Argyle Closings Happening, But Watch That Punch List
As we noted two weeks ago, closing at The Argyle on 4th Avenue in Park Slope (where 70 percent of the units have been sold) have begun. And a press release yesterday trumpeted the fact that buyers have already begun moving in and provided a link to some photos of finished interiors. Unfortunately for one…
As we noted two weeks ago, closing at The Argyle on 4th Avenue in Park Slope (where 70 percent of the units have been sold) have begun. And a press release yesterday trumpeted the fact that buyers have already begun moving in and provided a link to some photos of finished interiors. Unfortunately for one new owner that we heard from, though, his place doesn’t look like the one in the promotional photos. Seems that his unit wasn’t in finished form when it was time to close a couple of weeks ago and he was persuaded to sign an addendum to the contract in which the developer promised to fix the problems in a timely manner. The buyer sent us the following warning tale at the end of last week and followed up with the photo above yesterday. Here’s the owner’s email from earlier this week:
Here I am at day 11. And I still don’t have keys to the main front doors, access to my parking space, window screens, appliance warranties, touch up paint. What I do have are uneven and scratched kitchen cabinets, sloppy paint and caulking work, uneven tiles and floors that look like the rolling hills of the Berkshires (okay, that’s an exaggeration, but there are elevation changes by inch in a three foot are all over the place.)
The update as of yesterday was that the sponsor has now torn up 90 percent of his floor, made him vacate the apartment and is predicting the work will drag on another ten days. A far cry from how the model apartment looks. Welcome to Brooklyn’s Park Avenue!
First Closings Recorded at the Argyle [Brownstoner]
Argyle Listings [Corcoran] GMAP
DOB OK’s the Argyle [Brownstoner]
The Argyle Unveiled [Brownstoner]
**review**
ALL YOU COULD WANT! This perfect three-bedroom home is located in a brand new building two blocks from three subway lines and steps from the best shopping and dining in Park Slope, just named one of the 10 best neighborhoods nationally by the American Planning Association. Building amenities include a virtual concierge for deliveries, outdoor roof lounge with panoramic skyline views, fitness center, resident manager, and on-site parking garage! This three bedroom home features QUIET SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXPOSURES, a private BALCONY, generous rooms, hardwood wide-plank maple flooring, handsome kitchen with bamboo cabinetry and sleek appliances, a washer-dryer, and an individual storage unit included in the purchase price. THE ARGYLE PARK SLOPE. IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU. Brokers welcome.
—-
Here I am at day 11. And I still don’t have keys to the main front doors, access to my parking space, window screens, appliance warranties, touch up paint. What I do have are uneven and scratched kitchen cabinets, sloppy paint and caulking work, uneven tiles and floors that look like the rolling hills of the Berkshires (okay, that’s an exaggeration, but there are elevation changes by inch in a three foot are all over the place.)
CORRECTION: The Argyle is not on 4th Avenue in Park Slope. It is on 7th Street in Gowanus.
Fantasy vs reality. Caveat Emptor spec.
***Bid half off peak comps***
The cosmetic problems are, by definition, just the ones that you can see. Sure, the ones listed are all cosmetic, but the rush to completion could cause other problems too, like leaks, which will cause the floor etc to have to be done a third time.
Who is the developer? are they broke yet or is it one of the more stable ones?
Here’s another question. Why are cosmetic problems “pretty much accepted? Would you buy a new car with a scratch on it, even if they had a good body guy who could fix it right up. Maybe that’s another 2006 thing that will change.
The model unit pix is not a render. It actually exist. I was in it – 2J if I remember.
That being said, outside of the minor cosmetic issues (scratch, touch up paint, screen doors) that sux for the floor. Sympathy here.
Hey at least they are doing it now. I know some other devs they had to wait days (even weeks) on major problems.
The cosmetics one is not unusual. That is pretty much expected on new construction.
Sham:
1 : a trick that deludes : hoax
2 : cheap falseness : hypocrisy
3: an ornamental covering for a pillow
4 : an imitation or counterfeit purporting to be genuine
5 : a person who shams
In this case, it seems that the developer had to begin closings on or about June 1 or else deal with the prospect of a significant number of contract cancellations. Faced with this outcome, several units were rushed to “completion”. The results are clearly underlined in the original post by the purchaser. So, it would seem to me, these early closings are a “sham”. The units were only deemed fit for closing by the timeframe faced by the developer, and not by the condition of the finished product. I like definition #1 or #2…..but a pillow sham works as well.
So, have the developers finally succeeded in making:
Never Buy New Construction in Brooklyn
conventional wisdom in the real estate world?
I mean, these types of problems are showing up more and more on the WWW, and the reports will not “go away”. Three years from now when someone searches Google, all this info will be there waiting to teach them…
Seems that new construction is bedeviled with issues. When we were down on 2nd street the board were still dealing with issues 4 years after completion, albeit with much more serious structural flaws.
I do agree with some of the above posters that buyers lawyers would hopefully protect them in such circumstances. Seems that a good lawyer would really earn their money at points like these whereas others don’t understand how god awful problems are for buyers who will have invested significantly both financially and emotionally.
Buyers at the Argyle are bold to take on the new construction and I hope it works out for them.
I have sympathy. Forget about price for a minute. If someone bought something and the seller delivered a piece of junk, it’s not their fault. Maybe criticize people’s market timing, but not this. It’s just shady developers taking advantage of people.
I work with two people who are both two years into contractor disputes on new units. It is the rule, not the exception.
I want to post that redering/reality photo on my fridge, to remind me. never ever ever ever ever ever ever….