New Development: 46 Lefferts Place
While we doubt neighbors on the otherwise historic block of Lefferts Place between Grand and St. James are too thrilled about having to look at the new facade at 46 Lefferts Place, the developer should get credit for making the effort to align the facade and roofline with the neighboring brownstones. (While he was at…
While we doubt neighbors on the otherwise historic block of Lefferts Place between Grand and St. James are too thrilled about having to look at the new facade at 46 Lefferts Place, the developer should get credit for making the effort to align the facade and roofline with the neighboring brownstones. (While he was at it, we wish he sized the windows similarly.) The developer should also get some credit for bringing the an upscale-ish condo development to the immediate area. Why is this a good thing? Well, it gives young, single people the option of taking a stake in the neighborhood, rather than being forced to rent. And there are a number of apartments that are actually within reach of this demographic: All but one of the condos are priced between $275,000 and $355,000. As you can see from the photo, there were already potential buyers checking our the model apartment yesterday evening.
Lefferts Place Listings [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Only an a-hole would build a building with that shitty Altantic City facade next to classic brownstones.
The developer clearly only cares about money and it looks like he won’t be making much any time soon.
I gotta go with 11:16 on this one. Keystones do not equal contextual.
Didn’t we see something pretty similar recently – another building with a ridiculous faux-stone base that didn’t turn the corner?
I think you are being very generous, Mr. B, as it’s impossible for me to give praise to the developer/architect team for any aspects of this facade.
1. It needs DIFFERENT windows that are scaled correctly. The windows should be more rectangular, black or brown framed, and they should be double hung sash windows (real wood a BIG plus) that match the size of the windows of the neighboring existing housing stock. (And yes, looks like all the neighbors have made the same mistake of getting replacement windows with white frames. Not good.) These are a joke, and they ruin every aspect of the potential for the rest of the facade. They are WAY too small and too square – double hung sash is what would be appropriate. (and not in white, please!) Because of the silly scale problem, the windows must be placed higher on the facade at the bottoms, throwing off the sill “line” with neighboring buildings.
What you see here is inexcusable and devoid of even the most basic architectural sensitivity and awareness.
2. The lintels and surrounding trim of the windows are also a joke. Plain concrete lintels (even painted) would have been better, without any decorative trim on the side of the windows. (should be just a window opening in the common brick with the lintel above the window and perhaps a simple sill on the bottom. Man, I’ve recently seen some new construction that used inexpensive poured concrete form sills and lintels and it’s FINE! It looks absolutely cool, especially if the surrounding common brick is a nice solid red color, or better yet, a random blend with specks of darker reds and blacks. Of course, real stone would be best but this fussy prefab white stuff with arched trim looks so dumb…
3. The balconies should be outlawed. No explanation needed here.
4. The stone on the facade at the entry is another horrible aesthetic seen all too often these days. It’s just trying so hard, man. but you know – some things are better left in plain common brick.
Could it have been worse? no doubt, but where is the skillset these days? This is not rocket science!
I live on this block. A few tweaks that would have made this a bit better have already been mentioned.
1. Add a cornice
2. No balconies on the front.
3. larger windows (double hung) matching the brownstone adjacent to it.
4. Nicer brick.
5. Add an iron fence in the front with a gate and a small tree, landscaping like the other rowhouses (this could be done after the fact of course and hopefully will be by the collective owners.)
Luckily, this does not stand out too much on the block, and in the summer you don’t see it so much trough the leaves of the trees.
Hopefully, it will be a good entry point for young professionals looking to get out of the renting cycle. Whoever buys, welcome, it’s a nice block.
$275K for that teeny tiny studio?! On the first floor?! My Willoughby Walk studio is looking better and better every friggin’ day with these prices.
Not a single unit has sold or gone in contract in 3 months. Tells you something.
yikes! $345K for a 600 square foot studio in a less than prime, although hardly terrible neighborhood. this is my price range, but increasingly i compare this with moving, and i don’t mean bay ridge; i mean pittsburgh … the administration really needs to address affordability at all price-points or new york city will become paris.
This is not bad, but those ^#&@! front balconies!
if they would just add a cornice, this place would look 100% better and i wouldn’t even have an issue with the rest.