20 Henry Street Conversion Getting in Gear
Less than three months after purchasing the 38,000-square-foot former candy factory at 20 Henry Street for $19.6 million, Urban Realty Partners has hired a new architect and filed plans to begin converting the 43-unit rental building into 14 condominium residences; the architect for the conversion is Joseph Pell Lombardi, who has overseen countless conversions of…
Less than three months after purchasing the 38,000-square-foot former candy factory at 20 Henry Street for $19.6 million, Urban Realty Partners has hired a new architect and filed plans to begin converting the 43-unit rental building into 14 condominium residences; the architect for the conversion is Joseph Pell Lombardi, who has overseen countless conversions of historic loft buildings in Soho, Tribeca and elsewhere. Still unknown, the Eagle points out, is whether the developer plans to stick with the LPC-approved plans for a four-story new building in the adjacent courtyard that fronts Poplar and Henry Streets. (Click here to see the rendering.)
New Architect Hired for 20 Henry Conversion [Brooklyn Eagle] GMAP P*Shark DOB
The tenants of 20 Henry spent a great deal of time and money maintaining that garden. The courtyard design was arguably not the most attractive thing ever, but we made the best with what we had to work with. Only since the tenants were all evicted a few years ago has the garden fallen into disrepair.
12:24, you better be ready to spend at least $1.5 b/c these things are going to be expensive!!
He would not be going in for a whole new design, just adjustments. The approved design for the new building was not perfect. If I were them, I would seek adjustments. I recall that some of the units had large picture windows right on the sidewalk. yechh.
11:57, improvements to the Paulsen design? Maybe, and JPL knows what he’s doing. But a whole new design is only for the confidant or the stupid with deep enough pockets to indulge either characteristic — 11:40.
how can i stay updated on this building? looking to buy a condo in the near future and this seems promising.
11:40,
I think the LPC would be willing to consider improvements to the Paulsen design, which I think nobody really liked. The commission had just been worn down by the process and by the attorneys. The LPC chairman was just barely able to muster the minimum number of votes to approve the plan.
This building was intersting but always kind of a dump. The side garden was not well maintained, in fact it looked horrible. I for one do not mourn the loss of the former tenants. Hopefully the planned conversion will restore the building, which could be handsome, and will provide family-sized apartments for folks who want to move here or stay in the neighborhood as their families expand.
I think the zoning is a nightmare here but Joe Lombardi knows what he’s doing. How he will deal with the new fire and building codes is another story. The whole building may have to be rebuilt inside. It is currently heavy timber framing.
I respect Linda Collins’ reporting, but I don’t know how she could possible question “whether the developer plans to stick with the LPC-approved plans for a four-story new building in the adjacent courtyard that fronts Poplar and Henry Streets.” Those plans took a really long time to get approved, and only after repeated tweaking. (And that was with former LPC chair Sherida Paulsen as the designer!) Part of what Urban Realty Partners bought for $19.6M is the approval.
43 units into 14 condos. Those are going to be some big (and pricey) condos.