craptacular new monstrosity being built across the street (not 569 carroll, though that’s no charmer, but the thing immediately to the east of it)- what a horror of view from those lovely windows.
Surprised by the lukewarm-edness. I really like it and think it looks quite lovely in it’s place.
It almost looks delicate, like a glass and steel version of Queen Anne’s Lace.
Wish more developers put this kind of thoughtful design into their buildings.
I couldn’t agree more with Beth’s POV.