Another One Bites the Dust?
When 59 Orient Avenue, a 6,000-square-foot shingled house in Greenpoint, was for sale in the spring of 2007, we feared that the unlandmarked beauty would be the victim of its own large lot. After all, the $2,500,000 asking price was such that only a developer looking to take advantage of the 13,000 square feet of…

When 59 Orient Avenue, a 6,000-square-foot shingled house in Greenpoint, was for sale in the spring of 2007, we feared that the unlandmarked beauty would be the victim of its own large lot. After all, the $2,500,000 asking price was such that only a developer looking to take advantage of the 13,000 square feet of unused FAR could afford it. The house ended up selling for just $1,725,000 in August of last year. Based on the photo, at right, from last month on Flickr, the damage has begun. It’s unclear what the new owner’s plans are for it, though, since the only application on file with DOB is one to remove and close up existing windows from last winter. Anyone heard any chatter about what lies in store for this place?
House of the Day: Endangered on Orient Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Left photo from Property Shark; right photo by markamav
Dittoburg:
For some reason, I seem to recall you previously could formulate a rational argument. Perhaps today you’re hung over, or drunk or whatever. So, I’ll give you a pass.
I really fail to see how zoning is at all relevant to the “financially disempowered” and their personal valuation of this property. And for the record, I have said on a number of occasions that I only have problems with zoning laws that benefit the few at the expense of the many. And no, in most of the world property rights as we understand them don’t exist. That’s why the vast majority of the people on this earth live in housing even a Roman from 2,000 years ago would consider a slum. You need to travel more.
“If you don’t respect freedom and property rights, why don’t you just leave the country? Most of the world follows your creed. Why stay here?”
Wrong, most of the world does NOT restrict development or what you can do with your property. Appropriate Zoning, which is used more in the US than in other countries, is admirable, and I support it. So it seems that you are the one in the wrong country?
dittoburg:
Little girls everywhere value ponies, yet one very rarely appears under a Christmas tree. I’m truly sorry the world does not provide endless sunshine and free ice cream. I’m also truly sorry for assuming the context of this discussion is inherently limited by the laws and customs of our nation.
What you’re really saying is the house would be highly desired by the “financially disempowered” if they somehow stripped the ownership of the property from a private citizen against his will and somehow find a way to get other people to renovate it by either enslaving them or paying them with plunder.
If you don’t respect freedom and property rights, why don’t you just leave the country? Most of the world follows your creed. Why stay here?
It already is both, Martis. Now with the cold weather I figure the opium garden out back is closed, but you can get a room, hallway, corner of the kitchen floor, or whatever accommodations you like there any night. They never put out the no-vacancy sign. Smells like piss when you walk by, but I would imagine it’s an acquired smell one would get used to.
Sure martis, so long as you have “bum-stab” insurance.
lots of potential as a crackhouse or hobo b&b.
this is not Greenpoint.its East Williamsburg
Sarcasm never works well on the internet, I should have learned that. Your conclusion that “Obviously, no one thought the building was worth anything” based on no-one buying it at the huge price tag completely ignores what all those in the community who couldn’t afford it, yet value it, have to say. So your conclusion is not “obvious” or logical, unless the finacially dismepowered don’t even get into the “no one” category in your scheme.
It didn’t seem to be YOUR conclusion. If you agree the building is worthless, then what was your point?