More Praise for State Street Townhouses
We got a kick out of the glowing article in this week’s New York Magazine about the State Street townhouses. First of all, we hadn’t realized that the site had been such a hot-button issue in the neighborhood for so long (“decades”, according to the article). We were also pleased to see Brownstoner fave Charles…
We got a kick out of the glowing article in this week’s New York Magazine about the State Street townhouses. First of all, we hadn’t realized that the site had been such a hot-button issue in the neighborhood for so long (“decades”, according to the article). We were also pleased to see Brownstoner fave Charles Lockwood quoted as the “consummate authority” on brownstones. “There are many look-at-me-and-the-neighborhood-be-damned buildings, and this one isn’t, he says. This will create a pleasing streetscape. The article ends by implying that the 10-story condo that represents the second phase of the project might not be quite as well received. Has anyone seen the designs for it?
Good Buildings Make Good Neighbors[NY Magazine]
Open Season at 14 Townhouses[Brownstoner]
State Street Townhouses Promising Indeed[Brownstoner]
I live on State between Nevins & Third and walk past the 14 Townhouses every day on my way to work. I agree that the development looks like it will exhibit way more aesthetic sensitivity than the typical schlock new construction. The presence, however, of brick/stone ties on the front face of the block exterior wall and the fact they don’t exist on the end wall and back wall indicates that only the front will receive a good-looking facing and that the remaining walls will get only stucco/Dryvit/EIFS. That, especially on the end wall, seems really chintzy to me. For about 1/10th of a percent of the selling price of the development they could have put brick on the end wall instead of stucco (I’m a construction estimator). It’s that sort of decision that gives value engineering a bad name and makes one wonder what other design aspects were based on cost rather than quality parameters.
John Ife
Although the facility is not currently in use, New York will never decommission the BHD. It is far too difficult to get a jail built anywhere due to NIMBY problems. The city would never forsake a facility that already exists.
Additional note: the jail predates the arrival of most of the neighborhood’s new residents. It’s clearly not holding property values down.
The city doesn’t (and shouldn’t) make it’s decisions of which buildings to keep/sell based on how it will impact the local RE market.
One of the most compelling reasons to tear down or convert the HOD is to help bridge the “gap” between western and eastern Atlantic Ave. You’ve got two sections that are one of the best strolling streets in the city – touching the most desirable neighborhoods in the borough – divided by 2 gas stations, a parking lot and a jail. Not to mention that Boerum Place acts as the prime gateway to Brooklyn from Bklyn Bridge. Mr. Gorbechev, tear down that jail!
Atlantic Antic on 9/25 y’all!
Synonymous
Yes! The Smith is moving slow as molasses though. There is also the Mobil station on Atlantic & Boerum (faces HOD) which just recently got the green light from Board of Appeals for a residential project to be built.
HOD would actually convert to some excellent condos. Get rid of that awful rose marble visitors center on the ground floor and it’s a pretty nice building.
BTW, nobody has mentioned “The Smith” — Boymelgreen’s building going up on the corner of Smith and Atlantic. (The townhouses will face the back of it.) That little neighborhood is about to explode…
If the website is to be believed, these townhouses look great. Far better looking than most new “luxury” construction.
I’m Irish. Call em paddywaggons like everyone else does. Only wankers would get offended.
Call ’em “police wagons” “Paddy” is a derogatory term for those of Irish extraction.