The Novo Finally Becomes Official!
Big news on 4th Avenue: At long last, people can move into the Novo. The DOB granted the condo a temporary certificate of occupancy on Friday, only a few days before some of the building’s buyers would have been able to walk away from their contracts. It was rumored that the development would not get…
Big news on 4th Avenue: At long last, people can move into the Novo. The DOB granted the condo a temporary certificate of occupancy on Friday, only a few days before some of the building’s buyers would have been able to walk away from their contracts. It was rumored that the development would not get a C of O until its developers finished work on the public playground behind the building. The temp certificate is only good through July 25, and there are still 23 outstanding requirements to be fulfilled before the building is completely good to go. While the playground is still not finished, in recent weeks contractors have stepped up work on the space, and it looks like it should be done within a couple months (see pic on jump). We bet there are some extremely relieved Novo buyers who spent the weekend celebrating.
343 4th Avenue C of O Documentation [DOB]
Should We Feel Sorry For Novo Contract Holders? [Brownstoner]
C-of-O Woes for the Novo? [Brownstoner]
Novo Takes a Nosedive [Brownstoner] GMAP
Damn, that is one ugly building.
This place sucks so bad. Looks like Park ave MARTY. NOT.
10:47 – Is it true that the sprinklers have not been “signed off” on? if so, how can they let people move in before that happens?
Benson – I am not talking about 4 tree pits – I am talking about some beds right up against the building with bushes an flowers and trees (sort of like Boylemegreen did with the 1st condos he built on 2nd St – near 5th). The sidewalk is wide enough for a few foot wide bed – that would dramatically improve the look of the building
And while it may cost a money – if you sell or rent 2 or 3 apartments a few months earlier b/c the building doesnt look like crap – it will more than pay for itself.
Funny how all these developments always manage to get their TCOs just days before buyers would be released from contracts. On the other hand, most of the outstanding are pretty mundane (though I’d be a bit worried about moving into a place that has not documented its environmental remediation requirements; and a sprinkler sign off would be kind of nice too).
Benson: the tree pits are probably the least they could do, legally. Quality housing requires a certain number of trees per foot of street frontage, and I’d bet there are no more than that. That’s one of the outstanding items is “plant new tree”.
All in all, not a great addition to the city, and a great lesson in why you should wait for the finished product before putting down a deposit.
Why don’t developers get some good architects to design this crap? It would probably cost the same amount of money.
Looks like Creedmore.
I would suggest to all that they take a walk by the building before commenting. There are tree pits in the sidewalk in the front of this building. The trees have not been planted yet.
Benson
Landscaping costs money. Trees cost money.
That’s why the Novo doesn’t have them.