326 State Street: Fudging the Mezzanines
Maybe we were too quick to praise the design of the new Scarano building at 326 State Street last month. According to a reader who got a look at the interior, the building’s working the whole plywood mezzanine charade. Here’s what the reader had to say: I thought you might be amused by this little…
Maybe we were too quick to praise the design of the new Scarano building at 326 State Street last month. According to a reader who got a look at the interior, the building’s working the whole plywood mezzanine charade. Here’s what the reader had to say:
I thought you might be amused by this little anecdote resulting from my popping into the open house at 326 State today on my way to Atlantic Antic. The developer is selling the units himself, without the aid of any agent, and he was there, in person…What was much more interesting was that when I saw a ladder, as opposed to a stair, going up to the mezzanine and asked “So, is that a way to get around the FAR situation?” he said, “Kind of,” and then volunteered the information that there was a built-up plywood floor in the bedroom upstairs (or actually up-ladder), adding, “You can remove it once you move in”.
Word to the wise: If you’re going to facilitate the violation of building codes, probably better not to advertise the fact to someone walking in off the street.
326 State Street: Eating Our Words [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Still Out of Scale on State Street [Brownstoner] DOB
326 State Street: When Too Much FAR Is a Bad Thing [Brownstoner]
a libretarian to whom i mentioned scarano and the building codes was apalled that the government is regulating who can buy what. its a good question, the dob rules might have been broken, but no one has mentioned why those rules exist in the first place? if people want to buy a bedroom without windows or a small crawlspace, let them.
I live in 200 Schermerhorn aka State Renaissance Court. I’m in the middle income apartments (which aren’t cheap, but are far below market) and I’m pleased with the building so far.
The construction is sound, the fixtures are nice and heavy duty. Frigidaire appliances in middle income – market rate got stainless steel ones (they may have ben Frigidaire or may have been GE). The painting was a little shoddy, but since we were going to paint the apartment anyways we asked them no to repaint. (The building manager was “appalled” at our apartment and was going to order a crew to come in repaint. All because there were some parts on the door frames that could have used a second coat.)
All in all it’s been a very positive experience so far. I wouldn’t call it a luxury building, but the floorplans are good and well thought out – the only problem I have (and it’s such a middling problem I’m even embarrassed to bring it up) is that the light switch for the walk-in closet in the master bedroom is outside the closet behind the door. (Oh woe is me!) It’s just a rather awkward place for it. Other than that, it’s a great apartment in a so-far great building.
On a side note, I’m curious what types of retail tenants the building will draw – I’m praying for it not to be a 99 cent store.
Please heed the suggestions of 10:54. You can also run into problems when you try to sell if there are modifications to the space that are not pursuant to the C of O. There is a reason these developers used Scarano; so that they could squeeze every legal and (in many cases) illegal inch of sellable space from these sites. STAY AWAY.
11:44-11:56, thanks. Though I find 188 15th St hard to believe, but I have not been in it.
http://www.vermeilcondominiums.com
http://www.onprospectpark.com
http://www.theheritageatparkslope.com
So. how much were they going for, and how much space do you get?
I believe the Vermeil is constructed in a high quality fashion.
M.C. Escher house- torture chamber!
Heritage is definitely high quality work