New Lease on Life for Finger Building
Poor Finger Building: It’s been a rough few years, what with the Stop Work Orders, Scarano affiliation and, ultimately, foreclosure. The end of 2008, however, marked a turning point for the storied apartment tower. A month before the controversial decision by the BSA that cleared the way for the building to continue its climb to…
Poor Finger Building: It’s been a rough few years, what with the Stop Work Orders, Scarano affiliation and, ultimately, foreclosure. The end of 2008, however, marked a turning point for the storied apartment tower. A month before the controversial decision by the BSA that cleared the way for the building to continue its climb to 17 stories, the property was purchased from the bank by GFI, a multi-tentacled real estate company, for $8,000,000. (In addition to a large mortgage brokerage business, they are also developing 470 Vanderbilt Avenue.) While the build-out continues, the hunt is on for a retail tenant for the 20,000-square-foot space that’s just a hop, skip and skateboard trick away from the Bedford L. We’d be curious to hear what locals would like to see in that spot. Maybe something like Gourmet Garage? What do you think? GMAP P*Shark
Walmart is not an option…the space is not big enough and they are not coming to Williamsburg. I like the “real” supermarket idea. I am tired of paying $5 for a tomato from Sunac. And I am sorry, but Tops doesn’t cut it. It’s better than it was but still…..
How about a Walmart?
Geez, Tops is around the corner.
Anyways, I think a Barnes & Noble would be nice. Or a giant Starbucks.
i am sincerely hoping that something will finally get built as this is a major eye sore.
obviously, that is an amazing location for a retailer. a grocery store would be great for the area. sunac has terrific quality – not sure about the 7-11 comment, but it’s all upscale stuff and expensive. best for smaller purchases. the new khims on driggs is a bigger version of both sunac and their other store, but not the size of a true grocery store, so i don’t think it would be that much competition.
i know that lots of people go to both the trader joes and whole foods in union square, but certainly, they would start going to a local outlet of either instead.
with that said, between fresh direct and the Pathmark in Long Island City (which, if you haven’t been there, you should go if you have a car – it is a gift from god in terms of quantity of stuff and cheapness – and it’s a million times better than the pathmarks i’ve been to in PS and CG), i don’t personally really need another grocery store.
a store that i think is missing from all of gentrified brooklyn is bed bath and beyond. no way that a chain store like that would get approved in williamsburg though i think. north west williamsburg has close to zero chains.
Where do u see that it was purchased for $8m.?
We in Clinton Hill take pride in the fact that our finger building, on Wash/Myrtle, will be larger than Williamsburg finger building!
GFI got a steal when they bought for $ 8MM. Especially since the decision by BSA comes almost immediately after the REO sale. You would almost think that GFI was divinely inspired. They had a nice vision and it said, “If you buy it, they will let you build.” Anyone know of any ties between GFI and BSA?
Oh, so *that’s* what’s going up in this spot. Looked like a wasteland last summer, always a nice place to park. There’s already a Sunac grocery across the street and another grocery a few blocks down. But it’s not like Sunac is so great. It’s more expensive than Citarella with quality bordering on 7-11. Why I think this location would be perfect for a food coop! I’m sure they won’t have any trouble paying the rent. Or maybe the rumored Apple store? A hipster hotel?
Point taken.