New Development: 5423 Seventh Avenue
A reader emailed us a photo of this six-story, ten-unit development at 55th Street and Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park yesterday and we’re still trying to figure out how someone who graduated from architecture school could have oriented the building like this. Actually, it probably wasn’t his fault: The developer must have wanted to get…
A reader emailed us a photo of this six-story, ten-unit development at 55th Street and Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park yesterday and we’re still trying to figure out how someone who graduated from architecture school could have oriented the building like this. Actually, it probably wasn’t his fault: The developer must have wanted to get a few extra bucks per square foot by having an extra floor rather than shifting that cubic footage to the front of the building where it could have been used to align with the adjacent facade. Of course, now he’s stuck with a silly-looking building and the job of convincing potential buyers that looking out from their terraces at a brick wall of graffiti is a good thing. Are we just being crotchety or is does this seem like poor design to you too? GMAP P*Shark DOB
The extended first floors are probably terraces/gardens for the second.
Immigrant community real-estate seems to focus on features and function (and the idea of “buying a piece of the American dream”) over urban aesthetics which evolve over decades or centuries (“I don’t know the difference between Federal style and Greek Revival. I want X bedrooms. I want granite. I want a Sub-Zero. I want a porch. I want it for Y dollars”)
I’m chinese, and agree with 1:04pm.. (by the way, we also love flourescent lighting inside the house). Some of you folk should take off your “racial” blinders – stereotyping isn’t good if it’s to prejudice, and I find it helpful in understanding other cultures.
This building is right by the post office in Sunset Park. It is by no means an attractive building, however I’ve seen much worse “Development Watch” examples on this site. As for Chinese buyers, I’d be willing to bet this building is geared toward the Chinese of the neighborhood. It is not a prejudice thing to point out at all. If you know anyting abount 7th Avenue in Sunset Park, specifically the mid 50s to mid 60s, you would know that the whole area is more and more being settled by Chinese immigrants. I live in the neighborhood and have seen this change on 7th avenue over the past two years.
As for Chinese aesthetics, walk around the neighborhood and look at all the horrible (in my opinion) chrome doors and bars on the houses in the area. I would bet 99% of the houses with these chrome bars are owned and occupied by folks of Chinese desent. While the majority of people on this site would never remove period exterior doors from the houses in this neighborhood, the Chinese do it almost all the time. It definitely appears to be something that is attractive to the Chinese and not necessarily to some others (especially people on this site, interested in historical townhouses).
There is a time and place to scream about a potentially racist post. This isn’t that time. Familiarize yourself with the area where this building is located and you will see what I’m talking about.
The new owners can lean out their balconies and write their own graffitti
The existence of a wireless cell site on the roof of the adjacent building may have been a factor / consideration. The two wireless antennae can be seen mounted on the corner. Perhaps the carrier provided an $ incentive not to build immediately adjacent to the cell site, or there was some concern about RF radiation from the cell site.
“Chinee for Chinee”?? “Chinese buyers”???? Add that to yesterday’s “orient express” crack and I guess we’ve found the latest ethnic group we can stereotype on this site.
Can’t stop you from thinking it, but for God’s sake, can people manage to do some self editing here? You don’t have to post every derogatory utterance that is puked up by your narrow little minds.
“it’s also aimed at a Chinese buyer, so some of the aesthetics may be more attractive to that buyer.”
Oh please, I beg you…elaborate further. I’m dying to know what a “Chinese buyer” would find aesthetically pleasing about this sh*t-hole.
If ignorance is bliss, you must be one pigtail-swinging, lacey-sock wearing, lollypop-sucking, skipping mother-f’er.
On a side note, if they’re opening a diner on ground level, it appears that there’s plenty of room for a giant rotating hamburger right on top of the protruding roof above it. C-lassy!
1) Swoon is art school CRAP; you must be moved by greeting card sentimet as well. Just because you don’t get good graffiti doesn’t mean her insipid shit should be any more tolerated. You like it so much, commission her to wallpaper your kitchen.
2) It’s ** by ** Chinee ** for ** Chinee, as one person suggested above. This is a tough concept for some of the people here to understand– & it does NOT make the architecture any better– but guess what…
rich white $$$ is STILL a minority in BK & will be even if, say, Ratner gets everything & Williamsburg does become the new Jersey City (wretch).
Popeye Doyle
Not pretty for sure, but I’ve also seen more egregious offences.