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The RFP process for the mixed-use building on Site 4 in the BAM Cultural District has concluded with the selection of a plan by Harlem-based developer Full Spectrum over such big local names as David Walentas’ Two Trees and Dermot Company of One Hanson fame; the architect for the plan is studioMDA. The decision comes just a couple of months after local outcry put Full Spectrum, whose head Carlton Brown has lived in Fort Greene and Bed Stuy for 25 years, back in contention after being eliminated in August. “Their level of affordability was great,” said HPD spokesman Seth Donlin, explaining the pick. And the design of the building architecturally was fantastic. The new 30-story building, to be located at the southwest corner of Ashland Place and Fulton Street, will be known as Borough Gardens. The marquee tenant for the building will be DanceSpace, which will be housed in a 40,000-square-foot rehearsal and performance space. The tower will include 185 apartments, half of which will be set aside for low- and moderate-income residents; there will also be a retail and gallery component. Construction of the building, which will incorporate many green components (Full Spectrum has developed both the Solaire and 1400 on 5th in Manhattan), is expected to get underway in the first part of next year, with a target completion date of 2010.
Local Planner Gets the Big Job at BAM [Brooklyn Paper] GMAP
Unusual Building in Brooklyn’s BAM Cultural Center [Brooklyn Eagle]
Small Developer Beats Walentas & Dermot for BAM Tower [Curbed]
Downtown Update from Joe Chan at CB2 Meeting [Brownstoner]
BAM Cultural District: Alive If Not Exactly Kicking [Brownstoner]


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  1. The Solaire was developed by the Albanese Organization. These guys aren’t even listed on the Solaire’s site and their site states they were a consultant on the project for the “high performance and green technologies…” Doesn’t seem they’ve developed that much.

  2. 10:14 and 10:16 said it all.

    Sounds like an admirable project. Architecturally not my taste, but the dance space and significant affordable housing aspect trump looks in this case.

    Congratulations also to Carlton Brown. We need more local architects, contracting companies and related trades building in the communities they live in and/or came from, especially when they can significantly add to the skyline and build needed affordable housing and cultural venues.

  3. 10:33 – You must be kidding. Riddle me this. Why is it that the forte apartments are so hard to sell that the asking price has been dropping – to no avail – ever since they were first offered? Have you seen the five year plan for the area? Do you know that there are also other massive high rise projects to be built around the forte – obscuring natural light for most units? Can you imagine what the CC will be down the line, not to mention costs when the tax abatement is no more? What about the years-long construction noises that the “savvy” forte owners will endure with the aforementioned massive projects going on around them? Imagine the forte owners inabililty to resell at a profit – when they bought it was clear skies all around, in a couple years the story will be quite different. I could go on forever, and I will, if you continue trying to bait hardworking people into suckers’ bets.

  4. “uh, half of this place will be PROJECTS”

    great.

    I know huh. What is this world coming to? Can’t we just put them (project people) all on a boat and ship them out to sea, anywhere else but FG Brooklyn. I know! Maybe Beacon Hill in Boston wants them.

    Love is all around us! it’s everywhere I go!
    Hmmm.

  5. 10:19

    Unfortunate? You mean savvy. When Forte’ was first being built bloggers all over the web claimed the building too tall, out of place etc etc. Now an equally “out of place” building will spring up across the street.

    Rockwell, Hanson and Forte’ are buyers only chance to own a piece of BAM. The Borough Gardens are for the traveling performers, short term leases etc.

    Creating a new “Lincoln Center” 2 blocks from every subway will make BAM more desire able. Not to mention what’s going on with the Stadium and Fulton Mall.

  6. Maybe those unfortunate souls who’ve already bought into the forte can move into “Borough Gardens” after their “investment” in a boxed-in, overpriced (sale price and cc) apartment tanks

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