A Brownstone [Still] Dies in Brooklyn
Back in April, the folks at Cititour noted that while brownstones were plenty protected in neighborhoods like Park Slope, non-landmarked neighborhoods like Sunset Park weren’t so lucky. They documented the dismantling or dismembering of a brownstone on 54th and 6th. Five months later, they’ve got new documents: these photos of what replaced the turn-of-the-century building….
Back in April, the folks at Cititour noted that while brownstones were plenty protected in neighborhoods like Park Slope, non-landmarked neighborhoods like Sunset Park weren’t so lucky. They documented the dismantling or dismembering of a brownstone on 54th and 6th. Five months later, they’ve got new documents: these photos of what replaced the turn-of-the-century building. Kind of resurrects the old progress-versus-preservation argument, don’t it?
Follow-Up to A Brownstone Dies in Brooklyn [Cititour]
DIBS;
As a matter of fact, I used to live in an area where these types of buildings were going up everywhere. These new homes were quite popular with immigrants. You know what I did? I saved up my money, and moved to an area that was more in line with the environment I wanted. Imagine that!
oh puhleeze, benson. What a load of bs. He got maybe another 2-4 apartments – oh yes. That does sooooo much for housing in this city. He probably wasted more time and money by destroying the original property, then rebuilding. The apartments are sure to be cheesy, poorly designed and bound to need repairs within a year of occupation.
People like you are so short-sighted and unimaginative. In the long run the developer hasn’t added anything really beneficial, even by way of moderate income housing, and in the process destroyed a building that was well constructed enough to last over 100 years (his building won’t, guaranteed), and destroyed the integrity and beauty of an old brownstone block- which was a main selling point by the way. People look to buy in brownstone areas because they are desirable.
But why should he care? He probably has one of those sub-prime mortgage packages and his lender will be getting bailed out, no?
Minmin;
What in the world are you talking about, when you say that this guy is “TAKING the neighbor’s money with him”, and not being respectful? Yeah, I’m sure that the neighbor next store with the big “Grand Opening” sign on his cheap 99 cents store is really pissed that this guy is not being respectful of the prevailing aesthetics.
Bxgrl:
If there is demand, people will do it. Just ask all the hookers and drug dealers. Other amusing examples of the trend can be found in places like Kenya, where the number of tailors and clothing producers has declined by 80% over the past decade because we westerners give so much clothing away to them for free. When there is opportunity, people will rise to the challenge. If there isn’t opportunity, such as is the case of the seamstresses in Kenya or the architectural craftsmen of generations past, they’ll find some other way to make money.
I’m not saying the problem is easy to solve, but I do know that when given the opportunity, people will rise to the challenge.
With the collapse of the FIRE economy, and the almost certain future where money is injected into the economy via government capital improvement projects, we have the chance to continue the productive and aesthetic growth of our city that slowed after 1929 and stopped with the start of World War II.
Montrose: I’m sorry I misread your post. I do disagree with the “context” however – this building is undoubtedly of a lower density than your typical 5-story mansion in Park Slope for instance. The neighboring buildings are small, but if the developer constructed a replica of a Prometheus Place townhouse, I can’t believe you’d be so opposed to it. Density restrictions have a place, but too often they are abused to limit new development and preserve the existing neighborhood. These houses are small, and building something of the exact same height and density should not be a consideration.
Benson..i hope you get some piece of shit across the street from you and then we’ll hear what you have to say!!!
If you think this developer was primarily interested in “providing more moderate-income housing” then you’re on some powerful hallucinogen.
Oh, and I’m SURE that’s an illegal curb cut! (Call 311 to plant a tree.)
BLECH….
And Benson, while I am not averse to moderate-income housing, this IS an abomination. It can be done with class and style and pizazz…think about the infill apartments on Eastern Parkway as it curves around when you’re heading towards Crown Heights. Respectful! The developer here is testing the limits not at all respectful of his surroundings. You say that people who don’t like the product can take their money elsewhere, well, this guy is TAKING the neighbor’s money with him.
I congratulate the owner of this property. He put his own money into developing his property, and providing more moderate-income housing for a city that needs it.
Pay no attention to those on this post (as you have obviously done) who would set up an “aestheitcs patrol”, which would bring development to a screeching halt.
If they don’t like the product you have produced, then they can simply take their money elsewhere.
Montrose Morris- NYC does have a Board of Standards and Appeals, however, the operative word is appeals because developer’s $ = you can get anything approved.