Something's Brewing Over at Strong Place
One of our eagle-eyed correspondents telexed in an update on the Strong Place Church at the corner of Degraw. She reports that there is “suddenly a lot of activity.” Not only were there a bunch of guys carting out wood and debris last week but today she spotted “a bearded man in a cherry picker…
One of our eagle-eyed correspondents telexed in an update on the Strong Place Church at the corner of Degraw. She reports that there is “suddenly a lot of activity.” Not only were there a bunch of guys carting out wood and debris last week but today she spotted “a bearded man in a cherry picker giving the exterior a once over.” There are also reports of surveyors and much talking on cell phones. Sinister indeed.
I’m assuming the avenger is being satirical – but somedays around here can never be too sure.
I agree with iceberg. It’s obvious that Brownstoner is anti-semitic and, my god, look at the thread on private security forces – he wants to ship in nazi storm troopers to suppress the colorful local community while he populates his rental units with like minded Aryans watching his giant, ostentatious plasma TV. You are all missing other key points – not only does the posting point out the “beard,” which as we all now has been code throughout the centuries for “jew.” (For example, “What a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my thrill-horse has on his tail.” – The Merchant of Venice (Gobbo at II, ii)) But how about the caption of the post that uses “brewing”; substitute only two letters and you have “jewing” as in “somebodys jewing someone down over there at that real estate auction” as another reader astutely pointed out is a hazard in the real estate business but only when jews are concerned. This is because as we know members of the more nordic races are focused on architectural integrity and beauty rather than squeezing out every last dollar of a real estate deal.
I could continue by pointing out other incredibly anti-semetic insinuations such as the repetitive use on “condo” which as well all know is largely modeled on the concept of a kibbutz (hence the large number of them in Florida) but to do so would only inflame my already passionate hatred of a man who starts a blog entitled “brownstoner” when it should be titled “How I really want to be David Duke and turn brooklyn into my own little Aryan Nation for me and my white little brood.”
I think the catholic church sold 5 years ago – so it wasn’t them that received to $7m+.
Also, although hasidim may be active in building
closer to williamsburg – I don’t think they are active or interested in CobbleHill landmarked area/landmarked churches. And no matter what religion
or lackof – I doubt anyone would buy this kinda prop. in Cobble Hill thinking that can make money from section 8 or whatever other silly plot
some of you folks can think up. Section 8 isn’t gonna give you more money ’cause its expensive ‘hood.
Also plenty of old churches have been converted to living spaces in the neighborhood and nearby BHeights. Packer Collegiate also just converted a long abondoned church on CLinton St. and converted to school space.
I am at a loss.
There is nothing in the picture or the caption that “plays up the jewish angle.”
What is wrong with people?
Actually it does make a difference if a hasidic/orthodox person buys property for developement..ESPECIALLY in Brooklyn. If you look at many of the section 8 apartments filled with drug dealers, research who owns them. Also they have absentee supers leaving the buildings in really bad shape. Often the orthodox owners claim residences as houses of worship or apt. buildings with residents as part of synagouges, therefor paying no property tax. I have seen slummed up section 8 buildings whose owners list their address as the housing project in Williamsburg by Ross and Bedford. If you go to real estate closings in Bklyn you will often see many orthodox men in the rooms. Go to the auctions for foreclosures and estate sales, they are there. I tried to buy a brownstone in Park Slope once and the “owner” was an orthodox guy who won the house at estate auction. He hadn’t closed yet, but wanted cash from me to buy the note that gave me the right to close with the city. He just wanted cash (about 300,000). Not bad tax free income. I am not saying all orthodox do business this way, but in my personal Brooklyn real estate experience, it has been the case that deals are shady. And if you wander through southern Williamsburg, you can see the giant concrete slabs with jail bars over every window, built by and for the locals. Also at Home Depot you see the orthodox men hand the cashier a tax-exempt form (I have seen this very often).
Anon 12:30 – the Catholic Church has been consolidating parishes and selling properties for a few decades now. Nothing to do with settlements, everything to do with declining/shifting congregations and the huge cost of maintaining some of these buildings.
Boston and other dioceses have been having fire sales the past year or two to cover their cost of settlements, and NY/LI dioceses may have their own costs as well, but their sales have been going on longer than that.
Anon 12:29 – its a landmark site, no? Tear down is not an option, unless you want to carry the building for a couple of decades while entropy works its natural course and the building disintegrates on its own. And LPC has the power to force an owner to make the minimal repairs necessary to keep a building standing. Happily, that church will stand and not be replaced by “brownstoner-ettes” (shudder).
I’m not familiar with President Street, but take a look at the Arches on Warren St. (former St. Peter’s Church). That church was in poor shape too before they converted it to condos.
Iceberg-I am not “cherry picker picture taker” and honestly, I didn’t assume anything about the sentence “a bearded man…” other than it being a caption for the photo. Maybe Brownstoner or the OP can jump in here?
The church is in crap shape. As a developer I’ll get way more bang for my buck by raising the whole thing. You’ll see. My bownstoner-ettes will be contextual and beautiful AND I’m going to be laughing all the way to the bank, yo.