C-of-O Woes for the Novo?
Will anyone ever move into the Novo? We often get emails asking about the status of the 4th Avenue condo, which has been under construction for quite some time now. A reader recently sent us the following note, for example: I heard from an employee of the parks department that the city is holding up…
Will anyone ever move into the Novo? We often get emails asking about the status of the 4th Avenue condo, which has been under construction for quite some time now. A reader recently sent us the following note, for example:
I heard from an employee of the parks department that the city is holding up Novo’s closing until they finish the Terrapin playground. The developer was due to finish the playground for a May 12 ribbon cutting, but that date has come and gone. The new date is June 17, but I checked by today and no work was happening. The city is actually not allowing any further inspections until they are done. The building has a drop dead date of June 31 before it has to let its current contract holders out of their contracts. The developer will be mighty lucky if he makes this date it seems.
Parks Department spokesperson Phil Abramson confirmed that the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Terrapin Playground, the section of J.J. Byrne Park that the Novo’s developer is supposed to rehab in exchange for having used the public parkland as a staging area during construction, is June 17th. Abramson couldn’t speak to the rumor about the city holding up the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Last year Community Board 6 recommended that the city not give the building a C of O until Terrapin was finished. (The recommendation, like all community board motions, was ultimately only advisory.) While we don’t know whether June 31st is indeed the deadline for the building’s C of O to be in order so closings can occur, DOB records show that the department still hasn’t received many of the documents it needs in order to grant a certificate. For example, the DOB needs to get documentation showing that the building complies with DOT regulations, and that the Novo’s sprinklers and elevators are in working order. Read on for the full list of the things that are standing between the Novo and its C of O…
Novo Takes a Nosedive [Brownstoner] GMAP
Terrapin Playground Reopening in May? [Brownstoner]
This is interesting, finally some useful information from the buyers. Personally I could never buy into this building, I hate the outside.And would not expect it to be any better on the inside. This building looks like Hell to me. I would rather buy into one of those white brick buildings they built in the 60’s in Manhattan.
Lol, this building is garbage and the crime is making a come back in the area…just FYI
save your money and buy when the market hits bottom in 2 years.
I am in contract, too. I will tell you why I am buying there. It is simply the only place I could afford in the area. My choices were fringe neighborhoods or the novo. For the price of a 1bd here, I could live way out and be scared to walk home at night. No, thanks. Plus, I like that it’s new and that I don’t need to do any work. I rented an old studio in the area (not renovated) and for what I can get for market rent now will actually buy me a much bigger (almost double) and better apt in the novo, tax savings etc. I could care less what it looks like on the outside. Paying less than $600/sq.ft is hard to beat.
Heard that the application for the abatement was already approved, it should kick in when people start closing.
i wish it were still an empty lot.
and i’m being serious.
it was prettier before…
I’m a contract holder for on of the units at NOVO. I have to agree with the comments made by others as to why we purchased in this building. Obviously evertyhing is brand new, $ per sq. foot is a deal, and the location is key.
I’ve been to building several times during open houses, not to see my unit specifically, but to atleast get an idea on how the building was coming along, and I dont’ recall seeing any of those major issues that 2:22 mentioned aboved. Yes it is new construction, so yes the windows were a little filthy, but no mold issues, no floor buckling, no cracks, etc. Overall, I think the quality of construction is pretty decent. I have a friend that lives in another Boymelgreen development, and I can tell you that he is quite pleased with the quality.
Although there alot of better looking buildings, personally, I don’t think the appearance of this building is as half as bad as bashers make it sound. Of course the building stands out and doesn’t fit in with the rest of 4th ave, but what does? There’s crap on 4th Ave, and starting with Novo and Crest, things will only get better. I like to think that any person living in Park Slope that actually owns there own home sees some value in this new development as others, it only helps to increase their home values in the long run as 4th avenue improves.
2:22pm
Calm down, the building is going to be fine. What you saw was unfinished. And I’m sure your house has been through some renos as well. I always love when pround brownstone owners on this site talk about how their 100 year old houses are in great shape after they’ve just spent $100K renoing the place.
You like the inside?
When I went to the open house:
1. Some floorboards were buckling
2. The moldings did not line up with the floor properly.
3. The kitchens were slapped together with uneven joints and missing caulk in the tiles. Also saw some uneven cabinet doors.
4. I saw a few cracks in the drywall
5. The windows were filthy
6. The hallways already looked dated and reaked of mold.
And this is a NEW building!
I live in a 100 year old building and my floors and walls look newer than anything I saw in this place.
p.s. and i didn’t even mention the OUTSIDE of the novo…
Novo is a No go.