Broken Angel Up For Sale
It’s a sad day in Mudville: Shahn and Arthur are having to give up on their dream of converting the Broken Angel into a bunch of eclectically designed condos. A few days ago, they put the 13,000-square-foot property up for sale with no asking price. Interested parties can contact Shahn at 917-627-6454. Given that the…
It’s a sad day in Mudville: Shahn and Arthur are having to give up on their dream of converting the Broken Angel into a bunch of eclectically designed condos. A few days ago, they put the 13,000-square-foot property up for sale with no asking price. Interested parties can contact Shahn at 917-627-6454. Given that the new NYT listings site currently returns zero responses to a Clinton Hill search, we’re unable to come up with the listing right now!
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More Details on the Broken Angel Project [Brownstoner]
“All Shahn had to do is BUY the Broken Angel and do the work himself but, he dragged Arthur into that mess! Arthur could’ve brought another house and be done with it..”
What, if you actually knew what you were talking about, that’s the whole point. Shahn was trying to help Arthur keep and rebuild his 30 plus year creation, and develop what wasn’t actually a part of that artwork into viable living spaces that would generate income for Arthur, and Shahn as well. Sounds win/win to me. Having money so he could buy a new space is almost irrelevant. He couldn’t buy another 30 years to create another life’s work. That’s like glibly telling someone who just lost a spouse of 30 plus years, to get over it and get married again.
fsrq, you certainly are taking this personally. You may have been put off by Shahn’s attitude or some of his assertions, but sheesh! Did he rip you off? The man is entitled to make large pronouncements that I’m sure he had every expectation of filling. I’m very sorry some people, and I don’t even include you in this, feel the need to kick him while he’s lying on the floor.
MMHPH- at least I am not chewing the bitter herbs of envy. whether or not I personally like Shahn, I appreciated what he tried to do. It’s not my place to decide how much he does or does not know- there are plenty of truly spectacular failures in this world. Most by people who really did have a clue. and plenty of victories by people who had none. so your personal thing with Shahn is your problem, not mine. i still say the guy had a lot of heart to try and help. What did you do? Sit back and critique.
Was it Arthur who many say had this weird look?
Was it Shahn who always had that suspicious smile?
Was it Victor Plum that self-made video-game design billionaire ?
Was it Eleanor Peacock, Coming from a wealthy family of politicians ?
Was it Jack Mustard, Once the most sought after celebrity football player ?
Was it Kasandra Scarlet, at the center of every social event?
What was the weapon that murdered this house ?
What- I don’t know that Arthur wanted to sell. Broken Angel was his art, not just his property. If it were me, I would desperately be trying to hold on and salvage my work. So maybe Shahn’s hands were tied to some extent?
It’s really kind of sad to me that even after Shahn’s been shown to not really know what he’s talking about, both bxgirl and P are still drinking his kool aid. If i jumped off a 110′ tall building attempting to fly would you “admire my courage” for attmepting to try something that noone else would bother trying? Or would you call me a fool who just didn’t know enough about what he was attempting to do?
Is it possible for developers to accept slightly lower levels of return in order to achieve buildings that are more aesthetically interesting and socially relevent? Abosultely. But it’s extremely difficult – all the decks (city regulations, bank requirements, laws of gravity) are stacked against you. You are totally swimming upstream and I find it hard to fault people who don’t have the energy to take that much more difficult path.
MM – sorry for the gender confusion. Don’t know why I always assumed you were a gay man. I hope I didn’t offend. Anyway, more to your point – I have met the guy. And he has always very much had the “I’ve figured out something that noone else has” smarminess. If you want to see some of it for yourself, go back to some old posts on this and admirals row – it’s in full effect. Most of your “maybe”s don’t change my mind as a competent developer would have done his (or her) research to properly evaluate the risk involved in the building’s condition and/or realistic expectations of DOB. I’ll give you the “maybe he pulled out for personal reasons” caveat. And if that’s the case, my sympathies go out to the guy. Like I said, I would have loved to have seen this happen – but anyone who undertakes this kind of project has to do it with the expectation that it’s very risky, will yield little or no profit, and even then it will be an exceptionally hard project to pull off. Shahn did none of those things.
“All the people taking potshots at Shahn are saying more about themselves than him. It’s so easy to say I told you so, and even easier to sit back and not do a damn thing. Shahn really tried to do the right thing by Arthur- maybe it was quixotic, certainly it was courageous. and help save the artistic work of a lifetime. We don’t know all the circumstances, but the fact that he couldn’t ultimately salvage Broken Angel is no cause for celebration.”
All Shahn had to do is BUY the Broken Angel and do the work himself but, he dragged Arthur into that mess! Arthur could’ve brought another house and be done with it..
Shahn is a Asshat and I hope he gets financially punished!
Shahn where are you!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
P – yes we all know about the cranes but ultimatley that failure is irrelevant to the determination whether this structure was dangerous to the community (and the fact that it was well over 30yrs old actually makes the point even better – things do not get stronger with age)
and let me say to your comment:
“Shahn was a developer who was trying to unite creative expression and profit, something that isn’t done much unfortunately and something I would love to see more of”
respectfully F you! – how many developers do you know, how many architects and engineers do you speak with? Because just like Shahn, most of these people that I know are trying to do the same thing. Just because you are ignorant of the true costs of such projects (like Shahn), or are so arrogant to believe that only expression that you approve are “creative” is your failing.
Believe it or not most dev/arch/engin/investors arent the greedy, slimy evil people you need to think in order for your view of the world to hold. Just like in any field some are greedy, some are incompetent but most would like to do the right thing and make a profit as well. So until you can actually speak from knowledge instead of some cartoon characterization that makes you feel good – please STFU
“All the people taking potshots at Shahn are saying more about themselves than him. It’s so easy to say I told you so, and even easier to sit back and not do a damn thing. Shahn really tried to do the right thing by Arthur- maybe it was quixotic, certainly it was courageous. and help save the artistic work of a lifetime. We don’t know all the circumstances, but the fact that he couldn’t ultimately salvage Broken Angel is no cause for celebration.”
All Shahn had to do is BUY the Broken Angel and do the work himself but, he dragged Arthur into that mess! Arthur could’ve brought another house and be done with it..
Shahn is a Asshat and I hope he gets financially punished!
Shahn where are you!
Someday this war is gonna end…
“MM – you may not recall Shahn’s arrogant and critical (of DOB, all other developers, etc…) but search (Google – site:brownstoner.com) is your friend – its all there for the reading”
fsrg we don’t agree on much but you are so right. I remember this Asshat was so smug!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end..
Oh I forgot
Shahn=Fail..