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?
I went inside these a couple of weeks ago. The whole place had the feeling a rush job to me – nothing was finished with an attention to detail. The carpets in the halls seemed cheap and poorly installed, fixtures were loose or improperly fit, caulking was sloppy in spots, etc. It just didn’t seem to right for a building with pretensions of chic modernity. The broker also made mention that all prices were negotiable, he said it at least twice, so perhaps the developer is “motivated” to unload these.
Haven’t seen it in person, but I don’t much like that fence that meets the street. From this angle, the big wooden barrier looks like it kills the streetscape the same way a garage does.
Please Do NOT make it a habit of using this asinine inteview format.
Gorgeous — at least in the photo.
I see no problem with mixing modern and old in the same neighborhood.
Looks good to me, and far better than the earlier renderings.
“It’s better than what I see in Williamsburg.”
Yeah, there’s a reason for that – Levine promised everyone (including Amanda Burden) Enrique Norten for the Edge, but then pulled the old bait and switch as soon as the zoning was approved.
I passed by it yesterday, it is set back so it really doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Would I like to have floor to ceiling wall to wall glass windows in my apartment, NO. With a view of a park, Ocean, Lake, Forest, yes…but to look at the back of a tenement, NO, or a tenement across the street NO.
I do like the fences and the greenery though.
I like it. It’s visually interesting, echoes what’s around without being a slavish copy of the past. If I were a neighbor, I would really like the breath of fresh air of this big front garden.
This building was specifically designed not to fit it. I would love to see Nortem design some nice brownstones for Miami.
It’s a curiosity, and that’s OK.