An Upgrade for 505 Fulton Street
A reader sent in this photo of scaffolding going up earlier this week at 505 Fulton Street on the Fulton Mall. Back in 2005, The Brooklyn Paper (well, then it was called Brooklyn Papers) reported that owner Al Laboz was planning to convert the Henry Offerman-designed beauty Offerman Building to residential lofts. From what we…
A reader sent in this photo of scaffolding going up earlier this week at 505 Fulton Street on the Fulton Mall. Back in 2005, The Brooklyn Paper (well, then it was called Brooklyn Papers) reported that owner Al Laboz was planning to convert the Henry Offerman-designed beauty Offerman Building to residential lofts. From what we gather, though, the exterior restoration is part of a newer plan to create new office space. And attract a higher-end retail tenant: Conways is out. The spiff-up should also coincide with the 2012 arrival next door of retailer H&M. GMAP
Benson, those Deco elevators are still there.
quote:
Did you all see the article recently (maybe it was last week) somewhere that said Sephora is looking for a space on Fulton Mall too?
LMFAO, i hope they take EBT cards!
*rob*
Speaking of the old A&S…
….when I was a kid I used to practically live there, as my mom and sister would love to shop there. One of my most vivid memories of the place was the elevators, for two reasons:
a) they still had an operator;
b) the way they would start and stop on their ascent would always induce nausea.
I haven’t been there in years, in its present incarnation. I wonder if the current-day Macy’s stll has those elevators?
Always lived this building and happy to see it’s being renovated.
Don’t you wonder what the restaurant at H&M could be like? Microwaved hot apple pies, cheese fries and wireless access points : P
Macy’s neé A&S still earns points for the 4th floor Ladies, though. It’s one of the better rest rooms downtown.
I wholeheartedly agree, Minard. Those upper stories, often 3 and 4 floors worth, are begging for new lives as office or living spaces. Having more businesses downtown, especially other than retail, would go a long way towards enlivening the entire area. Having the Offerman building as office space is a good first start.
wasted space is one of the big issues downtown. Almost all the upper floors of the buildings along the ped mall are empty. Vacant. King Tut-ified.
Think about all that floor area. In many cases inaccessible as stairs have been removed to increase the retail floor area on ground level. That seems to me like a throwback to he days when much of Brooklyn’s residential real estate was considered almost worthless by bankers and RE professionals.
That has to start changing soon.
Charleston Gardens was great. When I first moved to NYC (late 70’s) going there was a treat, like having tea at the Palm Court, one of those quintessential NY experiences. I only had lunch there twice, as I was a starving college graduate in an entry level job, but it was still very cool.
A&S used to have an excellent restaurant, and the best lunch downtown. The space is still there, closed off now, on the 4th floor, next to the ladies’ room. Perfectly wasted space.
I loved the Charleston Gardens!!